Alone in the Wild (Rockton #5)(97)

Cherise’s expression doesn’t change. Her partner, however, sneaks a look her way, one that tells me what I’ve already suspected.

“Let’s trade now,” I say. “You hand her over and collect your reward.”

Cherise snorts. “Since you obviously don’t have the goods we were promised, we’re not handing her over. We’ll meet you at Rockton.”

“Sure, we can all go to Rockton. Together.”

“We’ll meet—”

“The only reason for you to argue is if you don’t have the mother.”

“Yes, we don’t, all right. We know who she is. We’re on her trail. But we still need to talk to her.”

“Talk?” I say, brows rising. “Why not just grab her and save yourself the trouble?”

“Because someone put that into the terms of the damn agreement,” she says, scowling at me. “Did I misinterpret something? I sure as hell understood that we need to bring her to you of her own free will. Which, yes, complicates things and…” She looks from my gun to Storm and launches into a string of profanity.

“Yeah, they fucked you over, babe,” Owen says.

She shoots a lethal glare at him and then swings it on me. “You did, didn’t you? Set me on this girl’s trail and then followed, waiting until I found my prey and then swooping in like a damn scavenger. I do all the work. You take the prize and then claim you owe me nothing.” She steps forward. “That was a stupid move, girl. A really, really—”

“Stop right there,” Petra says as Storm growls.

They both turn to see Petra, and I wince. Cherise hadn’t gone for her gun. There was no reason for Petra to reveal herself.

“Yes, I brought backup,” I say. “And she’s going to lower her gun right now, having realized Cherise is justifiably angry with me and not actually about to attack.”

Petra’s expression says she doesn’t appreciate taking orders from me. She still lowers the gun.

“If I did what you think, Cherise, you’d have every right to be pissed,” I say. “I did not. I’m following a separate lead directly from Rockton. I’m sure if we’d been following you for the past three days, you’d know it. Now, do you have the baby’s mother?”

Cherise throws up her hands and turns in a circle, as if to say, Do you see her?

“If we find that you kidnapped her—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Cherise snaps. “That’s the kind of mistake this idiot would make.”

She waves at Owen, who only protests with a halfhearted “Hey.” When she looks at him, he flashes a grin and a shrug and says, “Fair enough. Never claimed to be the brains of the operation. You’re with me for my pretty face. Not that I’m objecting. ’Cause you really like how I look, and I reap the benefits of your appreciation.”

She rolls her eyes and then turns to me. “I understand the terms of our deal. I also understand that there is no way in hell I’d get away with kidnapping that girl. She’d tattle the moment my back was turned. Also, I’d have to kick the kid’s ass for ratting me out, and if you think I’d enjoy that, then you and I have a fundamental misunderstanding of one another. I wouldn’t mind if I had to, but I’m not going to do it for fun. I have other ways to spend my time. More productive ways.”

“Like enjoying her husband’s highly talented—” Owen begins.

“You done with the sales pitch?” Cherise says.

Owen’s brows arch. “Sales pitch?”

“Casey doesn’t want to fuck you. I know that comes as a tremendous shock, but I could write you a goddamned letter of recommendation, and it wouldn’t change her mind. Now stop embarrassing yourself. The blonde seems tough enough for you. Maybe she’d like a romp.”

“With him?” Petra says. “No thanks. However, if you’re offering…”

Petra’s trying to throw Cherise off balance, shock her. But Cherise only barks a laugh and says, “Not on the table, sugar. Not right now, anyway. I’m busy negotiating with your friend here.” She turns to me. “I don’t have the girl. I notice you aren’t naming her. Neither am I. We’re both covering our asses in case the other has mistakenly identified the target. I don’t have her. I’m on her trail, though. I was given bad information on her exact whereabouts, but I spotted her this morning. Unfortunately, they were on the other side of the river, which isn’t fully frozen, so I couldn’t cross there and talk to them. I picked up the trail, and I thought we were getting close when my darling husband needed to take a shit.”

“I had cramps.”

“And now we’re further delayed. Also, we’re no longer the only ones tracking her. So here’s my offer, Miss Casey. You can give me half the reward for finding her and setting you on the proper trail. Or we race to the finish line. But if we get to her first, I expect the full reward … or I will take her captive until I get it.”

Petra balks, pointing out that we know who the target is and Cherise didn’t “find” her. Yet Cherise did find out who Abby’s mother is, independent of us, and unlike us, she knows where to pick up the trail. Also, as far as I’m concerned, if half the reward means Owen and Cherise fade into the forest without interfering, it’s worth it. So I agree.