Dagger Read online

  Stuey lifted a finger. “I can drop you off—”

  “Won’t be necessary, Stu.” Dagger locked his gaze with Lacey’s.

  After a stare-down, she shrugged and gave Stuey a blinding smile. “I’d be happy to give him a lift. And thank you, again.”

  When they were in her car and heading to her place, Dagger settled back in the passenger seat. “Were you lying about being evicted?”

  She snorted. “For now. I am a month behind, though.”

  “And that bit about the lawyer you were engaged to…”

  “That was true.” Her hands tightened on the fluffy steering wheel cover. “Leland was Dad’s last straw.” She shivered. “The closer we got to the big day, the surer I was I couldn’t spend my life hearing him talk about how fucking brilliant he was. Besides, I think he wants to run for Congress or something. Can you see me standing by any man on a damn campaign trail?”

  “I can’t imagine you speaking to church ladies at their teas without cussing a blue streak.”

  “Right.” She nodded. “Does my dad even know me?”

  Dagger chuckled. “So, why can’t you hold down a job?”

  “Why can’t you hold down a real job, Dag?” She darted a glance his way, one eyebrow raised.

  He grinned and realized he’d missed their sparring. No other woman had ever inspired him to spend as much time cussing and discussing as Lacey Jones. And that thought should have worried him, but he was sitting so close, breathing in her spicy perfume, and getting an eyeful of her pretty blonde “fluffiness” that he couldn’t muster any fear at all. In fact, he wondered if she’d say yes if he asked her out.

  “So, Dag, tell me about bounty hunting. Is the money any good?”

  Chapter 2

  Lacey dropped Dagger beside his Dodge Challenger then continued to her driveway. She watched as his headlights came on and he made a U-turn in the center of the street. When he was nearly to the intersection, she eased back out of her driveway, intent on following him.

  Everything he’d told her about his job—the money for a single takedown, the types of busts—excited her more than the number of likes she’d gotten on her latest lifestyle video blog.

  She’d watched enough cop shows to know not to follow him too closely, and even allowed another car to slide between them. Every now and then, she’d nose toward the center lane to make sure he hadn’t turned off. At last, he signaled to turn into a parking lot in front of a rather nondescript little clapboard house with a wrap-around porch and a ramp at the side leading up to the porch. No sign at the curb announced the business’s name, but gold letters were on the window beside the door, too far away for her to see.

  She debated walking in right behind him and asking to talk to whoever was in charge, but she was pretty sure Dagger wouldn’t let her get two steps inside before he started making noise. He’d had way too much fun at her expense this morning. She’d been in the middle of taping a video blog detailing the use of highlighting and contouring makeup for her “Lacey’s Lifestyle Hacks” when she’d heard Moe Creasey’s dog barking. She’d hit PAUSE and headed to the window to peek outside, where she’d seen a very large man breaking into her car. A red haze had blocked her vision, and heedless of the fact of what she’d been wearing, she’d stormed outside to stop the bastard.

  She shook her head, remembering the shock that caught her breath and sagged her jaw toward the ground. Good Lord—Dagger Renfrew!

  Why couldn’t all that muscle have gone to fat like for most of the ex-football players from their class? And he was handsomer than ever—more masculine now, because he’d lost the baby fat that had softened his features and made him almost pretty in his youth. Now, with him as handsome as a movie star, with a chiseled jaw, clean, sharp-edged cheeks, thick dark-brown hair, and green eyes, she’d nearly melted in a puddle beside her car—until he’d opened his smart-ass mouth.

  Not that she’d minded their little back-and-forth. Dagger had always seen through her bullshit and gave as good as he got. A fact that had made him all the sexier back then but might prove to be an impediment now.

  No, she’d have to wait until he left the office before seeking out the man in charge. In the meantime, she pulled her case from the floorboard. Just what kind of makeup did one wear to an interview for a bounty hunting job? Were any of the clothes she’d picked up from the dry cleaners’ suitable? And what kind of experience would impress?

  “Google is my friend,” she muttered, digging out her phone from the pocket of her bathrobe.

