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

After how the former SEAL had given her his insensitive separate your job and personal feelings spiel, it was obvious Ryan questioned whether she could handle going after the kidnapper and saving her mom.
    She might not be experienced, but she was determined. And, damn it, how could she not hang onto her fear? Right now, her fear was what kept her going. Her mom was the only family she had left outside of relatives in China. Relatives who had disowned her father after he’d married a white woman. But Cami Carlyle was more than her mother, she was her friend. Her throat tightened and her eyes misted with tears. Losing her…
    “Sorry,” Harrison said. “But you did say you threw up all over—”
    “I know what I said. Let’s just drop it.” Using the dim glow from the dashboard, she studied Ryan’s profile for a reaction. His chiseled jaw shifted as he grinned. Well, at least one of them was amused. “The boat will be fine,” she said, hoping to assure him that she could handle herself. “And I’m a size eight and a half.”
    Ryan veered left off the main road. “I have Dramamine, if you need it.”
    “Asian Lola not need this Dramamine. Vlad have vodka. A couple sips should do trick.”
    “I would prefer if you refrained from drinking while we’re out there,” Ryan said, turning into a large parking lot. “Have at it when we’re finished. Hell, I’ll even join you. But until then, the flask stays behind. Got it?”
    “получил его. Vlad will leave flask.”
    “Is this where you work?” Harrison asked.
    “That’s right.”
    “Cool. But shouldn’t we be going to the rental house?”
    She turned toward the backseat. “Ryan’s already been there.”
    “Yeah, but don’t you want to go there? After what we saw during the Skype call, I’d think—”
    “We are not going back to the house,” Ryan said, shifting the truck into PARK.
    “I was asking Lola, not you.”
    Ryan killed the ignition, but didn’t make a move to exit the truck. He stared forward, his strong jaw clenched, his shoulders tensed.
    “Aren’t we getting out?” she asked.
    “Not until you explain to your agents what you and I have already discussed. I’m not going into the Glades with a team divided.”
    He was absolutely right. She cleared her throat and tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. “Ryan is in charge. He knows this place, we don’t. We do as he says and follow his lead.” She shifted her gaze to the Russian. “Vlad, I know you don’t work for CORE, but since the agency is compensating you for your time, I expect you to listen to Ryan, as well. Are we clear?”
    “Whose call is this?” Harrison asked.
    “Mine. I want my mom out of this mess, and Ryan’s the only one who can help bring her home.” When she pulled on the door handle, the truck’s interior light came on, and she looked to Ryan, who stared at her. Shadows hid what she suspected were blue eyes, but not the appreciation softening his jaw. In that moment, her resentment and earlier humiliation melted away, leaving only her fear, anger and gratitude.
    This should have never had happened. Her mom and Ian should be enjoying a relaxing vacation. She should be back in Chicago, baking frozen pies for Jessica and Dante’s Thanksgiving dinner. Ryan had mentioned his mom. Maybe he’d had plans for the holiday, too. Whether he had or not, she would forever be in his debt and would always be grateful to him for placing his own life in danger to help her save her mom. “Are we ready?” she asked.
    Ryan smiled as he opened his door. “Bring your bags. We’ll stow them on the boat.”
    The reminder of the boat had her running a shaky hand from her forehead down her cheek. Ignoring her churning stomach, she exited the truck. A slight breeze carried a mixture of odors. Not stagnant water or even salt water, but vegetation, maybe fish and definitely tar from the asphalt parking lot.
    “Vlad like Ryan truck. What it called?” he asked, lighting a