Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) by Kristine Mason Page A
Authors: Kristine Mason
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Anger surfaced as he made another turn onto a dirt road that would take them to the location he’d scoped out two days ago, but he tamped it down. He would not allow worry and second-guessing to interfere with the pleasure of the hunt. He was smarter and more skilled than any of Ian’s minions. Even if they did find something he’d forgotten, it wouldn’t matter. Ian would still be dead, CORE would become a thing of the past, and he would vanish.
The dirt road, originally created back in the 1940s by loggers who’d been trying to access the bald cypress trees that were abundant in the area, narrowed. He’d learned from a local that this road was one less traveled by the many tourists and hikers seeking a taste of what the Everglades offered. Most would turn in the other direction and head toward Janes Memorial Scenic Drive, which would take them into the heart of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. But he wanted his prey heading west, where the chances of seeing another human were slim to none, the terrain was more rugged and ruthless, and the hunting at its best.
“This is quite a ride,” he said, impressed with the way the Range Rover handled the fallen limbs and deep ruts along the road. “What’s something like this cost? Never mind. No need to answer. Since you always have to have the best of everything, I’m sure you told the rental company to just give you the most expensive ride they had.” He shook his head. “Meanwhile, I’m driving around in a shitty Mazda from 1980. You know what I used to drive? Probably not, since you only care about yourself and your precious company. Well, I used to have a really sweet Lexus…had a sunroof, leather seats with an ass warmer. If I recall, Owen used to drive a Lexus, too. He was the one who turned me on to the car. My wife loved it so much, I bought her one.” His ex-wife’s gaping mouth and mutilated face filled his head, and he smiled. “But she doesn’t drive anymore.”
When the headlights touched on one of the old logging trails known as trams, he slowed, inched the Range Rover forward as far as he could into a thicket of trees, then stopped. “Almost there,” he said, shifting the SUV into PARK. After he’d come across the tram two days ago, he’d been forced to abandon his shitty Mazda and hoof it to the next one, which was about a half mile away and deep within the woods.
As he climbed out of the Rover, his stomach tightened. Soon enough he’d be one with nature, battling the wildlife, the bugs, the unforgiving landscape and…hunting.
Damn, he couldn’t wait to put a bullet in Ian’s head. Too bad he couldn’t fake the man’s death for a while just so Ian could watch his company crumble. That was okay, though. He opened the Rover’s trunk, then pulled out the gear he’d stowed there, along with a camouflage tarp. He could watch CORE tank knowing that he was the reason for its demise.
After pulling the hunting pack, equipped with a hydration system, a rifle and pistol, along with his laptop and cellphone, he strapped it over his shoulders, then opened the rear driver’s side door and met Cami’s gaze. “How’s that finger?” he asked, then released a sigh when she started screaming again. If she kept up all the frickin’ racket, he’d find them in no time. “Must hurt like a bitch. Come on, time to go.”
He untied the cord connecting her to Ian, then forced them both to scoot across the floorboard and out of the SUV. Once he shoved them to their knees, he tossed the tarp over the Rover. Unfortunately the material wasn’t large enough, and exposed the SUV’s tires. At this point, there wasn’t anything he could do about that. Plus, based on how little this area was traveled by hikers and sightseers, he doubted he’d have to worry about discoverability. After he adjusted the tarp, he moved toward the couple, cut the tape wrapped around their ankles, then quickly stepped back and aimed the flashlight
Anger surfaced as he made another turn onto a dirt road that would take them to the location he’d scoped out two days ago, but he tamped it down. He would not allow worry and second-guessing to interfere with the pleasure of the hunt. He was smarter and more skilled than any of Ian’s minions. Even if they did find something he’d forgotten, it wouldn’t matter. Ian would still be dead, CORE would become a thing of the past, and he would vanish.
The dirt road, originally created back in the 1940s by loggers who’d been trying to access the bald cypress trees that were abundant in the area, narrowed. He’d learned from a local that this road was one less traveled by the many tourists and hikers seeking a taste of what the Everglades offered. Most would turn in the other direction and head toward Janes Memorial Scenic Drive, which would take them into the heart of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. But he wanted his prey heading west, where the chances of seeing another human were slim to none, the terrain was more rugged and ruthless, and the hunting at its best.
“This is quite a ride,” he said, impressed with the way the Range Rover handled the fallen limbs and deep ruts along the road. “What’s something like this cost? Never mind. No need to answer. Since you always have to have the best of everything, I’m sure you told the rental company to just give you the most expensive ride they had.” He shook his head. “Meanwhile, I’m driving around in a shitty Mazda from 1980. You know what I used to drive? Probably not, since you only care about yourself and your precious company. Well, I used to have a really sweet Lexus…had a sunroof, leather seats with an ass warmer. If I recall, Owen used to drive a Lexus, too. He was the one who turned me on to the car. My wife loved it so much, I bought her one.” His ex-wife’s gaping mouth and mutilated face filled his head, and he smiled. “But she doesn’t drive anymore.”
When the headlights touched on one of the old logging trails known as trams, he slowed, inched the Range Rover forward as far as he could into a thicket of trees, then stopped. “Almost there,” he said, shifting the SUV into PARK. After he’d come across the tram two days ago, he’d been forced to abandon his shitty Mazda and hoof it to the next one, which was about a half mile away and deep within the woods.
As he climbed out of the Rover, his stomach tightened. Soon enough he’d be one with nature, battling the wildlife, the bugs, the unforgiving landscape and…hunting.
Damn, he couldn’t wait to put a bullet in Ian’s head. Too bad he couldn’t fake the man’s death for a while just so Ian could watch his company crumble. That was okay, though. He opened the Rover’s trunk, then pulled out the gear he’d stowed there, along with a camouflage tarp. He could watch CORE tank knowing that he was the reason for its demise.
After pulling the hunting pack, equipped with a hydration system, a rifle and pistol, along with his laptop and cellphone, he strapped it over his shoulders, then opened the rear driver’s side door and met Cami’s gaze. “How’s that finger?” he asked, then released a sigh when she started screaming again. If she kept up all the frickin’ racket, he’d find them in no time. “Must hurt like a bitch. Come on, time to go.”
He untied the cord connecting her to Ian, then forced them both to scoot across the floorboard and out of the SUV. Once he shoved them to their knees, he tossed the tarp over the Rover. Unfortunately the material wasn’t large enough, and exposed the SUV’s tires. At this point, there wasn’t anything he could do about that. Plus, based on how little this area was traveled by hikers and sightseers, he doubted he’d have to worry about discoverability. After he adjusted the tarp, he moved toward the couple, cut the tape wrapped around their ankles, then quickly stepped back and aimed the flashlight
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