Bounty's Flame Read online

  “On it. I’ll call you back in ten.”

  “Don’t bother. I’m on my way back there.”

  “Got it. I’ll gather everything I can before you get here.”

  Caleb hung up the phone. At twenty years old, Razor was still a kid, according to most demons, but he was smart and loyal.

  Ten minutes later, Caleb pulled into his garage, a cave several feet from the one he’d made his home, and parked the Beamer. Razor met him at the door.

  “There are a dozen Amelia Carters and several more variations of the name in and around the Nashville area. When nothing recent came up in the surrounding workforce, I searched for those who might be working under the table. That narrowed the group to ten. Eight are married. The other two…”

  Caleb stopped and turned to his right hand. “What?”

  “I’m not sure, but they could be the same person.”

  Rolling his eyes, Caleb entered the cavern through the kitchen and continued to the computer room. “Explain.”

  Razor nodded and dropped into his chair in front of a five-screen computer set up. His fingers flew across the keys, and several windows popped up on the screens. “This Amelia Carter,” he pointed to the screen on the left, “has no address listed with any of the government agencies. She has no personal bank account, but she does have a business checking with a Melissa Cartwright.”

  “What type of business?”

  Razor shrugged. “A gift shop. There’s definitely a connection.”

  Caleb shook his head. The kid had a talent for finding people. Razor’s instincts and intuition were the strongest Caleb had known. “Do you have an address?”

  Razor pushed his chair across the room to the printer. He pulled off a sheet of paper and handed it to Caleb.

  It was a fifty-fifty chance, but it was the only lead Caleb had. Besides, Razor had never been wrong before. Caleb hoped he wasn’t wrong this time.

  Watching Caleb disappear in the crowd of the nightclub, Levi motioned to his head of security across the bar. His plan was falling into place. Soon the Phoenix would be in his possession. When she was, he’d have the power to rule the earthside demons and the humans.

  Unlike his past failed attempts to capture the Phoenix outside her host, Levi knew what he was missing. Caleb Reed was the Phoenix’s mate and held the power to control the Phoenix and imprison her without the aid of a human host. With the hellhound’s blood, Levi could bond the Phoenix to himself. Then he’d have the power to open the gates to Hell. All Levi had to do was wait a little longer for Caleb to lead him right to her.

  Rock, his head of security, stopped beside him. Levi spoke without looking at the demon. “Put two trackers on him. I want him and the Phoenix brought to me alive.”

  “Should I send a hellhound, as well?”

  “No. Not yet.” Levi stood. Even though the best way to track a hellhound was with one, Levi’s trackers were the best at finding people, even half-breeds like Caleb. “Let’s see how the bounty hunter reacts to his mate first.”

  Caleb would want to protect the Phoenix and make the mistake of bonding with her to do so. Levi counted on it.

  3

  A scream ripped from her throat as she watched her best friend’s lifeless body fall to the dirty ground. Rushing to Melissa, Amelia gathered her friend in her arms. Tears streamed down her face.

  Footsteps closed in on her, and she jerked her gaze to the murdering bastard responsible. He narrowed his eyes but stopped as a red, smoky cloud swirled up from Melissa’s body, bursting into flames. The fire spread and covered Amelia, but the heat never touched her skin.

  Suddenly, a ghostly form of a Phoenix rose up from Melissa’s body. The red and gold bird was beautiful and large, with multicolored tail feathers as long as her body. She stared into Amelia’s eyes for several moments before rushing forward and slamming into her.

  A voice entered her mind. “Get up and run.”

  “Who are you?”

  “The Phoenix. We must go now.”

  Amelia glanced down at Melissa’s body, now a pile of ash. Her heart ached, but she did as the Phoenix said, somehow knowing it was her only chance for survival.

  “Wake up. Amelia. We have to go, now!”

  Sitting straight up in her bed, Amelia searched the room for a threat. “What?”

  “Someone is coming for us.”

