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

block the road. Another one of our SUVs cut off the car’s escape. Tyler hit the gas, speeding through the neighborhood to get us out of there.

I called Bridget, knowing Bones would’ve ordered her to stay in the car.

She skipped the greeting and got right to the point. “Don’t know yet, but Bones, Katie, Trigger, and Jackson have it handled. Go! Get to the airport.”

“Call me when the dust settles.”

“You got it, boss.”

I leaned over my seat to look at Alex and the kids. The kids seemed unconcerned and continued chattering about Florida. Alex raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem worried either.

“What’s our rental like?” I asked Alex.

“Fabulous, of course. Would you expect anything less of me?” His hands danced in the air as he detailed the rental. “Imagine… A luxurious seven-bedroom oceanside estate with enough couches and daybeds to sleep twenty-five people. Not one, but two three-stall garages, with additional housing above one of them that connects to the main house by way of the second floor. Eight full bathrooms and three half baths. A game room. Heated pool. Hot tub. Private dock with a speed boat. Outdoor tiki lounge. Multiple balconies and a veranda overlooking the ocean. A chef equipped kitchen with—”

“Got it!” I said, holding up a hand to stop his sales pitch. “You did good.”

“We need to put Alex in charge of securing housing more often,” Tyler said as he merged onto the interstate. “Sounds like my kind of safe house.”

“How big is the pool?” Nicolas asked.

“What’s a game room?” Sara asked.

“Dummy,” Nicholas said. “It’s where you play games.”

“Like monopoly?” Sara asked.

“Sure,” Nicholas said, shrugging. He glanced at Alex, not sure at all. “Isn’t it?”

“More like a pool table and arcade games.”

“Sweet. Do we need quarters?” Nicholas asked.

“If you do, we’ll get you some,” I assured him before turning back in my seat and pulling my phone from my bag. Bridget had texted me about the car that had been following us.

Bridget: Only Nightcrawler. He was driving Beth home when they spotted us.

Me: Thanks for the update. We’ll hold the plane for you.

Bridget: You’d better. I have a new bikini that will drive Bones crazy.

Oh boy, I thought.

~*~*~

Four and a half hours later, the only thing I could think as I walked with the kids through the first floor of the rental house and out onto the open veranda overlooking the pool, and beyond that the ocean, was holy shit.

“Cool,” Nicholas said from beside me. “We really are rich.”

“So… This is how the upper-class vacations,” Anne said, walking out behind us. “I love Miami.”

“I love Kelsey’s limitless corporate card,” Alex said, joining us.

“Holy shit,” I said aloud before I started laughing.

Sara giggled. “Pushups, Aunt Kelsey.”

I didn’t argue. I got down on the pristine veranda and counted out the ten pushups. After, I stood and started toward the door. “Tyler, you’re in charge while I’m gone,” I called over my shoulder.

“Consider it handled. I’ll coordinate security measures with Bones and Jackson.”

Bridget followed me outside to a row of rented SUVs, handing me a Glock and holster, before she jogged to the passenger side. I slid behind the wheel and turned over the engine. Jackson was already on his way to pick up my aunt and uncle. I was tasked with a much more difficult—and dangerous—assignment.

To confront Charlie and force her to relocate.

Chapter Twenty-One

CHARLIE

Monday, 5:55 p.m.

It took Greg three hours to walk me through the autopsy reports and the forensic evidence from Roseline’s apartment and the truck stop’s parking lot. Greg was thorough. A downright nerd when it came to evidence. But that’s why I liked working with him. When we were done reviewing the reports—my overloaded brain now a pile of mush—I dumped our warm beers in the sink and uncapped fresh ones. We were still in the dining room talking when Spence showed. He sat to drink a beer with us as I gave him the short version of the day’s events.

I was taking a drink of my beer when someone banged hard enough against my apartment door that I was somewhat surprised the flimsy thing was still hanging on its hinges.

Beast, who’d been sleeping across my feet, half-barked, rolled over, and then continued snoring.

I unholstered my gun and stood. Spence mirrored my movements from the other side of the table. Greg, the nerd that he was, backed himself into the corner to stay out of the way.

“Feel! Free! Fine! Fummm!” Bridget’s voice yelled from the other side of the door, ending on a giggle.

“That’s not how it goes!” Kelsey’s voice snapped from the hallway.

“Yes, it is,” Bridget said.

“No. It’s Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, I smell a—” Kelsey stopped midsentence when I opened the door. “Hey, Kid. What’s shaking?” Kelsey pushed past me and walked into the apartment. Bridget followed her inside.

I checked the hallway, but it was clear. I closed and locked the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Charlie?” Spence asked as a question.

“She’s my cousin. She lives in Michigan,” I answered as I holstered my Glock.

“Got anything besides beer?” Bridget asked, gathering some of the empty bottles before she carried them into the kitchen.

“We’ll drink later,” Kelsey told Bridget before turning to me. “Pack a bag. We need to leave.”

“Leave? Where? Why?” My head was spinning trying to catch up. “How the hell did you get here?”

“In a plane, then a car,” Kelsey said as she started down my hallway. “I’ll pack you a bag. Grab anything you need from the bathroom.”

My cousin had been running the playbook for my life since we were kids. Something inside me snapped. I picked up an empty bottle and threw it across the room, shattering it against the wall.

Kelsey stopped, turned, and walked back