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

The light turned green and as I started forward. I turned on my blinker to warn the other drivers I needed to cross to the outside lane. “Did you get ahold of Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Hank?”

“Jackson’s picking them up. They’ll stay with us until it’s safe.”

“It’d be safer for them—and the kids—if I find another roof to sleep under.”

“Kind of defeats the purpose of us coming here to save your ass, though, don’t you think?”

I hurried through the yellow light, not answering her.

Kelsey half turned in her seat to face me. “Does whatever trouble you walked into have anything to do with this Evie woman?”

“Not sure. Maybe. But there was also a double homicide in my building, and another long list of enemies that I haven’t even considered yet. Evie’s situation revolves around Spence’s client, but I don’t have a name on the guy yet. The only thing I know at this point is that Benny The Barber confirmed there’s a job with my name on it.”

“THERE’S A KILL CONTRACT OUT ON YOU?”

The little old lady driving next to us whipped her head our way, looking panicked by Kelsey’s yelling. I waved a friendly wave. She swerved into the next lane, almost hitting another car. I raised the windows and cranked the air conditioner. Beast leaned his big head between the seats and panted in my ear as he inhaled the cool air.

Kelsey made a growling noise. “Were you even going to tell me?”

“I thought about it. For like a brief millisecond.” I got stuck at another red light and sighed, glancing over at her. “I’m not sure what I walked into, okay? I decided it was better not to say anything until I knew more. You’ve had your hands full with Nicholas, your job, and that pain in the ass ex-boyfriend of yours.” I reached over and shoved her shoulder playfully. “Besides, I was taking precautions. Beast and Spence were shadowing me.” I reached my hand up and scratched Beast’s head. “Isn’t that right, Beast?”

Kelsey raised her arm to blockade Beast from climbing over the console. I lowered my hand, not wanting to test how well I could drive with a hundred-pound dog sitting on my lap.

Kelsey was quiet for several minutes while she rubbed her lower lip between her finger and thumb. “How does any of this tie into the dentist office case?”

“Evie recorded a guy who mentioned the dentist office. What’s that all about, anyway?”

“Human trafficking case. Uncle Hank stumbled across missing prostitutes and asked me to look into it.”

“He sent the case to you?” I slapped my palm against the steering wheel. “I’m right here! Why the hell would he send the case to you, all the way back in Michigan?”

“Maybe if you weren’t so reckless, he’d have sent you the information.”

“You always were his favorite,” I mumbled.

“Like how you’re Aunt Suzanne’s favorite?”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

We were both silent for a long moment.

Kelsey sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. “We sound like Sara and Nicholas.”

“I know. Sorry. I’m tired. And hungry. I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

“Take a left. At the end of the road, turn right.”

I followed her directions and when I cleared the last turn, I hit the brakes. My jaw dropped as I stared at the spectacular house in front of me. Three layers of crisp white architecture were stacked on display with jetting balconies and verandas. To the right, a three-car garage and guest house were half submerged behind palm trees and lush greenery. To the left was another garage with an oversized water fountain sitting beside it.

“Unbelievable.”

Kelsey chuckled as she climbed out. “Wait until you see the backyard.”

Several men from Aces walked out and started unloading as I climbed out and stood gaping at the house. Kelsey was right when she’d called it a mansion. It was huge. I opened Beast’s door and he jumped out and looked around. He seemed unimpressed and ran over to lift his leg on a flowering bush.

Jager ran out, and both dogs took a few minutes to sniff each other. They must’ve decided to be friends because they raced together around the side of the house.

“One obstacle down,” Kelsey said, glaring over her shoulder as Grady parked next to us.

“Assign his ass to night shift security,” I told her.

“Tempting. If he wasn’t good at his job, I’d send him packing.”

“Pops and Hattie here?” I asked as we walked toward the front door.

“No. They flew back to Texas earlier this week. Lisa also stayed behind with Abigail and Donovan.”

Alex stood in the foyer in one of his more conservative outfits: linen ivory slacks, ballet-slipper dress shoes, and a lavender silk blouse. “Darling.” He stopped me to kiss both my cheeks. “I told the boys to take your bags up to the Green room. Kelsey, you’re in the Blue room.”

“And that’s where, exactly?” Kelsey asked Alex as she looked around the house.

“Third floor with the kids,” he answered her. “Charlie’s on the second floor with most of the family. Everyone working security divvied up the rooms between the first floor of the main house and the guest house.”

“What about—” she started to say.

“I wasn’t finished,” Alex said, cutting her off and shaking his head at her. “So impatient.”

“You’re going to get my impatient foot up your—”

He raised a hand to stop her. “Tech, Katie, Tyler, Trigger, and Carl are also on the third floor. And both Trigger and Tyler claimed beds in the bunkroom with Carl and the kids.”

Kelsey chewed on her lower lip as she absorbed the mental layout. “I’m not sure if the third floor is the best place for the kids to be.”

I nudged her toward the stairs.