Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) (46 page)

Grinning, he set the pot down and moved around the island. “I make good on my promises,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

“Good. Then promise me you’ll think about what we talked about.”

“Only if you promise to make me a pie.”

Her lips spread into a wide smile. “Do you mind frozen store-bought?”

Unable to resist, he kissed her. “Not as long as you don’t mind rotisserie chicken in lieu of turkey.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “Boxed mashed potatoes and gravy from a jar?”

“Love the stuff,” he said, then tasted her lips again. Before the kiss became too heated, with reluctance, he pulled away. “We better go.”

Twenty minutes later he pulled into the driveway of the rental house and parked alongside Barney’s old station wagon.

“Looks like Barney’s back with the guys,” Lola said, then, carrying the box of donuts, exited the truck.

He grabbed the bag filled with his recent purchases from the back seat. As he closed the door, he scanned the front yard. During the day, the Key West style home looked quaint and a hell of a lot less formidable than when he’d been here two nights ago. The yard was small and well-manicured. Large six-foot firebushes worked as a natural fence along both the right and left side of the lawn. Clusters of saw palmettoes had been planted near the carport, their large spiky fronds blocking the utility box. Ferns hung from the front porch, which had been landscaped with a variety of purple, pink and white annuals and perennials, while several palm trees stood near the edge of the house by the firebushes.

“Do you think you bought enough?” Lola asked, glancing to the bag he held.

“I think we’ll be good. Let’s check out the backyard, though.”

When they reached the back, Lola let out a moan, and not the good kind. “More mangroves.”

The house had been nestled in front of a mangrove forest. Based on where the rental had been built, that meant beyond the forest was a channel. If Jackass was aware of the channel, he could easily canoe through it, hike across the mangroves, cross the yard and reach the house. But Ryan would make sure they heard him coming.

“Let’s head inside. I want to make these tripwires and get them set up in the yard.”

“I can help you,” Lola said, grateful for something to do besides sitting around the house and waiting for Jackass to attack. Being around the others and keeping her hands busy would hopefully help keep her mind off Ryan.

Last night had been wonderful. The sex—she wished they’d had time to lie in bed this morning. Since Ryan had invited her to stay the weekend, she planned to ask Ian for a few extra days before returning to Chicago. Heaviness settled on her chest as she went through the back door Ryan held open for her. When they had been kissing and loving each other’s bodies, she had told herself not to let her emotions come into play where Ryan was concerned. But damn… After being with him, falling asleep in with arms, waking up to his warm body, she wanted more time. Except, the more time she spent with Ryan, the harder it would be to leave him.

He was a good man who carried a ridiculous amount of guilt. After growing up around snarky, spoiled rich kids who’d had no problem throwing the token Asian kid under the bus, she didn’t trust easily. That Ryan had trusted her enough to share what he’d been dealing with all these years meant a great deal to her. If she wasn’t careful,
he
could come to mean a great deal to her.

“Asian Lola.” Vlad looked up from the playing cards in his hand, and grinned. “Vlad smell donut.”

She shifted her gaze to her mom, who had both of her legs propped on a kitchen chair, and also held a handful of cards. She lay her hand on the table. “Gin,” she said with a smile, then looked to her. “Good morning, sweetie.”

As Vlad tossed his cards down, he muttered something in Russian. Lola set the donuts on the table, then gave her mom a kiss on the cheek. “Morning. You look great. How are you feeling?” Her mom had done her hair, applied makeup and had dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, shorts and sandals. Other than the bandages on her arms and legs, the slight chafing along her neck and the splint around her pinky, she looked just as beautiful as always.

“A little sore. My body isn’t used to that much exertion. How about you?”

She was sore, too, but for different reasons. “Good. Tired.” She opened the donut box and ignored the heat rising to her cheeks.

Male voices carried in from the living room. Ryan snagged a maple donut. “I’m going to see what’s going on, then get to work on these,” he said, holding up the bag of firecrackers, fishing line, string, electrical tape and stakes.

