The Hunted (The Chronicles of the Hunter Book 1) Read online

  “I don’t want music. I want answers. Okay with you?”

  “Yes. And no.”

  Kane wiped his hand down his thigh before turning the stereo down. He didn’t turn it off. Background music helped with a lot of things. Like nervousness.

  “No?”

  “Didn’t you hear me earlier? This is new territory for me.”

  “Tell me about it,” she inserted.

  “I’m unsure what to tell you. And how much.”

  “I’m just supposed to be docile and uninformed?”

  “You’re alive, aren’t you?”

  She didn’t answer for a bit. Kane checked. She was frowning again. He looked back at the road.

  “I want to know how you know my name.”

  “I’m not...a guardian angel. Exactly.”

  “Really? Well. I did have that suspicion,” she replied.

  Kane choked on a chuckle. That was another oddity. He was known as the humorless type. “You could say I’m more of a hunter.”

  “What do you hunt?”

  He sucked in his cheeks, tipped his head, and debated options. When that didn’t work, he settled with a shrug that lifted the hood to his ears before it dropped back.

  “That’s not an answer.”

  “I know. I’m working on it.”

  Kane checked her reflection in his rearview mirror again. Her lips twitched. She acted like she caught his glance before turning away, looking out her window. Sunlight was making a dent on the world. Dawn touched her face, highlighting all kinds of things. A slight pout to her full bottom lip. The shadow of long eyelashes. A rose shade that tinted her cheeks.

  LeeAnn Schultz was a stunning woman.

  Not good.

  The complication of keeping her with him multiplied. Kane turned his attention back to the road. They’d reached the Overseas Highway. The freeway merge claimed his attention for a span. Even at this time of morning, there was traffic.

  “You’re a very careful driver.”

  “Bad driving can be a deciding factor in any situation. That’s how they caught the serial killer, Ted Bundy. And Berkowitz. Nobody caught them with detective work. You sure you don’t want to listen to music?”

  The opening strains of Chopin’s Nocturne in B-flat minor had just started up. Kane considered turning it up a little. Chopin was considered an operatic composer. A poet of the piano. This piece was one of his best. It might soothe the dismayed expression she’d just assumed as she’d jerked her head back to look at his reflection. And then she started wriggling about.

  “Calm down back there. You’re safe with me. I swear it.”

  “You just compared yourself to...serial killers!”

  Her voice was shaking. At a slightly higher pitch than before. For some reason, that affected him.

  “See? I have to watch what I tell you. And how much. I bring out that driving issues can change everything and look what happens? You react.”

  The leather continued to creak as she moved about.

  “LeeAnn, listen! I was trying to explain that getting pulled over with a woman strapped into the back seat of my car would not be a good thing at the moment. It would create attention we don’t need. Now, stop that. Or, I’ll pull over and handle it.”

  She stilled instantly. Her eyes were huge. Kane cursed silently before looking back to the road. He was doing poorly already, and they had a long drive ahead.

  “You need to calm down. Please. You’re safe.”

  “I don’t...feel safe.”

  Her voice shuddered. He sighed heavily. “I belong to an elite group. I can’t tell you much, but trust me. I’m one of the good guys.”

  “Good guys don’t break into hotel rooms. Nor do they kidnap people.”

  “They do if it will save lives. Or are you forgetting that?”

  “How can I believe anything you say?”

  “My...group monitors chatter. Somebody put out a hit on a LeeAnn Schultz. Arriving on Tuesday. 6 pm. I was given the assignment.”

  “I arrived on Wednesday morning.”

  “I know. Your flight was overbooked. You gave up your seat. I’ve been tracking you since before you landed at Miami/Dade International. I know every place you’ve been, everything you purchased, and what hotel you were staying at. And when they coded your room key, I even got your room number.”

  “No way.”

  “You know that little chip on your credit card? That isn’t just for security. It collects and sends data every time you use it.”

  “You can hack that?”

  “Pretty much. Especially since you kept using free Wi-Fi service.”

