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

“Clean, as in, no evidence,” Kelsey answered for me as she also accepted a glass from Alex.

I took a sip and grimaced. It was sweet tea. I’d never acquired a taste for it. Kelsey watched my expression and set hers on the side stand, not bothering to take a drink. Wild Card took my glass, drinking half of it down in two massive gulps.

“Good,” Tech said, pulling my attention. “I need a few hours to dive into the prescription drug ring. If Sara and Carl weren’t having so much fun, I’d pull them in to help with the other searches.”

“When Maggie gets here, she can help with some of the research if you can distract her from the bar.”

“What are the rest of us supposed to do?” Wild Card asked. “I’m bored.”

“Do you have a car?” I asked him.

“A rental,” Wild Card answered.

“I need a lift. Bridget has my wheels.”

“Lead the way.” Wild Card stood and waved his arm out in an overexaggerated gesture for me to lead him.

I whistled for Beast who ran over and shook his wet fur all over everyone. It must’ve looked like fun because Jager ran over and did the same.

“Should we change our clothes before we go?” Wild Card asked as we looked down at our pants.

“This is Miami. Your pants will be dry before we get to the car. Besides, Beast is coming with us. We are going to smell like wet dog no matter what.”

“I’m driving a rental. I’ll lose my deposit.”

“You can afford it,” I said, tapping his cheek before following the landscaped path of flat stones to the front of the house.

I waited in the driveway with Beast. Wild Card ran out of the house a few minutes later with an armful of beach towels. He laid them out along the back seat to cover the upholstery. When he stepped back, I tried to hide my grin. Motioning to Beast, I watched him do his flying-leap thing which resulted in all the towels bunched to the other side in a pile. Beast’s wet butt sat on the upholstery as he shook his head, coating the inside with his wet dog aroma.

I laughed at Beast. He looked happy.

Wild Card on the other hand—not so much. “Not a word, Kid. Not a word,” he said as he got in the SUV and turned over the engine.

I giggled as I ran to the passenger side, hurrying before he decided to leave me.

~*~*~

First stop, check on Evie.

“It’s Charlie!” I called out when I entered the condo.

Wild Card followed me inside, locking the door behind us. Evie peeked around the corner of the bedroom door at us.

I tipped my head at Wild Card. “He’s a friend. Ex-military. Used to be my brother-in-law.”

Evie raised an eyebrow as she joined us. “You hang out with your ex-brother-in-law?”

“I’m hard to get rid of,” Wild Card said. “Kelsey’s been trying to shake me for years.” He held out his hand to Evie. “I’m Cooper. But everyone calls me Wild Card.”

“I’m Genevieve. But everyone in Miami thinks my name is Evie.” She returned both his handshake and his smile.

“Which do you prefer?” Wild Card asked as he wandered about the condo, looking around.

“Evie, I think. I’ve gotten used to it.”

“Evie it is then.” He turned back to me. “This place secure?”

“Duh,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I wouldn’t have hidden her here if it wasn’t.”

Evie sank to the couch to sit. “I’m bored. I know this is for my safety and all, but after Baker left, I’ve been going stir crazy with nothing to do and no one to talk to.”

Wild Card glanced at me. “We could move her to the mansion.”

“Too much going on there already.” I shook my head. “Besides, it could compromise the legal case down the road. A defense attorney would have a seizure upon hearing she was living with the people investigating the case.”

Wild Card looked at Evie. “I guess you’re stuck here. Sorry.”

“Maybe not,” I said, grinning at my own devious thoughts. “There’s another option.”

“What?” Evie asked, sitting forward.

“We could move you to the Outer Layer.”

“You mean I’d sleep in one of the sex rooms?” she asked, scrunching her nose.

“No. We can make Baker sleep in one of the sex rooms. You can sleep in his room, behind his office.”

She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Of course, he’d have a bedroom in his office. That man needs therapy. There’s more to life than work.”

I laughed.

“So?” Wild Card asked her. “Which location do you prefer? The stylish condo or the sex club where Baker’s likely to make you work for your room and board?”

“The Outer Layer,” Evie answered immediately. “Working will keep my mind off things.”

“Just so you understand,” I said. “You’ll have to stay on the upper floors. You can’t venture below the third floor without one of my personal security teams. The club security isn’t trained for this type of work.”

“I can live with that. At least I’ll have customers to chat with in The Parlor.”

“Go pack, then,” I said. “I left Beast in the car, so we can’t dawdle.”

“Who’s Beast?”

“My partner.”

“Her friend’s dog!” Wild Card said, correcting my statement. “And I’ll warn you that he went swimming earlier and the whole car smells like wet dog.”

“I’ll live,” Evie said, shaking her head at such a minor issue.

When Evie left to pack, I decided to ask Wild Card a few questions. “What was the secret conversation between you and Jackson earlier all about? What were you supposed to handle?”

“I sort of did something a few years back that Kelsey’s not going to like when she finds out.”

“What kind of something?”

He hesitated,