Bounty: A Dark Romance Read online

  Bounty

  By

  Piper Stone

  Copyright © 2020 by Stormy Night Publications and Piper Stone

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Stormy Night Publications and Design, LLC.

  www.StormyNightPublications.com

  Stone, Piper

  Bounty

  Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson

  Images by Shutterstock/Tom Tom and Shutterstock/Viorel Sima

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  More Stormy Night Books by Piper Stone

  Piper Stone Links

  Chapter One

  Harper

  Coleville, Washington

  “He’s one of the most vile, dangerous human beings I’ve ever come across. Best not to fuck with him. He will kill you.”

  My boss’s words filtered into my mind just before yanking open the door to the local biker bar. What the hell. I enjoyed fucking with assholes who believed themselves bigger than the law.

  Wham!

  The second I walked into the local dive I was tossed directly into the middle of a bar fight.

  “Fuck you!”

  “No, fuck you!”

  The two brawny men were going at it hard, beating the shit out of each other. I had a difficult time closing the door as they took clumsy swings at each other. The snow was blowing inside, adding a chill to my already frozen body. I hated frigid temperatures, snow piling on the streets, ice clinging to my hair. Maybe I just hated being pulled out of my comfy bed to chase a bad guy at the last minute. The freak snowstorm was expected to last at least another day. Just my bad luck.

  Whoosh! Bam!

  One of the brutes went down hard, splintering the chunky wooden table that had obviously seen better days. It seemed everyone in the two-bit bar was cheering for one or the other. And I could easily tell they were all drunk as skunks. What the hell else was there to do in a small town covered in fifteen inches of snow?

  I managed to sidestep the mass of men, all hungry for the night’s share of violence, and headed straight for the bar. I yanked the hood from around my face, fighting to keep from taking a deep breath. The joint had a rank stench of stale cigarettes and booze. While the atmosphere was dank, ugly, and dark even with the fading neon lights, the place somehow managed to be festive.

  Maybe that had to do with the twelve-plus televisions blaring whatever shit sports program was on. Hell, even the reception was for shit but the few men who weren’t glued to the night’s entertainment were staring wide-eyed at the various screens, beers in their hands. I sauntered toward the bar, cognizant that I was one of four, count them, four women in the place.

  And at least a few of the hungry men had noticed my arrival.

  When I was only two feet from the bar, I scanned the room in a nonchalant fashion. I certainly didn’t want to scare off my target. I’d already chased him for two days and I was pissed off for having to do so. The man was cagey, but at least I didn’t think he was aware anyone was onto him. Figures he’d hide out in some shit hole of a bar. I had no doubt he was preparing to hightail it into Canada. Then things would get dicey.

  At least the Beretta 9m secured inside my holster gave me some comfort.

  “What’ll ya have?” The bartender leaned over the scratched wooden surface, dark eyes boring into mine. This was a local joint and I was completely out of place.

  “Just information.” I had to jerk off my gloves before I could snag my cell phone from my jeans pocket. I maneuvered to a series of pictures, holding up a fairly decent shot of my target. “You seen this guy around here before?”

  If the man snagged a single look, it was only for a split second. He was far too interested in allowing his gaze to fall to my breasts. Even though I was covered in three layers of clothing, he obviously found the sight of me titillating.

  “I asked you a question.” I slid back my coat just enough to highlight my service weapon. He didn’t seem surprised in the least, merely amused.

  The bartender grabbed a towel, wiping the top of the bar. “Around here people come to drink.” He continued slapping the terrycloth over the surface, his eyes never leaving me. “So I’ll ask you again. What’ll ya have?”

  The cocksucker was playing hardball. Fine. Dandy. Two could play at this game. “Tequila. Straight up.”

  He gave me another look, his eyes flitting further down before grabbing a shot glass from the shelf behind him. The solid thud on the bar was no doubt meant to terrify me. Instead, it just pissed me the hell off.

  And that wasn’t something anyone wanted to do.

  He exaggerated the pour from the rotgut bottle, but I’d already turned mostly away, still searching the crowded bar. There were plenty of men fitting the perpetrator’s description, but none with that certain look of a killer. Unfortunately, there were a few of them determined to get closer to the bar.

  As if I was going to give them the time of day.

  I heard the scratching of the glass against the surface as the bartender slid the shot in my direction. I wasted no time. I was tired, cranky, and if I didn’t accomplish my task in the next twenty-four hours, I’d lose my bounty. And I needed the money.

  I tossed back the tequila, actually enjoying the burn sliding down the back of my throat. I locked eyes with the bartender as I slammed the empty glass on the bar, smiling seductively as I leaned over the bar. “Now, we’re going to try this again.” I held up the picture one more time. “I’m here for one reason and that doesn’t include being fucked with. Have you seen this man? I’ll know if you lie, and you won’t like me very much if you do.”