“I’ll be in to help in a sec.” Once he left the room, she turned to her mom. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to a doctor?”

Her mom shook her head. “Barney took care of me. When we get back home, I’ll visit a discreet plastic surgeon Ian knows. We obviously don’t want word getting out that Camilla Carlyle went on vacation, only to return to Chicago looking as if she’d met up with
Edward Scissorhands
.”

The Russian frowned and took a chocolate cream donut. “Vlad know not this dangerous Scissorhand.”

Her mom rested her hand on Vlad’s. “It’s from a movie, honey.”

“Vlad have no patient for movie. Too long.” He eyed the chocolate cream oozing from the donut. “But Vlad will make time for Cami movies.”

Her mom beamed, then looked to her. “He’s so sweet. Vlad has decided to be my personal body guard while we’re here.”

Sweet? If only her mom knew she had just finished playing cards with a former Russian hitman.

“Yes, very sweet,” she said, then offered her a donut. “Want one before I take the box into the other room?”

“No thanks. Vlad made me an omelet for breakfast.” She scooped up the cards, then looked to Vlad. “Ready for me to kick your butt again?”

“Do not add chicken before it break eggshell. Vlad feel lucky.”

While her mom chuckled, Lola picked up the box and left the room. Although a little weirded out that
sweet
Vlad was playing nursemaid to her mom, and acting as if they were old friends, she was grateful the big Russian was protecting her. She’d been through enough, and with Jackass still out there, Lola worried for her mom’s safety.

When she entered the room, everyone went silent. She glanced around, then settled her gaze on Ryan, who’s face and eyes had hardened with anger. “Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all,” Ian said. Other than the bandage on his forehead, he also looked great and well rested. “We were just discussing our plan of action.”

She set the donuts on the table. “Ryan told you about the tripwires?”

“He did, and I think they’re an excellent idea.”

“What other plans do you have to fortify the house? If Steven comes here, I want my mom safe.”

“That was one of the things we were just discussing,” Ian said, taking a glazed donut. “I’m going to take Ryan up on his offer to use his house. I don’t want your mom here when Steven comes.”

Relieved her mom would be away from the rental, she moved to the couch, then sat next to Ryan. “Great idea.”

“How can you be sure Steven will come back here?” Harrison asked. “He could’ve decided to ditch Florida, find a way to Chicago and wait for you guys there.” He glanced between John, Dante and Hudson. “Maybe you should send your wives and kids to stay with out of state relatives, or have them hole up at CORE.”

“He’s right,” Dante said. “I don’t like the idea of them being left vulnerable.”

Hudson dropped the curtain he’d been holding back, then turned away from the window. “Our building is secure. Steven knows this. He might be crazy, but he’s not stupid enough to try to get to anyone inside. I agree, let’s send them there.”

“As a precaution,” Ian began, “when we’re finished here, one of you will need to let Owen and Rachel know they’re going to have company.”

“It’s good to be cautious.” Barney unfolded his arms and pushed off the wall. “But I don’t think y’all have to worry about your women and kids.”

“Because…?” Hudson asked.

“Know anything about the Komodo dragon?” When no one responded, Barney said, “Those sons of bitches get to be up to ten feet long and one hundred and fifty pounds.” He moved his arms as if sizing up the animal, then narrowed his one eye and glanced at all of them.

“They’ve been known to ambush their prey, then use their razor-sharp teeth to tear away chunks of flesh. Those teeth are filled with fifty-some strands of bacteria that will kill any animal they bite in a matter of days.” He adjusted the strap of his eye patch. “That is, if the animal survives the initial encounter with the dragon.”

He moved toward the coffee table and picked up an éclair. “The dragon instinctively knows this. It’s a patient creature and is known to follow its injured prey around for days, until either the animal dies and the dragon can have its meal, or the dragon has another opportunity to strike again—and tear away more chunks of flesh.” He finished, then took a big bite of the éclair.

