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

go. I need to find—”
    He grabbed her arm, stopping her before she reached the truck. “Lola, I am sorry about your mom. But I need for you to take a deep breath and keep calm. I can’t have you compromising our mission, our lives, or your mom’s and Ian’s because you can’t separate your job and your personal feelings. Your focus needs to be on getting geared up and ready to go. Let the fear for your mom go. It’ll only compromise what we’re doing.”
    “Let go of my—”
    He held up a hand, silencing her before she ripped into him. “I’m not trying to sound insensitive. Trust me. I love my mom and, God forbid, if she was in the same situation as yours, I know I’d have a hard time separating the job from how I felt. But you have to try. And you have to trust me. I will do everything I can to bring her home. Okay?” When she didn’t look up at him, he bent his head to try to force her to look at him. “Okay?” he asked again.
    She finally met his gaze. Damn, he wished they weren’t in the dark, and that he could read her eyes. She was upset, and rightfully so. But he needed her calm, and now wanted to know if what he’d said had helped her or would only make her resent him further. He would do everything he could to bring her mom home, but also had no problem leaving her behind if she allowed her emotions to rule her judgment. He’d watched too many good soldiers die or lose limbs because they’d let their emotions screw with their head.
    “You don’t have to worry about me. I know what my role is and how to do my job.”
    Although unconvinced, he decided to let the subject drop for now and led her to the Suburban. “Ever been to the Everglades?” he asked, and helped her into the truck.
    “I’ve never been to Florida.”
    He looked to the backseat, where Harrison and Vlad were tossing in their gear, and then sliding inside. “How about you guys?”
    Harrison shook his head. “Nope. But Vlad’s been living in Orlando for the past few months.”
    “Vlad love the sunny state.”
    Holy shit. The big guy even sounded like Ivan Drago.
    “Florida is called the Sunshine State,” Harrison said. “Not the sunny state.”
    Vlad lifted his massive shoulders. “Sunshine…sunny, all same to Vlad.”
    On that note, Ryan closed Lola’s door, then made his way to the driver’s side. “Dawn is right around the corner.” He sat and started the truck. “I have my boat ready, so once you’re all changed and—”
    “Boat?” Lola asked. “Why are we taking a boat? He’s hunting, not fishing.”
    “Right, but water makes up most of the Everglades.” Ryan made a turn, and headed for his airboat business. “If you didn’t bring waterproof boots, I should have some that fit.” He looked at the Russian guy in his rearview mirror. “Vlad, you might be a problem, though. What size shoe do you wear?”
    “Do not worry for Vlad. Vlad come from Russia and know boots.”
    “So…your boots are waterproof?”
    “Water, snow…not snake or alligator,” he responded, his heavy accent laced with disgust. “Vlad like idea of use of boat. Alligator and snake only good for boot or purse.”
    Great, the Russian guy was scared of critters.
    “I like that we’re going by boat, too. Hiking really isn’t my thing,” Harrison said. “And I’m a size eleven.”
    “That’ll work.” He glanced to Lola. “What about you?”
    “I hate boats.”
    Harrison nudged Vlad. “Yeah, she threw up on It’s a Small World.”
    Lola wanted to shove a sock into Harrison’s mouth. She glanced over her shoulder to glare at him, hoping he’d let the subject rest. Dante and Ryan had already embarrassed her enough, and she didn’t need Harrison adding to her humiliation. Since she didn’t know the area, she hadn’t expected to take the lead during their rescue mission, and had assumed Ryan would take charge. What she hadn’t planned on was Dante making that point clear to Ryan thirty seconds into their mission.