  He hesitated, a snarl replacing his charismatic grin. As he reached his hand across the bar to retrieve the glass, I leaned even closer.

  “And I am an expert shot.” I knew I was pushing my luck, but I’d run out of patience.

  He took a deep inhale before nodding toward the left side of the bar. “Card game.”

  I shoved my hand into my back pocket, tossing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. “Keep the change and your mouth shut.” I could hear him cursing under his breath as I headed in the direction he’d sent me. Seemed like my luck had changed.

  About damn time.

  I had less than five hundred dollars to my name at this point, the last few months testing my resolve. This particular bounty was well worth the travel and the potential danger. The man had walked out on five hundred thousand dollars’ worth of bail money. My take was more than I’d ever made in a year, worth the travel, the risk, and the lack of sleep. Besides, I could handle the job better than most, even if the fugitive was highly trained, skilled in several areas of weaponry. How the bastard had managed to get bail in the first place was beyond me. With a nickname like The Marksman, his expertise should have been a huge red flag.

  Story of our justice system.

  At le
ast I could reap the benefits.

  Reading his file was a who’s who of ‘how to become a hero.’ A college educated and decorated Marine who’d been recruited to the DEA for his special skills and bravery. What a slide into hell.

  What was worse? I already knew him in more of a biblical sense, although I’d doubt he’d remember. A dark bar. A few too many drinks. Savage fondling in the bathroom. The one-night stand that soon followed was something I had difficulty forgetting, even though the limited time we’d shared shouldn’t matter to any degree. This was business and that had been years before.

  Then why was I quivering at the thought of seeing him again?

  I crept along the wall, trying not to lock eyes with anyone else. This needed to be clean. I noticed a secluded room nestled in the back and from where I stood, I was able to see a small portion of the interior. There were at least five men. From the looks of it, my target had his back to the door. A huge mistake on his part, careless in a manner the information provided on him didn’t indicate was possible. The man was a brutal killer, easily able to keep under the radar.

  I unfastened the snap on my holster, just in case, but I had another weapon in mind. The sneers on two of the card players’ faces were enough to give me away, their eyes full of unmistakable lust. The broad shoulders of the man whose back was directly in front of me stiffened. He placed his hands on the table and slowly began to stand.

  “What’s a babe like you doing in here?” one of the guys asked.

  I remained quiet, taking a single step to the side. I didn’t want the target to have any chance of backhanding or kicking out. He was also an expert in martial arts. As he rose to his full height, I realized I’d forgotten just how tall he was. Standing at nearly six and a half feet, he had to outweigh me by a solid hundred and fifty pounds.

  All of it brawn and muscle.

  “Brax Marks?” I finally asked.

  All four of the other men backed away, their eyes registering my Beretta.

  “What’s it to you?” Brax asked as he took his time, tossing back his drink without looking or turning in my direction.

  We’d played this cat and mouse for two days, the man eluding me mere minutes before I’d found him the last time.

  I didn’t want to admit that I was still attracted to him. He was the kind of man who could toss you over his shoulder with ease and I knew from experience that he was a rough man in all ways.

  Including sexually.

  I swallowed hard, a rush of images from the passionate encounter shooting butterflies into my stomach.

  He had an aura of quiet sophistication even in his well-worn clothes and thick boots. He was all things male, reeking of testosterone.

  I gripped the barrel of my gun, mortified at my drifting thoughts.

  “Honey, I think you got the wrong establishment,” a second man offered up, daring to take two steps closer.

  For some reason just hearing the man’s condescending voice ignited a fuse that threatened to detonate, destroying the entire building. That’s the last thing they should want.

  “Any closer and I’ll make certain you can’t walk for a solid week. You got it?” My comment seemed to delight the entire room, four of the five laughing.

  Only Brax wasn’t the least bit amused. He turned slowly, tilting his head when he finally laid eyes on me. If there was any recognition at all, he hid it well, his demeanor as cold as the heinous acts he’d been accused of performing. “You can call me Stone.”

  Stone indeed. He was built like a brick shithouse, dominating in every manner, the sheer power of him magnificent. However, the nickname wasn’t anywhere in the documentation on him I’d been given. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say it was his undercover name.

  He certainly didn’t look like any DEA agent that I’d worked with before. He hadn’t even joined the force on the night I met him, just a brawny Marine looking for a good time.

  His blue eyes dazzled even in the dim lighting, luminescent in a way that created a wave of heat between my legs, so powerful and seductive. There wasn’t a portion of his body that hadn’t been carved from some beautiful piece of granite, his muscles bulging even through the bulky clothes. Even though his angular jaw was clenched, a two-day stubble covering a good portion of his face, there was no hiding how freaking gorgeous he was.

  Even my nipples reacted instantly, fully aroused and painful against the tight confines of my bra. He had a dangerous look about him, a badass in a tight pair of faded blue jeans. Everything about the man was hard, with the exception of his full lips. Succulent.