  Flinging the covers off, Amelia scrambled out of bed and grabbed her duffle bag with what little belongings she had inside. The Phoenix had kept her two steps ahead of Levi and his trackers, so she didn’t question the creature she shared a body with.

  “Where to?”

  “The farm.”

  Oh, good, something familiar. They hadn’t been to the farm in a few years. As far as she knew, Levi didn’t know about the place. At least she hoped he didn’t.

  “I guess it’s time for a new hair color.”

  “I’m not sure the color of your hair matters anymore.”

  Yeah, she knew that, but changing it gave her a false sense of security. Exiting the apartment, she rushed to her Mini Cooper. She flung her backpack in the passenger seat as she dropped in behind the wheel. Pulling out onto the road, she headed toward I-65 to the Kentucky border.

  “Okay, Mel, I have to pee, and the car is running low on fuel.”

  “Make it quick.”

  Yeah, yeah.

  Even though Mel had the gift of sight, she could be wrong. The paranoia of being caught had consumed both of them. Even Amelia grew twitchy when men approached her, thinking they worked for Levi.

  She shuddered and pushed away the memories of the last time she’d seen her best friend. The pain and sorrow in Melissa’s features haunted Amelia day and night.

  “Melissa would want you to fight. To keep me safe.”

  The Phoenix’s soft voice held a hint of sadness as she spoke their friend’s name. Melissa and the Phoenix had been bound from birth. Melissa’s mother had died during childbirth, so the bird had no choice but to attach herself to Melissa.

  “I know. Couldn’t we hunt down Levi and kill him?”

  “As much as I want to, I don’t feel you are strong enough yet.”

  Amelia worked her jaw. She’d trained almost daily in various forms of self-defense and fighting. The intense workouts Mel insisted on made Amelia look forward to the yoga sessions twice a week.

  Spying a gas station, Amelia pulled in and parked at the first available pump, relieved the place was busy. So far, Levi’s men didn’t approach her in public. She just hoped it stayed that way.

  After pumping her gas, she used the restroom, thankful it was inside the store, and then picked up a soda and bag of chips on her way to the counter. A large man, with short brown hair, broad shoulders, and a navy blue T-shirt, entered the store. Mel went quiet. Amelia didn’t need the Phoenix to tell her the guy wasn’t a man, but a demon.

  The same demon from the too-hot-for-words dreams.

  Heart pounding, she tried to stay calm while the clerk checked her out.

  Mel, this is not the time to leave me.

  “Um, he’s a hellhound with shapeshifting abilities. He’s also a bounty hunter.”

  Fuck me. That wasn’t good. Levi sent him, didn’t he? Mel didn’t respond. Mel. What is wrong with you?

  “Nothing. Let’s get out of here.”

  In the year they’d been together, Mel had never lied to her. But that was what the Phoenix just did. Amelia knew it. Or at least Mel was not telling her something, and that was the same thing in Amelia’s book. She bet it had something to do with the erotic dreams.

  Gathering her purchases, she darted out the door and ran to her car. They were on the road within moments.

  “Spill. What the hell is going on?”

  Mel let out a sigh. “That demon is my mate.”

  Oh, hell no.

  “You do realize he is here to either kill us or take us to Levi.”

  “There is that.” Mel fell silent for a moment. “We could seduce hi
m. With a hellhound on our side, you’d be strong enough to kill Levi and whoever else comes after us.”

  The Phoenix had gone insane, completely lost it.

  “I’m not seducing a demon.”

  “We can’t fight him either. Besides, we have been seducing him for the last few months.”

  “The dreams?” When the Phoenix didn’t reply, Amelia released a frustrated growl. She already knew the answer. “Damn it, Mel. Why couldn’t your mate be a nice, normal, wealthy human?”

  The bird didn’t respond. Whatever. Damn it.

  “I’m not on board with this until you explain to me who he is to you.”

  Mel blew out a frustrated breath. “I told you, he’s my mate. Now that he has found me…us, he will track us no matter where we go. At least leading him to the farm will be away from human ears and eyes.”

  There was a hint of saddens in her tone that made Amelia’s heart ache.