  Jamie Burke sat at her desk, reviewing the list of bounties the agency’s owner, Fetch Winter, sent that morning from the main office in Kalispell. The list included the names of bail jumpers, the last date the bondsman had to get his client to appear without forfeiting the bond, the size of the bounty, the list of offenses, and the target’s last known location.

  Dagger hovered at her shoulder, reading the list, prioritized, at his request, by the size of the bounty. Top of the list was one Jason Jethro Butler, up on charges for beating his ex-wife nearly to death then shooting through the window of a neighbor’s house. The bond had been set at $75,000. Not the biggest Dagger had gone after, but not $7,500, which was the average of most of the other coming-due bonds on the list.

  As Jamie had known he’d do, Dagger pointed at Jason Butler. “Print the bondsman’s power of attorney. I’ll take that one.”

  The biggest badass. Jamie was sure if the bond had been for only $500 Dagger still would have chosen it. “I don’t have anyone to send with you to Libby. Reaper, Carly, and Sky are still tracking that bank robber through the forest near Glacier. I could ask Fetch—”

  “Not yet. I’ll work leads. If anything turns up, I’ll let you know.” And then he winked.

  Jamie narrowed her eyes. “Look, cowboy, everyone needs backup. Especially when you’re going after someone like Butler.” She’d call Fetch anyway. She clicked the cursor on the notes block of the spreadsheet. “Says here that someone in the main office already worked up some leads. I’ll get them to fax what they have.”

  Dagger checked his watch. “I’ll head home. Seeing as I’ll be spending time in Libby, I may as well pack.”

  “You do that.” Jamie smiled. As soon as Dagger left, she looked across at Brian, her best friend and office manager for this satellite entity of the Montana Bounty Hunters.

  “I’ll call Fetch.” Brian grinned.

  Jamie sighed. Dagger was a talented hunter, but he was a bit reckless and liked to work alone. She had yet to find the right partner to assign to him, although she had a stack of resumes on her desk and was setting up interviews. Who would have thought this small, remote town in northwest Montana would see so much action? But enough cases existed to keep at least two more teams busy. More, if Fetch’s plans to spread their reach beyond Montana came to fruition.

  In the meantime, she’d stayed in the office to work leads with Brian, performing Internet searches and cold calls for preliminary work on the next bail jumpers they’d have to track. She would much rather have accompanied Sky and the rest of the team on the hunt in Glacier, but a fourth person really hadn’t been needed, and there was that pile of resumes…

  The front door bell chimed. “Forget your keys?” she called out and glanced toward the door, but Dagger wasn’t returning. A very pretty, petite blonde—wearing black leggings, black leather boots, and a pink, camouflage-patterned shirt topped with a black leather jacket—entered. Her makeup was subdued—nude lips, neutral eyeshadow, but black-rimmed eyes. Her expression matched her no-nonsense ponytail.

  Brian cleared his throat, drawing her gaze. The sparkle in his eyes said he was curious what the woman was doing here and appreciative of her appearance. Jamie gave him a subtle shake of her head, and then pasted on a smile and turned back to the woman heading her way. “Can I help you?”

  The blonde’s lips twitched, like she was starting to smile, but then they settled into a flat line before she gave a brusque, all-business
nod. “I’m looking for whoever’s in charge.”

  Her voice was husky, well-modulated. Intrigued by her request, Jamie waved a hand at the chair in front of her desk. If she was selling something, she’d have her out the door in five. “Have a seat.”

  The woman sat and glanced around the open office area. Her gaze seemed to catalog everything before returning to Jamie. “I’m Lacey Jones. My father is Judge Jones. You may have heard of him.”

  Who hadn’t? His nickname was Hanging Judge Jones, even though hanging was no longer a legal method of execution. His dour attitude and throw-the-book-at-criminals sentences earned him quite a reputation. And this woman was his daughter… Jamie sat a little straighter in her chair. “Go on.”

