Bounty Hunter (The Rover series Book 1)

by Amelia Shaw

  With a not-so-graceful stumble, I jerked away. I steadied myself on the edge of the table and cleared my throat. “I’d appreciate some real clothes and we can discuss things further. Thank you for telling me the truth.”

  “It’s not like you wouldn’t have figured it out, eventually. Besides, I did promise I would tell you back at the coffee shop. I always keep my promises.”

  I had to get out of this room. Breathe some fresh air and center myself again. His nudity, the revelation of his species, and the realization that for the first time in a very long time I wouldn’t be alone in my hunt for the Black Mage, all stacked up in my head and tilted me off balance.

  As if he could sense my distress, he slipped his shirt back on. “Go right into the corridor. The main entry is no longer locked. I’ll have your belongings delivered to your room. Once you’ve changed, please join me across the hall in my study. We have things to discuss and a contract to sign.”

  An official contract with a fae. I’d never worked with a paranormal before. I’d hunted them, of course, usually new vampires or baby shifters.

  This was the most interaction I’d had with a non-human in my entire life. Despite my extensive training, I felt like there was a major gap in my knowledge.

  Without a word, I followed his directions to head back to my room.

  I’d always thought I had a handle on my limits. On what I could manage and what I couldn’t. The chief often disagreed with me, but I was still breathing so obviously I hadn’t been wrong yet.

  For the first time in my life, I couldn’t be certain I would make it out the other side of this. Going up against the Black Mage meant an entirely different realm of power. Mages and fae were creatures of magic. I was a very breakable, small human. When it came down to it, would Fin protect me? Could I trust him to? I wasn’t sure.

  Would I risk my life to bring the Black Mage down?

  Yes.

  I didn’t doubt that for a second. I had my answer. None of the rest mattered. There was a fae waiting inside with an official hunt contract for the one man I’d been dreaming of taking down for years. Nothing would persuade me to walk away from that.

  I walked into the room Fin had called ‘my’ bedroom to change my clothes... and my life.

  Chapter Eight

  I found my clothes and a whole lot more. An entire wardrobe full of clothes that didn’t belong to me, but each article was my size. I made a mental note to figure that out later.

  For now, I ignored the weirdness and slipped on my favorite jeans and a clean black t-shirt that wafted lavender laundry soap with every move.

  I found Fin in the room he’d mentioned. It suited him. No gilded ceilings here, just a sturdy mahogany desk and walls lined with books. He sat in a gray leather armchair by a shelf and I flopped into the matching one opposite.

  He turned a page in the book laying in his lap and didn’t glance up. “I wondered if you would return, or if you’d get dressed and take off running into the night.”

  Like he could get rid of me that easily. Had he simply said the Black Mage when we met, I might have gone with him gladly. Obviously, he didn’t know how badly I wanted the Black Mage in my crosshairs.

  I wanted to keep it that way. Let him think I desired vengeance. Little did he know I craved carnage.

  I twisted in the chair to throw my legs over the arm. “What are you reading?”

  He slapped the book shut and levelled me a look. Apparently, he was one of those readers who grew surly when someone interrupted them. “Machiavelli... in Italian.”

  “Well, aren’t we an ambitious reader? I’ll let you borrow Twilight next time we go near my house. Are we going to get down to business or are you starting a book club?”

  On this side of enmity, that tiny lift in the corner of his mouth did squiggly things to my insides. Probably not a good thing with him being a fae, and us starting a business relationship.

  I shook out those thoughts and focused on his face. The otherworldly beauty of him.

  “Tell me about your people,” I said. “You’re the first I’ve met.”

  More questions about his age and magic gathered in my mind, but I didn’t rush them. Each day we spent together would be a new test of trust. I wanted him to offer each tiny part of himself to me.

  But why? Had his glamour made me care? For most of the last decade, I’d prided myself on being alone, on needing no one but myself. The occasional booty call kept me satisfied in that department. I didn’t need anything else. So why him?

  He narrowed his eyes, and I skipped my gaze over the shelves of books. Could he read my mind? Holy hell, I hoped not. I’d endured about enough embarrassment in front of him already.

  I dragged my eyes back to him when he stood and leaned over the desk to gather some paperwork. He handed it to me, but I shook my head.

  “We haven’t discussed terms yet. I won’t sign anything until we are both in agreement.”

  “This is a formal letter informing you I wish you to enter my employment. It also outlines benefits and pay.”

  Now he had my interest. I got to bring down the Black mage and take a check to the bank. Why didn’t we start there? I took the papers and scanned them. The number on the sheet had more zeros than I’d ever seen in my life. Also, he would pay it out to a beneficiary in the case of my demise. I would be touched if this were a normal hunt, and the odds of my actual death weren’t against me.

  “Are you sure this number is correct? That is a lot of money to do something I really want to do already.”

  He snorted. “Are you trying to talk me down in this negotiation because I don’t think that’s how it works.”

  To be fair, even if he knocked one zero off the end, I would still be making more money than I had in my entire life.

  “If you’re sure, I’m not going to argue.”

  “I do have some conditions to include in the contract,” he said. “You have to stay here until we’ve finished our task.”