  “He broke your heart.”

  “More like broke my trust. Although, I’m not sure it was completely his fault.”

  “I’m so confused.” Amelia gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I’m not seducing him. I’ll talk to him, but I’m not seducing him.”

  Caleb watched the petite human haul ass out of there. She’d changed her hair color since the picture Levi had showed him. It was now blue-black and cut short. With the loose curls, it fell to her jawline. It suited her.

  He also recognized this version of Amelia. She was Nix’s new host, the one Nix used to visit him in his dreams.

  Taking a deep breath, he inhaled her lingering scent, memorizing the sweet, spicy notes. Levi had failed to mention that the human carried the Phoenix inside her. Caleb’s suspicions of the crime lord grew, and the game plan changed.

  The legendary bird was on his no-way-in-hell-or-earth-was-he-messing-with list, along with a handful of other sacred beings and small children. Besides, the Phoenix was his mate.

  He’d searched two centuries for her. Every lead had been a dead-end. And from the aggression rolling off Amelia, Caleb guessed the Phoenix was still pissed at him, blaming him for her host dying.

  There would be only one reason Levi wanted the female—to harvest the Phoenix’s power. Caleb wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

  Pulling out his cell as he made his way to his Beamer, he called Razor. When the demon answered, Caleb barked out his orders. “Find out everything you can about Amelia and her friend Melissa. I want family history, birth records, everything. Also see what their connection to Levi is.”

  “On it.”

  Caleb ended the call and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat then fired the BMW to life.

  Amelia Carter thought she could run, but she didn’t know why they called him the best bounty hunter on Earth and in Hell. He knew just how to bring the Phoenix to him now that he’d found her.

  4

  Amelia entered the small farmhouse and sagged into herself. It’d been years since she’d been there. Everything from the brown, shag carpet to the tacky flower-print curtains brought painful memories of when she and Melissa had lived there as teens with her grandparents and for a few years after they passed away. Amelia never had the heart to sell the farmhouse.

  God, she missed her bestie.

  “I miss her, too.”

  Nodding, Amelia pushed her feet forward and proceeded to open the windows to allow the house to air out some. “It needs a good cleaning.”

  “Yep.”

  “Thanks. You aren’t the one who has to do it.” Amelia scanned the living room and frowned. The house needed updating, like as in a complete overhaul. Why did she care when her own future was uncertain?

  After setting her bag on the dusty couch, she went into the kitchen, grabbed the metal pail next to the sink, and exited out the back door. The sun filtered through the trees, casting beams of light across the green grass. Birds sang from the treetops, calling to each other. She inhaled and sighed. Fall was close. The air had already begun to cool slightly.

  When she reached the well, she set the pail down and spotted a sparrow on the stone. The tiny bird lay unmoving. Amelia couldn’t even see its chest rise. Sadness seeped into her heart. Carefully, she scooped the small bird up in her hands. It began to take slow and labored breaths. Her heart ached for the tiny creature.

  She stroked its features gently and whispered, “Be healed and fly once more.”

  Her hands warmed as the Phoenix’s healing powers flowed from her to the sparrow. A moment later, the bird shook, then stood, stretching out its wings. Amelia smiled wide and held her hands out. The bird flew off and disappeared into the trees.

  “That was a nice trick.”

  The deep voice startled her. When she turned suddenly, she tripped over the pail and fell on her ass, her hands scraping on the stone. Stings of pain registered, but she pushed them away, focusing on the demon looming over her.

  Scrambling to her feet, she turned to run to the house. She didn’t make it. The demon caught her with one arm around her waist. He flattened her back to his front and pressed his nose into her neck. Desire flooded her senses. He smelled of sage and spice, just like in the dreams. Hot desire filled her, and she groaned. Oh, God, she was weak. She couldn’t resist him because she wondered if he was as good in bed in reality as in the dreams.

  The Phoenix let out a sigh. “I’m afraid so.”

  You are so not helping.

