Page 22

Hunt

As Kelly exits the chairlift in front of me, I raise my safety bar. After sliding down the ramp, I spot her flirting with Ahmad. Scowling at them, I open my ski tips, push in my poles, and skate toward the lesson. The last student to arrive, I snowplow to a stop near two thin, middle-aged men arguing in Farsi. They talk too fast for my limited skills.

Lowering my chin to the mic taped to my chest, I murmur, “Lucky, you hearing this, mate?”

“Affirmative.” Back in his home office, I picture him recording the conversation, perhaps translating in real time.

The wind whistles past my ears, biting through my jacket as I shift on my skis, trying to catch more of the men’s rapid exchange. Every word feels like a puzzle piece just out of reach.

My attention shifts to the teacher who slaloms for a short distance, stops, then waves us forward. “Show us what you’ve got. One at a time.”

From the back of the line, the two Iranians continue to converse.

When I catch the word ricin, my skis slide out from beneath me. Holy shit. They’re talking about a deadly nerve agent.

Standing, I brush off the snow. “Sorry. I’m a little nervous about this steep slope.”

“No problem.” Brows furrowed, the larger guy tilts his head and studies my face. A beat of silence later, he utters something under his breath to the other man. All at once they both switch to English, discussing the weather.

Dialog at an end, Lochlan whispers hoarsely in my earpiece. “What the bloody hell have you stepped into?”

Jesus, I wish I knew.

I wait until it’s my turn to ski before lowering my mouth to the mic. “Did I hear the word, ricin?”

“Damn straight, mate. Keep your head down. Don’t let on.” For once, the operative didn’t crack a joke.

Shit. I am so fucked.

When I shoosh to a stop next to my border guard she shoots me a scowl but beams at Ahmad.

“Babe, I’m sorry. Can we talk?” I must get her alone—tell her what I heard.

Ignoring my pleading eyes, she continues the sham. “Well, I’m still mad, Jack. You can’t simply say what you did and expect me to forgive you right off.”

Her authentic tone makes me wonder. It doesn’t sound like an act.

I think back to the restaurant. Okay, I guess stones-of-steel wasn’t the best praise, but she didn’t appear to mind.

While I second guess myself, the interloper smirks. “Perhaps, you should afford the lady some space.”

What the hell is this? Fists clenched, my vision blurs. For a moment, I consider arresting the bastard. It would be reckless, but right now, I don’t care. She may be playing a role, but he’s a shark, contemplating his next meal.

Focus, Hunt. You’re better than this.

Needing intel more than a pissing contest trophy, I banish my jealousy.

Finally, the class ends. Now she sits in my SUV, warming her hands over the heater. As I start to back out of the parking space, she stretches over the cup holder, pulling my sunglasses to the tip of my nose. “You can turn off the scowly face, Hunter.”

I shove my mirrored lenses back in place. “We can talk at the hotel. Right now, I have to concentrate, babe.”

“Wait!” She grabs the wheel. “Don’t go. What if someone tampered with your vehicle?”

Fishing out my phone, I press the security app icon. “No one has been near our car. See?”

“Wow.” Her shoulders drop as she sinks into the heated seats. “Would’ve been nice to have that program, a few days ago. My poor Kia was totaled.”

“We didn’t know the risks. I’m not taking any more chances. You’ve sort of grown on me.”

Done checking for tails, I ease onto the highway. “ETA to my room, ten minutes.”

Once I’m sure we’re not being followed, I ask Lochlan James, the question lying heavy on my mind. “Have you had enough time to translate the video?”

The Aussie hisses. “Some, but not all. Your two Iranian friends were describing a mass poisoning event. They stopped talking when you showed too much interest.”

Eyes widening, O’Malley stiffens and digs her nails into my thigh. “Oh my God.”

“Dammit. I can’t believe it.” A cold sweat prickles my neck as I tighten my grip on the steering. “Shit. If I hadn’t reacted, we could’ve learned more.”

“No worries, mate. Slate’s debating a possible timeline with our top guys. If the terrorists make a move, we’ll know.”

But it may be too late. “Keep in touch. I’ll keep my phone nearby. Over.”

“Copy that. Hang tight. We got your six. We’ll reach out soon.”

After the call ends, silence lingers between us, thick with unspoken fears. Kelly stares out the windshield, her fingers tearing at the day pass, stapled to her zipper.

“Are you okay?” One glance over the stick shift makes me wish this was all a nightmare—one I’d pay a small fortune to wake up from.

“Yeah, yeah. Just wondering where they’ve targeted the attack.” Her digits clutch my knee, her breathing shallow.

“Well, fuck them.” After she slams her fist on the dashboard, her eyes flick toward my hotel, coming up fast on our right. “We should eat.”

I nod my agreement. First food, then plan . We’ve burned through a lot of energy. Soon, we sit in my hotel’s restaurant where she slips off her after-ski boots and rubs her ankles. Letting out a sigh, her head snaps to the entrance.

“For the love of God, here comes Bourdin.”

Parading across the room, the coyote parks at our table. “How’s the snow?”

Kelly narrows her gaze and points out the door. “Beautiful. Why don’t you go check it out? Like now?”

His face darkens with rage. When his fingers curl into a fist, I clamp onto his elbow, applying pressure until his eyes water.

“Don’t even think about it.”

Still in my grasp, a diamond sparkling in his front incisor, he smirks at my date. “Your brother can’t watch her twenty-four-seven.”

He’s threatening her kid? As I squeeze his arm tighter, I picture my hands around his throat. When it’s clear who’s weaker, I let him go and shove him toward the door.

Out of my reach, the bully stabs his finger in the air. “I warned you. Now that Dante’s missing, I’m coming for Mack.”

Full of venom, coiled to bite, her green eyes narrow. “He’s not gone. He’ll be back.”

The man chuckles. “Sure, he will.”

Something about his derision raises the hackles on the back of my neck. “Got something you want to share with the whole class, John?”

Facing us, he inches back. “Better be careful, or you’ll end up ice fishing, too.”

“Are you trying to intimidate me, Bourdin?” She instinctively reaches for her sidearm, but she’s not in uniform.

When I slide my hand inside my jacket, the Canadian lifts up his palms. “Calm down, Fish and Game man. Just don’t get in my way - tout va bien se passer . You know how this works. If not…”

The way he pumps his pelvis sends any civility I might have had out the window. Jaw tight, I snatch the guy’s shirt collar and drag his ass outside. “You do not threaten to sexually assault a minor. Ever.”

That damn smirk. Cameras? None. Excellent.

I slam his face into the wall—once, twice—until cartilage gives way with a sickening crunch.

He howls, blood pouring between his fingers. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyers.”

Fucking child.

This time, it’s my turn to grin. “You go right ahead. If I see you anywhere near Ms. O’Malley or her family, I’ll shoot you and claim self-defense. We clear?”

“Not if I kill you first.”

“Wrong answer, dude.” I toss him in the backseat, cinch his wrists, and slide behind the wheel.

A few seconds later, I stop to get Kelly, looking lost at the front of the hotel. “C’mon. Get in. We’re running out of time.”