Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) (42 page)

Ian kissed her mom’s cheek. “Yes. But I still love you.”

“What is he talking about?” Lola asked as everyone else made their way out of the room.

When they were alone, her mom said, “Ian told me I coddle and control you. And he’s right. I’m sorry I embarrassed you just now. I’m also sorry for pushing you to do what I thought was best for you, rather than allowing you to make your own decisions. Most of all, I’m sorry I couldn’t be strong like you.”

“What do you mean? You’re strong, Mom.”

“In some ways.” She shook her head. “But, unlike you, I couldn’t be by myself. I did everything I could to keep you close to me. I even tricked you into moving to Chicago.”

Ever since she could remember, her mom had always shown so much strength and determination. But as her mind touched on a few memories, she realized her mom’s Achilles heel was loneliness, which was the one thing that had never bothered Lola. Sure, she’d had plenty of bouts with insecurity, but she enjoyed her own company.

“I wanted to live near you. Being in LA without you just wasn’t the same.” She smiled, and touched her mom’s cheek. “I missed seeing your face.”

Tears slipped from her mom’s eyes. “But the job with CORE—”

“I’m not stupid. I know Ian wouldn’t have hired me if it wasn’t for you. But I’ve been proving myself capable of being part of his team. Acting was
your
calling. I don’t know if being an investigative agent is what I was meant to do, but it’s what I’m doing right now.” When shame and sadness filled her mom’s eyes, she gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Trust that I can decide what’s best for me.”

“Oh, honey, I do. It’s just…” She gripped Lola’s shoulder. “Steven Weir…I don’t want you hurt. I don’t want to ever be without you. Do you understand?”

“You’ll always have me, and now you have Ian.”

Her mom gave her a watery smile. “We broke up.”

“What?”

She half-laughed. “We’re fine now. But there were a few times today when I was ready to drown him in a marsh. As horrible as this day was, I think it brought Ian and I closer.” She grew serious. “And he helped show me a part of myself I’d never been willing to face—how I’ve treated you.”

“You’re the best mom. Don’t ever think otherwise. I’m lucky you were always there for me. Honestly, I blame myself for being too unsure to make my own choices, not you.” Careful of her injuries, she pulled her in for a hug. “I was so scared today. Are you sure you’re okay? We can get you to a hospital and—”

Her mom pulled back and shook her head. “If I go to the hospital, questions will be asked, that none of us want to have to answer.”

Yes. How would they explain her mom’s lacerations and the graze from a bullet without the doctors or nurses becoming suspicious?

“Well, it sounds like Barney will take care of you. Ryan says he’s a man of many trades and trusts him.”

Her mom looped her arm through hers and started for the door. “I hear a shower calling for me.” She eyed her, then winked. “Looks like you could use one, too.”

Lola instantly pictured her and Ryan in a shower together. “That’s the plan. But I’m not going back to the rental. I’m going home with Ryan.”

Her mom stopped, raised an eyebrow and leveled her with a disapproving look. “Lola Elizabeth Tam.”

Oh, geez. When the full name came out…

“What do you know about this man? You’re a good girl, and good girls don’t—”

“Have sex?”

Her mom shook her head. “I’m sorry, honey, but you’re coming home with me and Ian. With the agents in the house, you’ll be well protected and…damn it. I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

“Yep.” She smiled and faced her mom. “First of all, I
am
an agent. Second, Ryan’s a great guy.”

“I’m sure he is, and I’m not blind. He’s…attractive.”

Attractive didn’t begin to describe Ryan. “There’s more to Ryan than the way he looks. You of all people could identify with that.” She shrugged. “Look, this isn’t love. This isn’t forever. This is blowing off steam after a long stressful day.”

She touched her chin. “Long distance doesn’t work.”

“
Mother
.”