  Suddenly, the idea of seducing the demon had major appeal. Pushing away the need to fuck him senseless, she straightened her spine. “What do you want?”

  “To find out why Levi wants the Phoenix.”

  Fear burned her belly.

  He knows.

  Mel laughed softly. “Of course, he does. He’s a demon, a hellhound at that. One of the most ruthless bounty hunters good money can buy. And don’t forget, he’s my mate, which would make him yours as well. However, you have to keep a clear head. I don’t trust him.”

  Now the Phoenix tells her.

  You don’t trust your mate? Why?

  The Phoenix laughed. “There is no guarantee he won’t double cross us in the end.”

  Do we have any other option?

  The bird fell silent, so Amelia made an executive decision. “Levi wants her powers. I don’t know what for.”

  The demon loosened his hold and gently turned her to face him. The muscles in his strong jaw worked as he studied her intensely.

  Pushing away her fear and squaring her shoulders, she locked gazes with him and offered a small smile. “We know you came here to haul us back to Levi. Why don’t we go inside and…” She ran her palm up his chest over his T-shirt. “Well, talk about our options.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What options?”

  “Tell him we want to make a deal for him to kill Levi. Double whatever the lowlife is paying him.”

  What? Do we have that kind of money?

  Mel clicked her tongue. “Yes. Just do it.”

  “We want you to kill Levi.”

  The demon released her abruptly and threw his head back as he laughed. Amelia fisted her hands at her side.

  “This isn’t a joke. We need that bastard dead.”

  He sobered and stared at her as if searching for something. “Why do you come to me in my dreams?”

  “What?” Those were hers and Mel’s dreams and not real, weren’t they? Mel!

  “Damn demon. I’ll explain later.”

  “Oh, no. Someone is going to start explaining now. I don’t understand any of this.” Amelia spoke out loud as she turned and walked to the house.

  The sound of his boots moving through the grass indicated he followed her. “Explain what?”

  She whirled around, almost crashing into him. “This thing between you and Mel, the dreams that apparently aren’t dreams, and Levi. I need answers and a plan to kill the bastard so Mel and I can live our life in peace. If you won’t help us, then we’ll find someone who can.”

  “You’re using reverse
psychology, right?” There was a hint of panic in Mel’s tone.

  Amelia ignored her. The male was not their mate. The Phoenix was wrong. Sure, he was hot in that bad boy kind of way and according to the numerous sex dreams—whatever they were—but he wasn’t their mate.

  Just then, the demon gripped her upper arm and tugged her to a stop. “I never said I wouldn’t help you.”

  The sharp, sour scent of Amelia’s annoyance coiled around Caleb. Her eyes narrowed a moment before she snatched her arm from his grasp.

  She walked off muttering, “I don’t trust him.”

  A smile lifted his lips as he followed her into the house. The fire in her green eyes sparked a flame deep inside him. His primal side that led him to the Phoenix also wanted to know more about the human female.

  “Levi offered me a lot of money to bring you back.”

  Without missing a beat, she replied. “We will double it if you help us kill him.”

  “Why kill him?” Caleb didn’t have an issue with killing the crime lord. In fact, he’d planned to do just that now that he knew the SOB was after his mate. But he wanted to know Amelia’s motive for doing so.

  She whirled around and glared up at him. “I owe Melissa at least that.”

  “Your friend? The one whose name you use as an alias?”

  Amelia paused then averted her gaze. “She was Mel’s host before me. If it weren’t for me, she’d be alive now.”

  He studied her for several moments. “You named the Phoenix Mel?”

  Not answering him, she continued to the living room and sat on the old, worn sofa. He let out a low growl. The female was stubborn.

  “How do you plan to kill Levi?”

  Several seconds ticked by before she answered. “You will give him what he wants. When we are in the same room as the bastard, Mel and I will be ready.”

  Caleb glared at her while he worked his jaw. The female planned to sacrifice herself to keep the Phoenix safe. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised by her actions. The bond between the Phoenix and her host was strong. Once formed, they’d protect each other at all costs.