  “Is that all?”

  “You have free rein of the house, the kitchen, the staff, whatever you need. We have to train together to ensure you’re prepared for what we are about to face.”

  My hackles rose at the last demand. “Excuse me. You’re speaking as if I haven’t spent the last sixteen years of my life as a hunter.”

  “You started when you were fourteen?”

  “Right after my parents died. Chief took me in, trained me, and sent me straight into the field. In his world it’s sink or swim... and I’m a damn good swimmer.”

  Fin gave me a look. The same one he had before when I tested his patience. “You may have sixteen years of experience, but I have a few more than that. I can teach you things, and maybe you can do the same for me.”

  Oh. Trying to spin it like I could help him. The man was good at manipulation. If only I hadn’t worked with Hawk for ten of the past sixteen years.

  I gave him the pretty smile he wanted and said, “Sure. If it’s what you need, I’ll train with you.”

  Probably wouldn’t hurt anyway, I had been getting a little too friendly with my neighborhood donut shop.

  “Anything else?” I asked. My first born? A changeling. A whole bevy of fairy jokes popped into my head. It would be fun to pelt them at him when I put him flat on the mats.

  “No, I think that’s it.”

  I swiveled in the chair and faced him. “Perfect. I have some of my own conditions for this working relationship.”

  He waved at me, like some kind of emperor.

  I rolled my eyes. “Well, Napoleon, first things first, you don’t use your magic on me. I don’t care what the circumstances are, if you do it, I walk... with my paycheck.”

  He nodded.

  “Next, there will be no unnecessary nudity between us. This is business and nothing more.” Despite the fact he was ridiculously bitable, I didn’t think I could handle an intimate relationship with him.

  Especially since my version of intimacy included post-coital i
ce cream and a farewell high five. This stipulation was more for my protection than his.

  There was that stupid little grin again. For a moment, I considered adding a nix sexy smiles clause.

  No, that would be too far.

  He folded his hands in front of him as he sat on the edge of the desk. “Anything else?”

  “Yes. One more thing and it’s a deal breaker. When we find the Black Mage, I get to be the one to kill him.”

  I met his gaze head on. No smiles or levity now. If he didn’t give me this, I would walk out of the room and go home. I would be sad to lose a crap ton of money, but know I did what was best for me.

  After what felt like an eternity, he nodded once, stiffly.

  Not exactly an enthusiastic agreement, but I would take it anyway. I held my hand out to him and he shook it firmly.

  “Well, boss, where do we start? And can we rewind to that time in the café where you offered me a pony?”

  He smiled, and I melted. The first actual genuine smile he’d given me, and it looked good on him.

  “I don’t recall offering you an actual horse, but once we complete the job, I’m sure you’ll be able to purchase several with your paycheck if that is your wish.”

  “Spending my own money on a horse is not the same as you giving me a horse. Obviously.”

  I stood and stretched. I’d slept most of the day, but after a whirlwind of emotions from one spectrum to another, exhaustion weighed me down. “Why don’t you get the contract going while I eat dessert. Once we finish, I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.”

  “Of course. Go to the dining room. It'll be waiting, and I’ll get the paperwork started.”

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. I exited without a backward glance straight across the hall. The splendor of the dining room hit me a second time, and I gawked until I caught sight of the chocolate pie on a plate where my dinner had previously sat. The bottle of wine was placed in front of it with a fresh glass.

  Maybe I needed a maid to bring me food and wash my clothes in lavender soap. I could get used to this kind of life. I sat at the table and pulled the pie closer to eat. Once I finished, I pushed the empty plate back and relaxed into the chair. It dug into my shoulders. Definitely not a chair for lounging.

  Fin entered the room and lay a stack of papers and a pen in front of me. It took some time, but I read every single word of the contract before signing my name on the line and dating it.

  Once I finished, he signed after me and neatly stacked the papers against the table.

  The gravity of the situation sunk in. I would leave this arrangement very rich with my greatest wish fulfilled... or I would die a terrible, likely painful death.

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked.

  I couldn’t help but grin. “I was born for this.”

  “You really mean that, don’t you? It’s not an overconfidence thing. You believe you can bring him down.” His tone held a hint of surprise, which I decided to ignore given our new work arrangement.

  I studied his face; he wasn’t trying to mock me. “I was trained by the best. Every single day for the past sixteen years has prepared me to hunt him, to bring him to justice.”

  Why wouldn’t he think I was an overly confident bounty hunter? Most of us are cocky and narcissistic. It came with long days and nights spent alone. He didn’t know me, and I didn’t know him.

  Which brought me to my first serious question for him. “You didn’t tell me why this hunt is so important? What did the Black Mage do to you?”

  When he met my gaze again, grief lined the edges of his eyes. He wasn’t ready to share all his secrets with me yet.

  So I did what I do best and broke the tension by saying something absolutely ridiculous. “You know, you really didn’t need to go to all the trouble of kidnapping me. The second you swiped my bag from my shoulder, I would have followed you off a cliff to retrieve it. It has all my files and notes on our target inside. You could have taken it, left me stranded too, but that would have been a truly dick move. My laptop is in there too, and it took me a long time to find that limited edition David Bowie sticker on the front.”

