Hunt and Prey (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 8) by Kaylie Hunter (novels to read for beginners txt) 📕

a police cruiser pulled into the lot. The officers slid out of their car, and while ignoring the woman, they walked over to pet Beast.

I tilted my head toward the woman already raising holy hell from the sidewalk. “You going take care of the batshit crazy lady for me?”

They both sighed as they glanced over at the woman. “We got it. Get out of here.”

I didn’t wait around for them to change their minds.

Chapter Twenty

KELSEY

Monday, 12:15 p.m.

When my phone rang, I looked at the caller ID and smiled as I answered, “Hey, Aunt Suzanne.”

“Do not tell Charlie I called,” she said hurriedly into the phone.

I raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”

“She’s in trouble.”

“Did she get arrested again?”

“Not that kind of trouble, but the day is young.”

Laughing, I said, “What’s going on?”

Aunt Suzanne remained quiet, likely thinking out her response.

“Just tell me. I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

“Someone tried to kill her.” Even after several decades living as a cop’s wife, Aunt Suzanne tended to overreact.

“Charlie’s a cop,” I said as I sighed. “Someone tries to shoot or stab her on the regular. It’s part of the job.”

“Three times. The same guy has attacked her three times in less than forty-eight hours. She has two black eyes, a split chin, and she’s limping. Your uncle is worried. Her boss is worried. That guy Spence is worried.”

“Who’s Spence?”

“He’s a private investigator. He’s cute. He—” she made a noise which sounded like a growl “—Spence isn’t important. Everyone’s worried about Charlie. There’s a manhunt to find this guy before he makes another attempt to kill her.”

She was right. This wasn’t good. Charlie pissing people off was normal. Someone wanting to kill Charlie was normal. Someone making three attempts and living, that was a whole new ballgame. “Let me guess, Charlie’s doing her I-can-take-care-of-myself routine.” I looked over and watched Katie, Anne, and Alex move into the dining room and sit. They were listening to my side of the conversation.

Aunt Suzanne released a long breath. “She needs you, Kelsey. She’ll hate your meddling, but I’d rather listen to her rant about you being bossy—than have her turn up dead.”

“I need to make arrangements for Nicholas. I’ll try to get to Florida by tonight.”

“Kelsey,” Aunt Suzanne said, her voice laced with concern. “I know you’re worried about bringing Nicholas back to Miami. But we’ll keep him safe. Just come home.”

After Aunt Suzanne had disconnected, I stared at my phone screen for several minutes. Home. Miami. The city I lived in before everything changed. The city that stole my son and ripped us apart for years. Could I keep him safe? Maybe. But I wasn’t alone anymore, either. I’d take an army.

“What do you need?” Alex asked.

I looked at Alex. He looked back with a concerned, but determined expression.

“I need a rental house in Miami. Something with a pool for Nicholas. And big. It needs to have a shitload of bedrooms. I’m taking every available security guard with us.”

“On it.” Alex walked over and grabbed one of the house laptops.

I turned to Katie. “Go talk to Donovan. Sort out who he can spare on short notice.”

She didn’t say anything, but hurried to the front door.

Anne started for the stairs, speaking over her shoulder. “I’ll start packing. We’ll go with you.”

“Anne—” I said, stopping her. “I don’t know what kind of danger Charlie is up against.”

“We’ll take an army if we need to,” Anne said, unwavering. “But we all go. Together, we’ll keep the kids safe.” She ran up the stairs, ending the discussion.

I walked outside through the back sliding door, down the side stairs, and over to where Tyler and Bones were watching the kids play with Jager. “Tyler?”

“Yeah?” he answered, not looking away from the kids.

“We need to make a trip to Florida. Charlie’s in trouble. Can you come too?”

“Where they go,” he pointed at the kids, “I go. When do we leave?”

“Soon. Travel arrangements are being made.”

I could feel Bones staring at me, but my eyes were locked on Nicholas. Taking him to Florida scared the shit out of me.

“I’ll call Bridget,” Bones whispered. “We’ll be ready to leave when you are.”

~*~*~

Within an hour, we were driving to the airport. Tyler drove my SUV. I rode shotgun. The kids bounced in the back seat, chattering with Alex who sat between them. The rest of the family and security were in similar SUVs in front of us or behind us. Only Lisa had stayed home, but she and Abigail were moved into one of the apartments at Aces. They’d be safe there. Donovan would make sure of it.

I called Aunt Suzanne, but before I could say anything, she said, “Please tell me you’re coming to Florida.”

“We’re on our way. All of us.”

“All?”

“I’m bringing an army.”

“Oh,” she said, pausing. “I better run to the grocery store.”

“First, pack a bag. I’ll send someone for you and Uncle Hank when we land. Both of you will stay with us until this gets sorted.”

“Is that necessary?”

“It is if you want to spend time with the kids. I can’t have you traveling back and forth to the safe house.”

“I know how to spot a tail,” she grumbled. “But fine. We’ll be ready.” She disconnected the call.

“Kelsey,” Tyler said in a low tone.

“Yes?” I said as I dropped my phone into my shoulder bag which was sitting at my feet.

“Three cars back. Blue sedan.”

I looked in my mirror and spotted the car. “And?”

Tyler turned on his blinker before turning right into a residential neighborhood. Bones was driving the SUV behind us. He followed Tyler. When the blue sedan also turned right, Bones slammed on his brakes, turning the wheel so the SUV spun sideways to