  “I want to be a bounty hunter.” The blonde pursed her lips. “I know I’m pocket-sized, but I have martial arts training, know my way around firearms…and most importantly, I have contacts. Besides knowing lawyers and law-enforcement types all over this area, I worked in the courthouse for a few years. I have back doors into their computer systems.” She frowned. “Not that I want to catch a desk. I’ve done my research. Most bounty hunters never have to break down a door or wrestle a bail jumper to the ground, but I know people, and I’ll be good working leads. I’m excellent at putting people at ease or getting past their guard. I can be an asset.”

  Jamie glanced across at Brian. Both his eyebrows were raised.

  He pointed at his computer screen.

  Her monitor dinged. Surreptitiously, she clicked the corner icon, indicating an intra-office message.

  His message filled the screen. She is who she says. Lots of society column pictures. Attended Northwestern. Former courthouse clerk. Cheerleader. Made honor roll at her high school. Prom Queen… And I swear Dag’s in the pic—THEY WERE PROM ROYALTY. Oh, and she has a pretty popular video blog—fashion and makeup hacks.

  Jamie heard him snort and had to bite the inside of her mouth to keep from chortling. A blogger? Cheerleader? Someone who knew Dagger and probably very well. This time, when she met Lacey’s gaze, she studied her intently. Her first instinct was to shoo away the woman. The blonde was as far removed from the candidates she’d been considering as she could have imagined.

  Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, she reminded herself. Bounty hunters came from all walks of life. Most came from law enforcement-related fields or were ex-military, like herself and Dagger. But not all. Jamie had no doubts that, while Lacey wasn’t physically intimidating, she likely had plenty of the “soft skills” fitting another brand of hunter, one able to create relationships with sources, and who might build a rapport with a criminal’s mom or girlfriend.

  Lacey remained silent, her expression unreadable while Jamie contemplated her.

  “You do know that Montana doesn’t have any formal requirements for experience or training for bounty hunters?”

  Lacey nodded. “Yes, I do.”

  “Do you mind my asking why you want to enter this line of work?”

  Lacey drew a deep breath. Her gaze met Jamie’s and narrowed.

  Jamie sensed the woman was debating with herself again, perhaps over whether to lie.

  At last, she bit her lower lip then released it and leaned forward in her seat. “Truth is, I need a job. And nothing I’ve been applying for looks…fun. I’m easily bored. I don’t like the sameness of an office job. I’m naturally nosy. And I like to…play games.” Lacey gave a small, almost-embarrassed smile. “Look, I know that doesn’t sound very nice, but I think I’d like a job where my talents at…manipulation…can actually be helpful.” She let out a deep breath.

  Her expression was open and unguarded. Vulnerable. For the first time, Jamie thought she might be seeing the real Lacey—a woman who knew her flaws, had been hurt by them, but who was seeking a way back to redemption. A theme Jamie understood all too well.

  The blonde wasn’t like any of the candidates whose resumes sparkled. But she thought that, maybe, Lacey was just the right person to fill one particular vacancy. “How are you working on a team?”

  Shrugging, Lacey wrinkled her nose. “I work better with men than women…”

  Jamie shrugged. “I do, too.” She sighed. Another ding sounded. She clicked the icon.

  You’re not seriously considering her for Dagger, are you?

  Brian knew her way to well. It’s what happened when you spent time in a war zone together. She knew he was surprised she was even considering the petite woman. But Dagger wasn’t exactly a team player. She knew if she hired a guy to ride along with him, he’d find a way to ditch the new partner. Lacey would be harder to walk away from. Jamie lifted a hand to pretend to scratch the back of her head and shot Brian the bird. “Lacey, I have an opening. I need a partner for one of my hunters. His name’s Dagger. He’s originally from around here. You might know him.” She noted the slight widening of Lacey’s eyes.

  Frowning, Lacey cleared her throat. “I know Dagger Renfrew. We went to high school together.” She coughed and brought her hand to her mouth, but not quickly enough to hide a hint of a smile.

  Jamie leaned forward. “This business can be a dangerous. If any baggage exists between the two of you, it has to be left at the door.”

  Lacey bobbed her head. “We’re old news. He’s a smartass, but I can handle him. I mean, his smart mouth…”

  Jamie stared a moment longer, then asked, “How soon can you start?”

  “Today.”