  He didn’t smile, but some wariness left his face. “We should go over each other’s notes and information. It might give us a more solid location to begin.”

  Oh, he left that one wide open for me.

  I winked at him. “I agree. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re not funny?”

  Wounded. He wounded me.

  I placed my hand against my sternum and stared at him in mock affront. “Why, sir, only every single day of my life. Buck up, Buttercup, I only get funnier with time and tequila. But enough about my well-honed wit. Tell me what you already know about the Black Mage.”

  It took all of my control not to motion at him to hurry it along. He enjoyed making me wait while he composed answers inside his head before speaking.

  “I’m not sure I know any more than you do. The Black Mage is the head of a magical organization similar to the mafia. And once you’re in, you’re in for life. He kills indiscriminately and doesn’t care who he hurts in the process. Obviously, he has ties to law enforcement, the hunter guilds, anyone who might make a move against him. I’ve been trying to find a way in for some time and I’m out of options.” He waved at me. “Which is where you come in.”

  I gave him the best imitation of the chief’s deadpan-squished-together-eyebrow stare. “Thank you, I think. It’s really comforting to know I was your last choice.”

  “I apologize for implying you are my last resort. Working with another person will be new for me. I wasn’t excited about the prospect when your name first reached me, but I appreciated your skill and style. I think we can do this. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have wasted either of our time.”

  His praise made me want to sit straighter in the chair. No, my self-worth was not built by anyone but myself.

  I gave him a nod in thanks and shoved the rest of the pie toward him. “Your cook is great. This pie is delicious.”

  “No, thanks, I don’t like chocolate.”

  What kind of person was he? What did I get myself into? “Are you joking? Is it a fairy thing, or is it an I’m a weird person thing?”

  “If you must know, it is a fae thing. My senses are stronger than a human’s. They aren’t as sharp as a vampire or a shifter, but I try to avoid overly sugary desserts and spicy food.”

  Delighted by this new tidbit about his species, I leaned in, hoping he would give me more. When he lapsed into silence, I slumped back against the chair.

  “More pie for me, yay.”

  A chime echoed through the dining room and he stood. “It’s late. Why don’t we finish this conversation in the morning? Can you find your way back to your room?”

  “Of course.”

  Once he exited, I leaned over the table and pressed my warm forehead against the cold wood. “One day at a time, Zoey. You can do this.”

  For now, I needed to learn and survive. Everything else came in second to avenging my parents.

  Chapter Nine

  The next day, armed guards flanked my door, facing away, not toward me. I stuck my head out to look. A tall man in black fatigues scanned my face and then returned to look at the wall again.

  Good morning to you too.

  Were they guarding me, or holding me hostage? I thought Fin and I had made a deal, and semi-automatic weapons before nine am made a girl antsy.

  I slipped past the men and caught sight of a few more down the long hallway from my room. Well, if they had weapons, I wanted some too.

  I walked into the first room with an open door and hunted for something I could hide away, something that would be downright nasty in a fight.

  I snagged some wicked-looking scissors and a letter opener from a desk. The windows in this room were taller than mine. They were still impossible to escape from, but prettier. The entire house had that Downton Abbey f
eel. I felt a little outclassed.

  I returned to the hallway and eyed the guards as I went down to eat breakfast. I found the dining room easily enough.

  The doors on Fin’s office across the hall were closed, so I figured maybe he wasn’t a morning person.

  More food than I could ever eat lay displayed across the dining room table.

  I took the same seat I used last night and shuffled some dishes around to give myself access to my favorite foods. A guard took up a spot by the door, but I didn’t care. He could keep his gun. I had crispy bacon and fresh cut strawberries.

  I was here to do a job, but nothing said I couldn’t enjoy the spoils of my situation while I completed it.

  Fin entered the dining room just as I shoved a big bite of toast smothered in eggs and bacon into my mouth.

  I smiled while I chewed, but he didn’t appear charmed. His hair was gathered into a bun at the nape of his neck, and he wore a black suit today with a light blue shirt and matching tie. I tugged the edge of my t-shirt with my non-egg covered hand. Hopefully, he wasn’t expecting a bounty hunter in business casual.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked as he took a seat across from me. He didn’t reach for any food, but grabbed a carafe of coffee and poured a steaming cup. A pretty cup with a matching saucer; no mismatched mug for him.

  I finished chewing and swallowed. “Fine, thank you. Ready to get going. Should we go over your information today?”

  He inclined his head in one of those gestures rich people make that could be a yes or a no.

  “In your office?” I prompted.

  “If you like. Please take your time though. The chef is excited to feed someone who enjoys eating as much as you... appear to.”

  It was likely an insult, but I sucked the edge of my thumb and grinned. “Happy to keep the staff in job security. You don’t eat breakfast?”

  “I ate earlier after I worked out.”

  I was sure there was another insult in that statement, but I really didn’t care. Not this morning. Not when all my dreams were about to come true. Well, my dreams of revenge... and I had bacon to see me through. Nothing could dampen my mood right now.