  Kissable.

  Just like they’d been before.

  And what the fuck was I thinking?

  I never had this kind of reaction, especially to an asshole perp who’d gunned down two federal agents. I made certain he was able to catch a glimpse of my weapon, just in case he thought about reaching for one of his.

  The last thing I needed was for the man to recognize me. Thank God I’d used my middle name all those years ago. I’d always been careful around men, especially sexy ones hitting on me in a bar.

  “Come here, baby girl. I’m gonna lick that pretty little pink pussy of yours until you explode into my mouth. After I’ve licked up every sweet drop, I’m going to fuck you hard.”

  I bit back a damn moan as I remembered the dirty words, the way his cock filled me completely, leaving me aching for days. I was a professional and he’d turned into a violent criminal.

  End of story.

  “Mr. Marks, I’m Harper Rollins. I work with the Justice Department and I’ve come to escort you back to jail.”

  Stone seemed more than amused, his eyes lighting up as he slowly lowered his gaze down to my scuffed boots and back up. “That so?” He reached out, grabbing his drink.

  “What the hell?” one of the hulking men said, deciding to take two long strides away from me.

  Good choice.

  As Stone brought the glass to his lips, he closed his eyes, gulping almost half.

  “This true, buddy? You runnin’ from the law?”

  Stone turned his head in the man’s direction, a snarl curling on his upper lip. “None of your damn business.”

  “We’re through with bullshit chitchat,” I said as I knocked the glass out of his hand, the edge hitting the table and shattering before dropping onto the floor.

  That was the single distraction he seemed to need. In the next second, he was all over me, one hand wrapped around my wrist in an attempt to yank me to the floor. He didn’t seem to realize that my training was just as good, if not better than his.

  I jerked back, swiveling and issuing a swift kick. The force knocked him backward and over the chair. The entire room seemed shocked at my actions.

  And my ability.

  “Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way and honestly, I’m in a shitty mood so I suggest you go ahead and try some crap like that again.” I walked forward, hearing the jeers and snickers from behind me. Then I held out my hand to offer my assistance.

  Just for the fuck of it.

  Stone was expressionless, hesitating as he narrowed his eyes. I could swear I noticed a glimmer of recognition. Then he reached out. The bastard had underestimated me. The second our hands touched, he clamped down his hold, pulling himself to a standing position and jerking me against the heat of his body.

  His big, brawny, sexy body.

  “Why don’t we take a minute to get to know each other before you fuck me,” Stone growled.

  I gave him a sweet smile, dragging my tongue across my lips. “Trust me, you couldn’t handle me.” The thrill of the chase wasn’t nearly as tasty as the actual catch. The reminder was just what I needed.

  As the others huffed and laughed, Stone merely held his breath and I could swear he’d connected directly with my very soul.

  “I guess we’ll see,” he whispered in a gravelly voice.

  I was damn good at reading people, easily able to get into their psyche. I knew exact
ly the second that he was going to make a break for it.

  That’s the same second I yanked the Taser from my jacket pocket. The crackling, zapping sound shut the others up in an instant, the voltage knocking my perp onto the floor. I gave a sigh of relief before hunkering down and tugging out my handcuffs. The man was like a dead weight and I had difficulty trying to roll him over.

  What the hell.

  I snapped the cuffs on his wrists, making certain they were plenty tight for a big man like Stone. He wasn’t going anywhere. That’s the exact moment I noticed the local sheriff standing in the main part of the bar. He wasn’t the nicest member of law enforcement, but I figured he had his hands full.

  And my luck continued to improve. Fantastic. Now I didn’t even have to cart Stone over to the jail and drop his ass off until I could arrange a flight in the morning. I moved out into the bar, noticing a crowd had already formed, all trying to see how some five foot six chick had managed to snag a boulder like Brax Marks.

  “Sheriff.” He was busy lecturing one of the brawlers and while he didn’t bother to look in my direction, he held up his hand as if instructing me to wait.

  I wasn’t good at following rules. Besides, I wouldn’t put anything past Stone at this point. With his capture, bail would be revoked, ending his freedom likely for the rest of his life.

  The brute had nothing to lose by attempting another escape.

  “With all due respect, Sheriff Peck, I think your country boys can wait for a just a minute. I need your assistance as I mentioned before that I might.” The sheriff knew exactly why I’d flown all the way to his town. Given his surly attitude, I would have thought he would be jumping for joy that I’d been able to quickly apprehend a noted killer.

  He didn’t seem to give a shit one way or the other.

  Disgusted, I knew better than to leave my bounty alone for very long. When I walked back into the room, Stone was nowhere to be found. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” Even the other assholes had left, running away like scared little kids.

  I felt a presence behind me and bristled, slapping my hand on my gun. The way his hot breath skipped along the back of my neck was far too stimulating, making me gasp. Every nerve was standing on end, my heart pumping blood so fast it pulsed in my ears.