“Okay, okay.” She held up her hands. “Sorry. But I know you. Casual sex isn’t your—”

Her cheeks grew hot. “I’m so not having this conversation.” She led her mom to the door, then down the steps. After giving her mom a kiss, she helped her into the back passenger side of the Range Rover. “I’ll be over in the morning,” she said, then closed the door before facing any looks from Ian and the other CORE agents in the SUV.

She was a grown woman, damn it. There was no need to explain why she wouldn’t be going to the rental house. Bottom line, it was none of their business.

After Dante drove out of the parking lot, followed by Barney’s station wagon, she headed back inside the souvenir shop, then made her way to the back office. Ryan sat in a chair, Sadie by his side, panting, tongue hanging out as he scratched the dog behind her ears.

“They left?” he asked, not looking at her.

“Yeah.”

“Your gear is already in my truck. Let’s go.” He stood, then turned off the light. “Sadie, come.” The dog followed him and, with another case of uncertainty, Lola did, too. His easy-going demeanor had changed and she didn’t understand why. He was tired, she supposed, as he locked up for the night and she waited by his truck with Sadie.

When he was finished, he let the dog in the truck, then opened the passenger door for her. Considering they were about to spend the night together, she’d expected…something from him. A kiss. A smile. A couple of reassuring words to tell her that he was as into being with her as she was with him.

There was nothing.

Chokoloskee Bay, Everglades, Florida

Friday, 2:48 a.m. Easter Standard Time

Steven wished he could cut Zack’s tongue from his mouth. Anything to make him shut the hell up. If the man hadn’t been whining about how badly his injuries hurt, he’d been droning on and on about his life and plans for the future.

People like Zack were useless to him. Well, Zack was of use right now, as his strong arms were propelling them from the wide slow-moving river toward the bay. But he hated Zack because he was a man who could have had it all. Only he’d been too greedy and lazy to work for it. Zack and Chase had grown up in an exclusive neighborhood outside of Tampa. They’d gone to an expensive private school and then to the University of Miami, where both had minored in business and majored in drug dealing. Instead of making something of their degrees and finding a real job, they’d taken up with a Cuban named Del Rio. Apparently they’d pissed off Del Rio when they had begun working with a dealer, Smitty, from Siesta Key, whom they were supposed to deliver their coke to tonight.

Considering Zack was a gullible dumbass, he
had
been surprised to hear the man’s story of success. Together, Zack and Chase had made over one million dollars so far this year. Too bad Zack wouldn’t live to enjoy the money.

“Mind passing me the water?” Zack asked, sliding the oars into the boat. The glow from the lantern Steven had taken from the trailer cast eerie shadows along the man’s face. “I’d get it myself, but my legs are killing me.”

Steven stared at Zack and pictured the handle of the machete sticking out of his chest. He wiped the sweat from his face with his shirt sleeve, then, using his good arm, handed over the jug.

“Thanks, dude,” he said, then took a drink.

“How much longer until we reach the bay?” Steven asked. The canoe bobbed, intensifying his nausea.

“Hard to say. It’s so frickin’ dark, I can’t find any landmarks to help with our location.” Zack took another drink, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Don’t worry. Once we hit the bay, as long as we keep heading north, we’ll be good.”

“I know.”
Dumbass
. “I’m more concerned with getting to shore and finding a doctor to take care of our injuries.”

“Like I told you, once we have my boat, I’ll take us to Smitty. He’s gotta doc on the payroll and will be able to fix us up, good as new.”

When Zack had first proposed the idea of going to Smitty’s doctor, Steven had considered it if, and only if, Ian and his assholes had already left Florida. Without knowing whether CORE had involved the authorities, he couldn’t risk strolling into an ER. But, after searching Chase’s pockets, he’d confiscated three grand from the dead man. Enough to buy him a doctor or nurse and, if need be, pay his way to Chicago.

“Since you have another jug, mind if I keep this one here with me?” Zack asked, setting the water between his legs.

“Of course not. You need to keep hydrated. If I haven’t said so, I appreciate your help.” Zack had proven to be an annoying yet valuable ally, which had been why Steven had ceased with the threats and pretended to like Zack’s stories and business ideas.

