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

ricocheting off the refrigerator. A slow smile formed on Bones’ face as he looked down at the other fingertip resting near his boot. Wild Card seemed surprised, but didn’t say anything as he held a towel covered hand over Danny’s mouth. The sock muffled most of the scream, but the towel helped.

I waited for Danny to stop his muffled screaming. When he’d calmed to an annoying whimper, I continued, “Move out—tonight. File for divorce tomorrow. And don’t ever cross paths with her again. If you do, next time you’ll lose the whole hand.”

His head bounced up and down so fast, I thought his neck might snap. Bones took the knife from me and held it over the flame of the gas stove. Danny started crying again as he watched Bones turn the knife side to side as it heated. When the blade was hot, Wild Card forced Danny’s bloody hand toward Bones. And with obvious experience, Bones used the side of the scalding knife to cauterize the ends of Danny’s—now much shorter— fingers.

I watched Danny’s eyes lose focus before his body slumped and he wilted like a ragdoll to the floor. He was out cold.

“I’m not cleaning this mess,” Wild Card said, waving a hand to the bloody floor and Danny’s body. “I’ll go check on the women next door. Maybe they’ll offer to help pack his things while you two clean.”

“Are we sure the women didn’t call the cops?” Bones asked.

“Neighbor seemed almost happy we were here,” I said as I grabbed the roll of paper towel. Tearing off a sheet, I used it to pick up one of the fingertips, tossing it into the trash.

Normally I wouldn’t bother to clean, but this house was Cassie’s home. I didn’t want to leave the mess for her. And though I’d planned on moving her to the condo, the neighbor was obviously a friend. I didn’t want Cassie to lose that connection.

I grinned at my thoughtfulness as I searched for the other fingertip.

Bones chuckled. “Best vacation ever.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

KELSEY

Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.

I slept four hours before noise from the first floor reached a volume that prevented me from turning over and conquering another hour of sleep. I rolled out of bed, showered, dressed, and went downstairs.

“People are trying to sleep!” I called out to the packed room.

“Yeah!” Wild Card yelled from the couch where he was lying with his eyes closed, chest bare, and a sheet covering his mid-section. His bare legs stuck out the other end.

I glanced around, searching for Grady. Sure enough, he was at the table glaring at Wild Card. I ducked my head to hide my grin as I gravitated toward the coffee pot. “Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Hank, can you two play lifeguards for the kids today?”

“Happy to,” Uncle Hank answered from his perch at the breakfast bar.

The kids and Carl shrieked their excitement and went running up the stairs, likely to change into their swimsuits. Both Jager and Beast chased after them, barking.

“I need to clean the kitchen first,” Aunt Suzanne said.

We both glanced around. Every pot, pan, and serving platter was dirty. Bushels of food must’ve been consumed while I’d slept.

“You cooked. I’ll clean.”

“I’ll help,” Wild Card said, walking into the kitchen and snagging my coffee cup from me.

I looked down and saw he was wearing khaki shorts. I looked up and found him grinning at me.

“What’s the schedule today?” Bones asked, drawing my attention.

“We need to split up into three teams. One to cover the mansion security and guard the kids. A second team to work with me on the human trafficking case. And a third team led by Charlie.” I looked over and watched her head snap up. “She’ll need security while she works her double-homicide and searches for Evie’s mystery man.”

“What about Bridget?” Bones asked. “I don’t like her working alone in Charlie’s apartment building.”

“I’ll be fine,” Bridget said, dismissively.

“No,” Charlie said, shaking her head. “He’s right. Two dead bodies are enough bad juju for my building. And Mr. Tricky might pop in asking how to find me. You can’t be at my apartment unless you take guards with you. Even I don’t trust being in my building without backup right now.”

Bridget pouted. “Fine. Katie and Alex are going with me, so we’ll need two guards.”

“Take Reggie, Jackson, and at least one other guard,” I said.

“Wayne and Ryan are due here any minute,” Tyler said. “Wait for them.”

“Wayne can be their third,” I said. “I’ll take Ryan and Trigger on my team.”

“I get Bones and Wild Card,” Charlie said, claiming them for her team.

“I can live with that but you’ll have to share Tech,” I said, pointing a finger at her. “You can’t steal him.”

Charlie shrugged. “Whatever. Spence is running background searches for me. He’s first on my to-do list today.”

Aunt Suzanne and I both smiled.

“Not that kind of to-do list. There’s nothing sexual between Spence and me.”

“That’s a shame,” Maggie said, winking at Charlie. “I look at that man and just want to lick him.”

I could admit Spence was a good-looking man, but after working with the men of Aces on a daily basis, I’d gotten used to seeing hot bodies everywhere.

“If I’m going with Charlie,” Wild Card said, changing the subject, “who’s helping you clean the kitchen?”

“Everyone on my team will clean up after breakfast and Charlie’s team gets the next main meal. We’ll rotate.”

“Deal,” Charlie agreed as captain of her team. “Wild Card, you might want to find a shirt. We’re wasting daylight and I need to talk to Spence before my meeting with Lydia.”

Wild Card shifted in different weightlifter poses, curling his arms and clenched his muscles. “What? Not scary enough?”

The man had a beautifully sculpted body, but unfortunately, he knew it.

Grady growled,