  Just the answer Jamie had needed. Otherwise, she might have time to change her mind. She dug in her top drawer for an application. “Fill this out. He’ll be back shortly. I can’t imagine he’ll be happy about this arrangement. He likes working alone.”

  “I won’t let him bully me off the job.”

  So, the woman did know Dagger. “You’re a trainee. Not a hunter. Not yet. You do what he says. Help where you can, but you never step between him and any danger. Dagger can handle himself, so don’t distract him.”

  Again, Lacey nodded.

  “You’ll be on salary, until after we decide you’re ready to function in the field on your own.” Jamie waved toward an empty desk in the corner, out of sight of the door.

  As soon as Lacey moved away, Brian wheeled over. His eyes sparkled with humor. “What are you thinking? Dagger will go ape-shit.”

  Jamie waved a hand. “He won’t do any such thing. He might leave her behind at a gas station along the way, but he won’t go off. Or…”

  Brian’s eyebrows rose high again. “Yeah. He might romance her out of the job. Should we warn her?”

  Jamie grinned. “You really think she doesn’t know exactly what sort of hijinks he might get up to?” She waved toward the note on the monitor. “She dated him at least once.”

  Brian shook his head. Then his glance went to the window. “Think I’m taking cover.” He wheeled back to his desk.

  Just then, Dagger pushed through the front door then looked over his shoulder toward the parking lot, frowning.

  Jamie wondered if he’d recognized the woman’s ride.

  When he returned his gaze to her, he shrugged. “You have that paperwork for me…?” He paused, his glance moving from Brian’s big grin and back to Jamie.

  She pressed her lips together to hide a smile of her own. “Um, Dagger.” Jamie scratched her head and then pointed a finger toward the far corner.

  At that moment, Lacey glanced up.

  “Dagger, you have a new partner…”

  His jaw dropped an inch, and then snapped shut. “No fucking way.” He pointed toward Lacey then glanced at Jamie. “She’s got no experience. Nada. What the fuck?” His jaw firmed, and his expression turned bullish.

  “She’s got soft skills. Something Fetch thinks we need more of. And she claims to be familiar with firearms and knows some martial arts. You’ll be the one to test her out. Make sure she’s a good fit for the agency. She’s your ride-along to Libby.”

  Dagger fisted both hands on his hips and dropped his head. When his face came
back up, his gaze locked on Lacey.

  Jamie watched, fascinated by the fact the woman didn’t so much as tremble at his hard expression.

  Lacey pushed up from her chair and walked toward Jamie. She dropped the application on her desk. “I included references. You can call them.”

  Jamie arched an eyebrow. “Those martial arts…”

  Lacey’s smile was rueful. “I took Tai Chi when I got bored with spin class and Pilates. It’s a martial art.”

  Jamie laughed. “Keep your ass out of trouble. And stick close to Dagger. He may be an arrogant dick, but he knows his stuff.” She arched a brow and gave Dagger a cool stare. “You wanted more responsibility. Maybe a cut of the action around here. First picks on targets. Well, prove you’re ready. Train her.”

  “No way Sky or Reaper will be down with this,” Dagger muttered. “She’ll get hurt.”

  “Not if you do your job.”

  “She’s a distraction.”

  Lacey snorted but smartly kept silent.

  Jamie pushed up from her desk. “Your objections are noted, and when Reaper returns, you can address them with him. In the meantime…” She lifted the paperwork Brian had slipped onto the corner of her desk. “Here’s where you two can start.”

  A muscle bulged on the edge of his jaw as he ground his teeth. He grabbed the folder, gave Jamie a curt nod, and turned on his heel.

  Jamie swung her head toward Lacey. “Don’t let him out of your sight.”

  Lacey grinned and hurried through the door.

  Once the door shut, Jamie blew out a breath that billowed her cheeks. “This situation is gonna be interesting.”

  Brian sat back in his wheelchair and chuckled. “You’re gonna catch hell from Reaper. You two are supposed to share the hiring decisions.”

  “His damn fault for leaving me to cool my heels, while he gets all the fun.” She grinned, not the least worried she couldn’t bring him around to her way of thinking. Reaper had mellowed out since he’d taken on Carly as a partner—and a lover.