Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

John quickly looked away, worry in his eyes. Because they were all summoned in the middle of the night, this case must be big. Since she’d never seen John this concerned before, she now worried just how big it might be.
    Dante cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is here—”
    “Not everyone,” Hudson Patterson said. “We’re missing Jake and Lloyd.”
    “Hudson’s been out of town,” Rachel reminded Dante, then turned to the former CIA agent. “Jake’s with his wife in Guatemala finalizing the adoption process for their new child, and Lloyd’s in Paris with Will for an art tour. Neither will be back until next week.” She looked around the room. “So it’s going to be up to us to help Ian.”
    Owen Malcolm, Rachel’s husband and a former U.S. Secret Service agent, grimaced. “I still think we should bring in the Feds.”
    “Not an option,” Dante said, then nodded to Rachel, who used her laptop to fire up the six flat screen TVs hanging on the main wall. “In less than ten minutes, we’re going to be contacted by a man claiming to have taken Ian and his friend, Camilla Carlyle, hostage.”
    The blood rushed from Lola’s head. Dante’s voice became tinny, distant. She couldn’t focus on anything but the buzzing in her ears and the fear tripping her heart. Nausea set in quickly and she fought hard not to panic. Dante could be wrong. He had to be. Ian was former FBI. He ran a top-notch criminal investigation company. This had to be a mistake. This had to—
    “Where?” Hudson asked, leaned forward in the chair and set his palms on the table.
    Lola shifted her gaze to him, then to Dante and Rachel. “The Florida Everglades,” she managed, despite the tightening of her throat and the threat of tears. “They arrived today around five-thirty and were settled into their rental house a couple of hours later.”
    “How did you know?” Rachel asked. “That information was confidential. Other than myself, Dante and John, no one knew where Ian was going.”
    When Lola looked around the room, she met John’s eyes again, and now understood why he’d looked worried. This wasn’t just a big case, this was personal.
    She glanced away from John, then pressed a fist to her upset stomach. “Because Camilla Carlyle is my mother.”

Chapter 2

    LOLA STRAIGHTENED AND tossed her hair over her shoulder, the disbelief and accusation in Rachel’s eyes setting her on edge. “Don’t believe Camilla Carlyle is my mom? Ask John or Dante.” She shoved her chair back and stood. “Actually, I don’t care if you do or not. Just tell me what you know. Is she okay?” She pressed the back of her hand to her chin to keep it from trembling. “Is she hurt?”
    Rachel looked to Dante. “She’s really this woman’s daughter?”
    Outrage had Lola’s entire body tensing. “I suggest you watch how you refer to my mother.”
    Dante held up a hand. “Lola, not everyone is aware that Ian is dating. He’s very private.”
    “You and John know.” She eyed Rachel. “By the way, who do you think bought you a breast pump for your shower gift? Ian? Nope. My mom.”
    She ran a shaky hand along her forehead. Mom . This couldn’t be happening. Her mother was everything to her. She’d come to Chicago months after Cami had moved here to take the lead role in a play that had re-launched her acting career. While she’d loved living in California, she loved her mom even more and had been lonely for her company. Damn, she’d simply missed seeing her face.
    Her mom’s beautiful image flashed in her mind. Bright blue eyes, infectious smile…
    A tear managed to slip down her cheek.
    Nothing could happen to her. She was so vibrant and talented, and had so much to live for. Cami was also the only family she had left, and was the only one who truly understood her and accepted her, no matter what.
    Rachel tapped her fingers along her computer keyboard. Cami’s driver’s license photo instantly appeared on the flat screen.