Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) by Kristine Mason

took the phone, she kept her gaze averted from his and walked away. Ryan looked to the other two men. Vlad began following after Lola. Harrison shrugged, as if saying you’re on your own , then trailed after the two agents. Uncertain as to what just happened, he put the phone to his ear, hoping for an answer. “It’s Ryan.”
    “How soon before you’ll be ready to go?” Dante asked.
    “I’ve taken care of our gear and weapons. Once I have your agents outfitted, we can start searching within a half hour.”
    “Good. Hopefully we’ll have info on Ian’s car by then.”
    “If not, I have a few places in mind where we can start searching.” He’d explained the situation to Barney when he’d called the man in to help him load the boat and watch Sadie. Since Barney knew the area even better than him, he’d given Ryan several good suggestions. “I’m hoping he went by foot. If this guy has an airboat, our scope will be broader, though.”
    “Right. If you don’t hear from me before you’re ready to head out, call.”
    “Will do.”
    “And, Ryan. I let Lola know you’re the lead.”
    Awesome. That explained why she walked off in a huff. “Got it,” he said, then ended the call. Honestly, he’d assumed he was the lead. His boat, his gear, his territory. But he’d planned on taking over in a way so as not to step on any of the agents’ toes. He wanted this mission to run smooth and as quickly as possible, without anyone becoming territorial over who was in charge.
    When he reached the truck and opened the driver’s side door, the interior light showed the irritation hardening Lola’s pretty face. Because his mom had raised him and his brother to be gentlemen, he took her bag, which was heavier than it looked, then led her to the passenger side.
    “Before I forget, does this belong to your mom?” he asked, and pulled the ruby earring he’d found in the back of the Mazda from his pocket, then held it under the interior light.
    “I don’t think so.” She crinkled her forehead. “At least I’ve never seen her wear them before. Where did you find it?”
    “In a car outside the rental house.”
    “Right.” She looked away from his hand, but didn’t meet his gaze. “Dante said you went there. Did you find anything?”
    The two other agents lingered by the opened, rear driver’s side door. Knowing Lola’s mom was one of the victims they were pursuing, and sensing that he needed to make sure she understood that he wasn’t planning on keeping her out of the loop or hiding anything from her, he took her by the elbow. Once they were out of earshot, he said, “It made sense for me to head over there right away.”
    “I know that, and I’m glad you did.” She looked to the ground. “I guess I…never mind.”
    “Please, don’t never mind me. We’re going to be working side by side for however long this search takes. From here on out, we’re a team. If you have something to say, say it. I don’t want us getting off on the wrong foot.”
    “Did Dante tell you the kidnapper snapped my mom’s pinky?”
    He couldn’t read her expression in the dark, but with the way she slumped her shoulders and hugged herself, she looked vulnerable and…scared. Since he had no problem with being called a mama’s boy, and would go after anyone who would be stupid enough to hurt his mom, he didn’t blame Lola. “He told me.”
    “Did you find anything else that might indicate…God, this is harder than I thought.” She drew in a ragged breath. “Was there any evidence that he did…anything else to her?”
    “None that I could find,” he said, then quickly filled her in on everything he’d discovered at the rental, including the Mazda.
    “He trapped them inside the house?” She clasped her hands behind her head and spun away. “This is…Oh, my God,” she said, her voice shaking and filled with so much terror it made his chest tighten. She dropped her hands and quickly rushed past him. “We need to