Ultimate Kill (Book 1 Ultimate CORE Trilogy) (CORE Series) Read Online Free

office.
    “You too,” she said and couldn’t help envying Donna. She and her husband were leaving for an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic for the next five days. They had no kids, but were trying. And Donna was hoping they’d come back from the resort with extra baggage.
    She finished closing up her office, then locked the door. As she left the school, she waved to a group of kids waiting to climb into the idling bus and headed toward the main parking lot. While she walked, she dug into her purse for her keys. Once they were in her hand she looked at her Toyota 4Runner, which was probably about forty feet away, and clicked the button on her key chain to unlock the car doors.
    A large, dark grey SUV drove down one of the parking lot aisles, then turned and slowly moved in her direction. Although she assumed the driver was a parent coming to pick up their kid, and she refused to allow old insecurities to fester, she still quickened her pace. While she hadn’t heard a word from the murdering bastard in eight years, and the chances that he was still even looking for her were—damn it.  
    Don’t think about him. He’s not worth the time or energy.  
    She reached the Toyota, opened the driver’s side door and tossed her purse onto the passenger seat. The dark grey vehicle slowed, then pulled into a parking spot two away from hers. With no other cars between the SUV and her Toyota she could see the dark silhouette of a man. And it looked as if he was staring. At her.
    Those insecurities took root anyway. Always aware of her surroundings, always on alert, she quickly slipped into the driver’s seat, closed then locked the door. Sliding the key into the ignition, she glanced out the window, then froze.
    Her heart raced. Her mouth went dry. An uncontrollable shiver ran through her body.  
    The past five years suddenly disintegrated. As if she’d just woken from a disjointed nightmare, the months of running, of searching for the perfect place to hide in plain sight, the lonely days and even lonelier nights faded into a blur.  
    Jake .
    Tears welled in her eyes. For the lost years, the lost love, for the future they could never have. She quickly blinked them away and opened the car door. Her legs weak, her stomach somersaulting with embarrassment, excitement and regret, she placed a shaky hand on the door for support. A small part of her wanted to climb back into the car, drive off and pretend Jake had never come to Woodbine. But a large part of her, the part that had never stopped loving him, that had never allowed the memories of what they’d had together die, wanted to run to him. Throw her arms around his neck and kiss him.
    “Jake,” she whispered, then cleared her throat. He looked so damned good. Tan, lean, muscular, his big toned arms showing from beneath his short sleeve golf shirt, his dark hair no longer in his trademark military crew cut.  
    Chin trembling, hand still clinging to the opened car door, she took a small, tentative step forward. “Jake,” she said louder, firmer.
    He pushed off the SUV and slowly approached, his gaze never wavering from hers. Lightheaded, she stayed put, kept her hand on the door for fear she might crumble to the asphalt. She’d dreamed of seeing him again, had imagined what she might say, the excuses she could give him. But anything she’d ever come up with had sounded terrible, selfish and ridiculous. Even if what she’d tell him was the truth.
    Now that he was less than five feet away from her, she had no idea what to say or do. A million questions buzzed through her mind. Was he married? Did he have children? Fresh tears filled her eyes. God, she really was a selfish bitch. She wanted him happy, had always prayed he’d find someone to love, but deep down she’d hated the thought of him loving someone else. Making love to another woman. Creating a child. A future that hadn’t included her.
    “You look beautiful,” he said, his voice rough, raw. He