Zack picked up the oars. “And I appreciate that you’re helping me get my boat back. She cost me and Chase close to three hundred grand. I’d hate to lose her.”

“Aren’t you concerned the Coast Guard or police could link the boat back to you?”

“Nope. We bought it off of one of Smitty’s guys. The boat’s been stripped of its manufacturing ID and has a fake registration along the side. They might get my prints off it, but neither me or Chase are in the system.”

Steven picked up the oar, then set it right back down. His forearm felt as if someone were driving dozens of nails into it. What little rowing he’d done had caused his wound to bleed again. “Sounds like you and Chase covered your tracks well. I’m sorry I killed him,” he lied. Chase had come off as the stronger of the two, and there could be only one leader.

“Yeah, I’m going to miss him. But I’ll be honest. We haven’t been seeing eye to eye lately. I wanted to expand our business, he wanted to bank the money and find a way out.” Zack shook his head. “You know, I could cut you in if you’re interested. You’re big and mean as shit. Between my brain and your brawn, no one would mess with us.”

His
brain? Steven held his temper in check. He’d let the brilliant dumbass think what he wanted. The man was too stupid to realize when he was being snowed.

“I need to take care of my personal business before I do anything.”

“About that…what’d those people do to you?” Zack asked. “Wait, are you a hitman?”

Now that Zack had mentioned it, Steven wondered how different his life would have been if he’d chosen to be a paid assassin, rather than work for CORE. “No. Just a man with a grudge.”

Zack smiled. “What’d they do to you?”

“Not they, just the man. The woman happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

“Okay, so what’d
he
do? Steal your money? Sleep with your wife?”

“He put me in prison.”

Zack stopped rowing. “That guy’s a cop? No wonder he didn’t kill me or Chase.”

“Not a cop. He runs a private criminal investigation agency. And I used to work for him.”

“No shit? How’d you end up in prison?”

After he’d explained what had happened the night he’d been arrested, and how Elaine had left him, Zack let out a low whistle. “Dude, that’s
total
bullshit. You stopped a serial killer, then lost everything because of the old man. I don’t blame you for wanting him dead. Hell, now I really want him dead. You got a raw deal. I know guys who’ve gone to prison—it’s not pretty on the inside.”

He hadn’t told a soul about what he’d dealt with while he’d been incarcerated at Stateville. If his dad had survived, Steven would have even kept his secret from him. No parent, no matter the age of their child, should have to live with knowing their son had been raped. Not just once but repeatedly, and for six years.

“It was worse than you could imagine.” He leaned forward. “You and I both have a grudge against the guy. He shot you and Chase, and his woman stabbed you.”

“Bitch hit me with a frickin’ metal tackle box, too.”

“Exactly.” Steven nodded. “I have no plans after I’m finished in Everglade City, so maybe partnering up isn’t a bad idea. My ex-wife took everything from me while I was in prison. I have no money, no job, no home.” He grinned. “But I know how to kill a man and I know my way around the law.”

Zack stopped rowing and stared at him. “Seriously, man? You’d work with me?” He let out a nervous chuckle. “Partnering up would be kick-ass. It’d help if I knew your name, though. Unless you like being called dude. I’m cool with that.”

“My name is Steven.” He smiled. “And I hate being called dude.”

“Sorry, Steven,” Zack said, then started rowing.

He looked out toward the black water and decided to add an extra dollop of icing to the cupcake he was offering gullible Zack. “A partner has your back, no matter what. Did you feel like Chase had your back?”

“I did, until a few months ago when we started disagreeing on which direction to take our business.”

“I could tell you were smarter than Chase. More driven. More powerful. For what I’m going to do once we reach Everglade City, I need a man like you to have my back. But I’m going to warn you, my former employer will likely have his agents surrounding him.”

“Are you planning to kill them, too?”