  “That’s...unnerving. Is that how you got in my room? With a spare room key?”

  “Nope. The rooms above yours were vacant. Told you it was a mistake to leave your drapes open.”

  “You climbed down from a balcony?”

  “Three of them.”

  “At thirty-plus stories above the ground? I can’t—no. This is too unbelievable.”

  “It gets worse.”

  “How?”

  He sent a glance into the mirror toward her. She had her lips pursed. She didn’t look frightened anymore. She looked young. Unsure. And cuter than—

  He didn’t dare quantify it. He could have sworn his heart just skipped a beat. That was illogical and ill-timed.

  “Since I missed your would-be assassin, we got problems. I don’t know who he is. What he looks like. Or when he’ll strike again. All I know for sure is, he will.”

  The Chopin selection finished. Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 started up. That was a little too lively. Kane reached over and turned the stereo system off. Music hadn’t worked at calming him, anyway. That was another oddity. He was unsettled. On edge. Extremely wary.

  “Will what?”

  “Strike again.”

  She gasped. He didn’t have to see it. He heard it.

  “Don’t worry. First, he has to find you.”

  “So...I’m going into hiding?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “Where?”

  “The Keys. Safe house.”

  “Key West?”

  “Close.”

  “Hmm. I’ve never been to Key West. Is it nice?”

  “Yeah.”

  She was silent for so long, he had to check to see why. The sunlight had moved to his side of the vehicle, putting her in a shadow-land back there. She looked sleepy. She even yawned. His heart skipped another beat.

  Uh oh.

  This was bad. First he was engaging? And now getting interested?

  She looked toward him and caught his glance. Kane immediately shifted it back to the road before realizing that idiocy. He wore dark glasses. She couldn’t possibly see through them.

  “What’s your name?”

  Kane sucked in his cheeks and tilted his head. That was a big one. He twisted his lips next. He had his orders. No entanglements. No names. No history. No trail.

  “What? Is it a secret?”

  “Yes. And no,” he answered.

  She yawned again. He had a hard time stopping the smile.

  “Fine. I’ll name you. You look like a Kane.”

  He wasn’t prepared. He jerked slightly and sent a quick glance at her again. She was smiling. Sunlight was just touching her left side. She looked angelic. And wide awake.

  “Is that it? Your name is Kane?”

  He didn’t answer. He’d thought she was sleepy. Another mistake. He was making way too many of those, in a very short time. Kane shrugged again. Toyed with turning the stereo back on. Shifted. His seat creaked in accompaniment. He reached for the climate control switch.

  “You okay back there? Not too hot? Cold?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You thirsty?” he asked.

  “Not unless you have coffee.”

  “Never touch the stuff.”

  “That figures.”

  “I’ve got cold water. Bottled.”

  “Thanks, but I can’
t get my hands free to drink it. You know what, Kane? I think I’ll just try and take a little snooze back here. Maybe when I wake up, I’ll be back in my hotel room, and this will have been a very strange dream. That okay with you?”

  “Dream on, baby.”

  Oh.

  Hell.

  He did not just say that. Not in a thousand years. He wasn’t just exhibiting slow wits. They appeared to be missing entirely. Kane’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, making the leather wrap rotate under his palm. Luckily, she didn’t respond. A milepost passed. Another one. He sent a peek in the rearview mirror toward her.

  She had her head tilted to the side. She looked asleep.

  And she was smiling.

  CHAPTER THREE

  LeeAnn wasn’t sleeping. Only stupid, insipid individuals would actually sleep at a time like this. She was vulnerable. With a complete stranger. And, even if it did appear as if he’d saved her, she was still at his mercy. Wearing little more than a nightgown. Sans her phone. Identification. Cash. Credit cards. She couldn’t even prove who she was. The last thing she needed was to be unaware of her surroundings and how she got there. She’d read this plot too many times. She needed to keep her wits about her. Gain an accurate account of time. Distance. Check when the vehicle changed speeds. Make certain of turns. How many. Which direction.

