Page 105 of Security Breach

“You’re the one who runs the game, aren’t you?”

“We both do.” He inclined his head to his partner. “But I’m the game master. Jerome is the computer genius and money man. Together, we make an unbeatable, extremely wealthy team.”

“How did you find us at the safe house? No one followed us.”

“Didn’t have to. While you were inside the B & B admiring our handiwork, I slipped a GPS tracker on your vehicle. Jerome hacked into the security cams and played a loop while I hooked up the gas into the air and heat system. Easy as pie.”

“You killed your cousin.”

“Did you think I’d let him live after what he did?” Marty scowled. “He betrayed me and tried to come between me and my prize. I couldn’t allow that to happen. He also threatened to have our deal with the Justice Department revoked.” A shrug. “He connected too many dots.”

“Why did you kill my family?” Emma asked.

“We didn’t know the old people were in the house until we were inside. They were collateral damage. We wanted you and the blond, a prize for each of us and the beginning of a new game if it had worked out right.” Marty glared at Emma. “You screwed that up for us, something you’ll pay for.”

Her stomach churned at the realization that her parents were dead because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. “You killed my grandfather, too.”

“That was on him. The old goat refused to tell us where you were hiding. All he had to do was give us the information, and we would have left him alive.”

Liar. “No one knew I was alive, not even David.”

“We found that out too late.”

“A good man paid with his life for your mistake.” Emma’s voice broke.

Jerome nudged Marty with his elbow. “Time’s wasting, Marty. I’m ready to hunt.” His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“Be patient, buddy.” He looked at David. “I’ll give you and Emma a ten-minute head start. If I were you, I’d leave her behind to give myself a chance to escape.”

“Never.”

“Yeah, didn’t think you’d take that choice. Makes the hunt more fun for us. Run far and fast, Montgomery, because we’re coming for you.”

“Rules?”

“There aren’t any. Run or die. When we catch you, you die.”

“And if we elude you?”

A snort. “Won’t happen.”

“But if we succeed?”

“You won’t escape the second team who will also be hunting you.”

David stiffened. “Second team?”

“Oh, did I forget to mention them?” A low laugh. “Sorry about that. They’re friends of ours who want to play.”

Horror filled Emma. Oh, man. Another Hunt Club team was in the area.

“What about you and Jerome? You failed to kill Emma in Seagull. Isn’t this about redemption for yourself?”

Jerome bristled. “We knocked you out and brought you here, didn’t we? You’re helpless to stop the game. I’d call that a win already.”

“Hardly seems fair. Four against two.” David’s smile held no humor. “You don’t win until we’re dead, right? We’re still breathing.”

“Our game. Our rules.” Marty snapped. He and Jerome backed away several paces, guns aimed at Emma and David. “Better run,” Marty said. “The game starts now.”

---