Harrison laughed. “Dude, you can tell a story.”

“Ain’t no story, boy. It’s fact. Saw an episode about the dragon on
Animal Planet
.”

Ian cleared his throat. “I love a good analogy, but here’s the deal. We’re not infected by Steven. He might follow us around—”

“You sure about that?” Barney asked, then sucked a bit of cream from his thumb. “’Cause from where I’m standing, you’re
all
infected.”

“Barney’s right.” John shook his head and wiped a hand down his face. “Steven
has
infected us. He’s forced us to go against what we all know is right. We’ve broken laws and planned his execution. He’s made it so we could potentially destroy ourselves.” He glanced around the room. “He’ll finish this here.”

Dante pushed a hand through his hair and looked to John. “I agree. But, we should still have our wives go to CORE.”

“Absolutely,” Hudson said, then let out a breath. “How many bulletproof vests did we bring?”

“Five,” Dante answered.

“Okay,” Ian began, “let’s get Cami moved and the tripwires set.” He looked to Barney. “I’ll need you to take Cami, Vlad, Harrison and Lola with you. The rest of us will—”

“I’m being dismissed?” Lola moved to the edge of the couch. So much for Ian being proud to have her as a member of his team. “Between Barney, Vlad and Harrison, my mom will be fine. You need me here.”

“No one is dismissing you,” Ian said, his tone placating and damned insulting. “I would feel more comfortable if you were with Cami. I know your mother would, too.” He glanced between Barney and Harrison. “No offense, but Cami doesn’t know either of you, and I don’t want her any more upset than she already is.”

At that moment, her mom and Vlad’s laughter carried into the living room. “Yeah, she sounds terrified,” Lola said, standing. “Was this your idea or hers? Because I’ll be honest, if
you’re
the one who wants me out of here so I can help three
capable
men babysit, I’ll go ahead and resign right now.”

Ian’s forehead creased as he frowned. “Don’t say anything you might regret. Remember, you work for me, and I’ve decided it’s your
job
to go with your mother to Ryan’s.”

He had a point. She did work for him. Still. Hadn’t she proven anything to Ian or the other agents? She’d hiked into the Glades when none of them could, and while she hadn’t done anything earthshattering, she and Ryan had managed to track down Ian and her mom and bring them back to Everglade City. And although most of her prior assignments had been easy, she’d successfully closed all of them. Ryan had been right. She hadn’t given herself enough credit, and if she wasn’t confident in her own work, how could she expect her counterparts and boss to have any faith in her?

“Is Ryan staying here?” she asked.

“He’s agreed to.”

Talk about a slap in the face. Ryan didn’t even work for CORE, and yet Ian would rather have him around than her. Anger and disappointment settled in her chest. She’d foolishly thought she could be part of a team and had been dead wrong.

“That’s when I thought I’d be working alongside my partner,” Ryan said.

“Ryan, don’t.” She shook her head. “You’re needed here. Thank you for letting us use your house.” Then, avoiding Ryan and her coworkers’ eyes, she looked to Barney. “I’m ready to go,” she said, and left the room.

When she reached the kitchen, her mom, who had been laughing at something Vlad had said, looked up from her cards. Her smile fell. “What’s wrong, honey? Has something happened?”

“We’re leaving.” She turned to Vlad. “Will you please gather whatever my mom needs and put it in Barney’s wagon? We’re going to Ryan’s until this is over.”

“Who’s we?” her mom asked, scooping the cards from the table.

“Me, you, Vlad, Harrison and Barney.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why are
you
leaving?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” she said, too furious and disappointed to discuss her impending resignation with Ian in the other room. Jackass had given them enough to worry about, and she wasn’t about to carry on like a spoiled brat who hadn’t been given her way. So what if she planned to walk away from a job she’d only recently realized meant something to her. She’d find another one.