  The rising sun was mostly on the driver side now, so they were definitely heading south. She could just make out the dash clock. His arm blocked it for a moment, as he turned on his stereo again. Classical music surrounded her. She didn’t know composers or tunes, but it was strangely soothing. Oddly comforting.

  All bad.

  And counterintuitive.

  She didn’t need or want comfort. She was in way over her head here, and didn’t like the feeling. Her mind kept sending possible scenarios. Potential plans of action. A lot of truly frightening endings. She really could use some caffeine. She’d even take it cold. With carbonation. And a day’s supply of sugar. She peeked occasionally out the window, checking for anything that could be a potential landmark. Looked like a lot of clear blue sky. A lot more ocean. And tons of sunlight. It was going to be a gorgeous hot, sunny day.

  The sun sent a lot of warmth with its rays. The heat was like another layer of comfort. Soothing. Reassuring even as it cocooned. LeeAnn mentally shook herself. Slanted a glance toward Kane. She could just make out the back of his neck. She instantly had to stanch a whisper of reaction through her belly.

  This wasn’t good.

  Then again, it couldn’t just be her. The guy was beyond good looking...even if a tad overly alpha, a bit too masculine, and entirely too close-lipped and predatory. He was still gorgeous. He had the tall, dark, and handsome monikers covered.

  In spades.

  Really, LeeAnn. Stop. Just stop.

  His jaw was really chiseled. The line was apparent beneath the slight shadow of black whiskers. She knew now that it matched his hair color. She’d been right with that assessment. His hair was definitely dark. More...coal black. Looked straight, but he wore it pulled back, which might exaggerate that quality. She couldn’t tell the length. It wasn’t short. The start of his queue was just visible before it disappeared beneath his clothing. A few strands slid down his neck.

  He had a really thick neck, too.

  Another shiver of something unbidden sliced through her, sending a layer of reaction in its wake. Entirely pleasant. And uncalled for. She didn’t even like big, muscled guys. Now, that she thought of it, she didn’t really know any. Kane looked wrestling-superstar fit. She’d never seen a guy as ripped. He had wide shoulders. Massive arms. The rest of him was probably a match. She didn’t know why she even pondered that. He’d jogged down so many flights of stairs, carrying her hundred and thirty pounds that her head had grown dizzy. He hadn’t even been breathing hard.

  One thing was certain. She wasn’t going to be able to fight him. Or outrun him. She’d have to rely on cunning.

  Palm trees started showing up in her view. They’d left the highway? When had that happened? The vehicle geared down as he slowed. She heard him flip the turn signal lever.

  What?

  No.

  It couldn’t be. She’d actually slept? LeeAnn checked the dash clock. Blinked on the proof before her eyes. Sagged back into her seat with disgust. He made a couple of right turns. Sped up slightly.

  Crap.

  She was a complete failure at this covert stuff. She didn’t know where they were. All she knew was over two hours had elapsed, and that only because of the dash clock. The palm trees gave way to privacy fencing – mostly white stone. Or stucco. She wasn’t in the construction business so she didn’t know. She’d had construction company clients. She knew their debits and credits. She didn’t know a thing about their operations. They’d had a lot of them, actually. Her partner, Chad, was like a magnet when it came to businesses predominantly owned by guys. Wait. She needed to call him her ex-partner. It was probably his hand behind her assassination attempt. Really, LeeAnn...who else could it be? She didn’t even know that much about him...except he was handsome, single, and charming. The background check had been clean. She should have dug deeper. Taken self-defense classes. Joined a gym. Bought a gun and learned how to use it.

  All of which was not going to help a thing now.

  The fence was connected intermittently with stacks of cemented stones. Very artistic. They were mostly light shades. A few gray ones here and there. Some pinkish toned. The vehicle slowed. Kane signaled. Turned. And stopped before a two-story arched gate. She heard the window retract.

  “Leon,” he said.

  “Kane.”

  The man’s reply sent a flush of pleasure through her. She’d been right on his name! Knowing she’d tagged him correctly almost offset her failure at everything else.

