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

Roseline as quiet, shy even, but intelligent and observant. The family wasn’t surprised when she turned in the drug dealers and entered WITSEC. He said she used to volunteer as an advocate for at risk teens and had a habit of fighting for the underdog. And her volunteer work was in addition to working two other jobs. She was a secretary at a large firm during the day and worked nights at a truck stop. She was trying to save up for college. She wanted to be a social worker.”

“I’m surprised she was so reserved with me then. She knew I was a cop, yet she gave me the same illegal immigrant BS story she told everyone else.”

“She couldn’t tell the truth. The rules are very clear: Don’t trust anyone. Keep to yourself. Use the same lies every time to help keep them straight.”

I thought about the drug dealers. “Had she broken the rules? Had she contacted her family?”

“No. Not according to her brother. The first news they’d received since she’d entered WITSEC was her death notification. They’re in shock.”

“I bet.”

“Charlie…” Maggie glanced at the floor before looking back at me. “Not to pile on your plate, but it’s not enough to find the person who killed her.”

“I know.” I ran a hand through my hair. “We also need to figure out who hired the killer.”

“Do you think it was the Jameson crew?” Bones asked.

“Not really. I mean, they’re the obvious choice. But Lisa’s brother, Phillip, said the Jameson crew doesn’t have the reach. He suggested maybe their suppliers, but my conversation with Mickey was cut short when bullets started flying so he didn’t have a chance to tell me if he knew of a network in Miami.”

“I’ll go talk to Mickey,” Spence said. “He’s more likely to share details with me than you.”

“You need backup?” Bones asked him.

“You don’t take backup to a meeting with Mickey,” Spence said, shaking his head. “He’ll read it as an act of war. No, I’m good. I’ll be back before ten.”

I was staring at the floor, biting my lip. “Spence—” I called out just as he was opening the door. “Ask Mickey about the prisoner from the hospital log. See if he knows anything about the arrest.”

Spence dropped his head in a quick nod before walking out.

“What was that about?” Ryan asked.

“I don’t know yet. Just a thread that needs to be pulled.”

Maggie laughed. “I’ll let you keep your secrets, for now, if you let us go dancing.”

I laughed. “Fine. Go. Have fun. But watch the time. I need you guys back in The Parlor before ten.”

Bridget started squealing and grabbed Maggie’s hand, dragging her toward the door. Bones narrowed his eyes at me before reluctantly following the girls. Ryan sat in the chair that Maggie had vacated. Wild Card sat in one of the guest chairs. Jackson and Trigger looked at each other, then back at me.

“Go! I mean it. There’s nothing on the agenda until later.”

Their faces brightened with smiles as they hurried for the door.

Evie walked over and sat next to me on the couch. “Baker showed me a picture of Xander earlier. Do you know his real name?”

“I do. And it’s not good. His real name is Miguel Remirez. He’s married, but the bigger problem is that he’s the head of a Mexican drug cartel.”

Baker muttered an f-bomb as he threw a stapler across the room into one of the monitors, shattering the screen. Garth, who’d been standing guard near the door, shook his head before disappearing down the hall.

We all sat in silence. Several minutes later, Garth returned with a box containing a new monitor. Wild Card walked over to help him.

Baker walked toward me, stopping next to the bar. He stood with his arms crossed, staring at me. “How bad is this situation?”

“Bad. I’d wager Miguel’s girlfriends don’t usually live past the break-up stage. The man is ruthless. We suspect he killed both his uncle and his older brother. His other brother, Santiago, tried to kill Kelsey recently.”

Baker’s face was hard. Frozen in anger. “What’s the plan to protect Evie?”

“For now, she stays here. But no more trips to The Parlor without one of Kelsey’s bodyguards.”

Garth stopped hooking up the monitor and turned to face me. “Are you questioning my ability to protect her?”

“No. But if the cartel finds out she’s here, they’ll show up with automatic rifles. They’ll shower this place with bullets. You’re good, Garth, but you’re not bulletproof.”

“Well…” He turned back toward the monitor he was installing. “When you put it that way…”

“If I stay here,” Evie said, pulling my attention, “I’ll be putting everyone in danger.”

“Only if they find you. If you stay on the fifth floor, you, and everyone else, will be safe.”

“I’m shutting down the private rooms,” Baker said, recrossing the room back to his desk. “There are two security doors between this office and the private rooms, but I don’t want to take a chance. Owen Flint knows the layout on this floor.”

“What about tonight?” Ryan asked me.

I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if we were still using Evie as bait. “Evie stays upstairs. Maggie or I will bait Owen Flint.”

“You sure?” Ryan asked. “Kelsey worried someone new might make Owen suspicious.”

“I’m willing to take that chance. One way or another, we’ll get him either upstairs or into the holding room on the third floor, but we won’t use Evie to do it.”

Evie shook her head. “I promised Kelsey.”

“It’s not your call. It’s mine.” I smiled over at Ryan. “Besides, Kelsey doesn’t scare me. It’ll be fine.”

Ryan smiled, knowing I was lying.

~*~*~

I needed some thinking time, so I walked out of the office into the hallway. I leaned against the wall, sliding