  Almost.

  They passed beneath a portico. The vehicle darkened. Bright sun flooded in as they came out the other side. And then it grew really dark as the vehicle drove into a cavernous space that might be a garage. They passed vehicle after vehicle, answering that question, before pulling into a spot. Her hands turned into icicles against the sides of her thighs. Alarm bells hit both ears.

  He spent a lot of time putting the vehicle into park before turning it off. Unhooking his safety belt. Rearranging the rearview mirror. And then he turned swiftly toward her, surprising her. That wasn’t fair. He didn’t even take off his sunglasses.

  “We’re here,” he told her.

  Her eyes widened. Any words got caught in a ball at her throat.

  “You ready?”

  “For...what?”

  That little, hesitant voice couldn’t possibly be hers! Ugh. LeeAnn looked away. Checked out the roof of the classy-looking limo just outside her window. She used the time to collect herself mentally, but it was mostly a berating. She didn’t have to just be a victim? She had to sound like one, too?

  “I’m taking you inside now.”

  “Inside?” she asked the window glass.

  “And you’re not going to give me any trouble. We clear on that?”

  What a farce. Trouble?

  Her?

  “I know you faked sleeping. You probably think you know exactly where we are. You may already have a plan of escape. I’m not amused. Okay? I’m the good guy here.”

  She caught the instant smile before looking back at him. He hadn’t known she slept? Maybe she wasn’t such a failure, after all.

  “I’ve never brought anyone here...especially a woman. It may create some interest.”

  She choked.

  “Actually, it will engender a lot of interest. Conjecture. Nothing I want to address. So, no screaming. No yelling. And no fighting me.”

  “I’m just supposed to be docile?”

  “Would you rather be unconscious?”

  One of his brows lifted above the sunglass frame as he asked it. Nothing else moved. On him. Her reaction was the opposite. Her eyes widened. Every limb went ice-cold,
her belly dropped nauseatingly. Her heart stopped. And her breathing was right behind it, as if on cue, making an audible gasp.

  He smiled. It didn’t make him look more approachable.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  LeeAnn forced a breath as he just sat there, watching her. There wasn’t a descriptor for how these shivers felt as they coursed her skin.

  “We good, then?”

  He waited for her nod before exiting. The vehicle rocked as he released it from the burden of his weight. Shut his door. It seemed like a moment later her side door opened. He reached across her lap, unfastened her belts, and wrapped an arm about her middle. She was hefted atop his shoulder again. Got a narrow view of polished floor. She didn’t fight. She didn’t struggle. She didn’t make a sound.

  He walked through the garage. A whir sounded as a door must have opened. Kane passed through it and she squinted as her vision got overwhelmed with artificial light. The floor turned into a span of light shaded tiles that matched the fence stones outside. Light gray. Off-white. Some pink. The room echoed with his steps. LeeAnn turned her head. Caught a glimpse of stainless steel. A lot of big kettles. Rows of what looked like marine gear. Lifejackets. SCUBA tanks. Spear guns. She couldn’t see it all. They entered another space, this one dark. Carpeted. Muted. His steps didn’t make much noise. He crossed another portal, and entered a space ablaze with sunlight. LeeAnn narrowed her eyes and tipped her head toward the source, and her jaw dropped. The wall was a solid span of big windows. At least two stories high. They showcased an outside swimming pool that was larger than her entire apartment. It was framed with lounge furniture. Palm trees. Rimmed by more of the privacy wall. And beyond that was a solid horizon of ocean.

  Holy crap.

  This wasn’t a safe house. It was a mansion. The kind featured in stories about the rich and famous. Overpaid celebrities. Rock stars. Billionaires.

  He entered an area with a cream colored floor. The walls matched. It was a rotunda. Round. Could be the entranceway. Kane didn’t give her any time to decipher it. He was moving so rapidly, she felt queasy. Her head was starting to pound, too. And her abs hurt from contact with his shoulder. They reached a staircase. He began climbing, two steps at a time. Then a voice hailed him, stopping his progress.