Hunted (The Dirty Heroes Collection Book 13) Read online

  Hunted

  The Dirty Heroes Collection

  Cassandra Faye

  Contents

  The Dirty Heroes Collection

  Prologue

  1. Harper

  2. Harper

  3. Jared

  4. Jared

  5. Harper

  6. Harper

  7. Jared

  8. Harper

  9. Jared

  10. Harper

  11. Jared

  12. Harper

  13. Harper

  14. Jared

  15. Harper

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Cassandra Faye and Jennifer Bene

  Text copyright © 2020 Cassandra Faye

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN (e-book): 978-1-946722-56-0

  ISBN (paperback): 978-1-946722-57-7

  Cover design by Jay Aheer, www.simplydefinedart.com

  Created with Vellum

  The Dirty Heroes Collection

  The Black Fox by Brianna Hale

  Finding His Strength by Measha Stone

  While She Sleeps by Dani René

  Bound in Sacrifice by Murphy Wallace

  Never Lost by TL Mayhew

  The Curse Behind the Mask by Holly J. Gill

  Clockwork Stalker by Cari Silverwood

  Kiss and Tell by Jo-Anne Joseph

  Skeleton King by Charity B.

  Make Me Real by Petra J. Knox

  Cruel Water by Dee Palmer

  The Masked Prince by Faith Ryan

  Hunted by Cassandra Faye

  The Lady by Golden Angel

  Thank you, Katie, for always loving my words, no matter how crazy they get, and thank you Niki for helping me stay upright even when I insist on falling down again and again. Finally, thank you to Gabriela for taking my words to the next level, and always being a bright light in the dark. I love you guys.

  Prologue

  Once upon a time, a scorned Queen opened a box, unleashing horrible evil on the world’s heroes.

  Instead of gallantry and chivalry, they now possessed much more perverse traits.

  They’ve fallen victim to their darkest and most deviant desires.

  This is one of their stories...

  1

  Harper

  “How much farther, babe?” Twisting in my seat, I lean against the door to watch Jared as he drives, one hand holding onto the steering wheel.

  “Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes,” he answers, looking at me for a quick second as a grin spreads over his lips. “Depends on if any trees are down, or if the road got washed out near the creek. If there are any issues, you might have to get your hands dirty, Ms. Bainbridge.”

  Laughing, I lean forward to smack his arm. “Since when do I avoid getting my hands dirty, Mr. Loxley?”

  “Oh, I know you like it dirty, even though you’re a Bainbridge of the Connecticut Bainbridges,” he says, using his Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous voice. Glancing at me again, Jared’s eyebrows dance up and down until I roll my eyes and point out the windshield.

  “You’re such a dumbass. Would you just watch the road, so you don’t kill us on the way to your mysterious cabin?” I wiggle my fingers in the air, using a spooky voice to mock him for the hundredth time for treating the cabin like some epic secret.

  “Trust me, Harper, it’s worth the wait. And, come on, you know you love me,” he replies, the grin lingering on his face as he props an elbow on the open window, green eyes returning to the rough dirt road winding through the trees.

  “You’re lucky I love you so much,” I answer, smiling as I watch him laugh before he reaches over to squeeze my hand.

  “I’m incredibly lucky.” Jared winks at me, and I feel the same rush of warm, bubbly energy that I felt the first time he did. Sophomore year at Dartmouth, in an intro to philosophy course. It had been a big room, but the seats were already filling up by the time I made it inside. Jared was sitting by one of his friends near the back row, and he’d looked back at the door as I searched for an empty seat when our gazes had locked like a scene out of some movie. I’d thought he was cute, but when that smile spread across his lips, lighting up his entire face, he’d instantly changed from cute to hot — and then he’d winked at me. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was already lost to him, and when he tilted his head at the empty seat beside him, I didn’t even hesitate.

  That was two years ago and falling in love with Jared Loxley is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. He’s perfect, to me anyway. Charming, hilarious, and somehow both an absolute gentleman and the dirtiest joker ever. I love that he never underestimates me, that he’s never hesitated to take me on these outdoor adventures he loves so much, and while I did grow up in a nice family, I’ve fallen in love with the outdoors too. Hiking, camping, kayaking, rock climbing — he’s taught me to do all of it. Always patient, always watching out for me. He’s easy to love.

  Of course, as my friends always remind me, it doesn’t hurt that he’s hot as hell.

  The air smells sweet as we continue on, and I lean my head back out the window, looking up at the perfect blue sky framed by the trees that huddle close to what serves as the road into his family’s property. The same property that apparently has no address, just a set of longitude and latitude coordinates guiding us, along with his years of experience coming out here to find the muddy track leading in and out.

  I may not know why Jared and his family keep the cabin such a secret, but I know we’re going to have a blast this weekend — it’s impossible not to have fun around him.

  “Oh good, the bridge still looks solid,” Jared says, half to himself, but I sit up straight, a nervous laugh bubbling up and past my lips.

  “Was there a question about the safety of the bridge?” I ask, trying to hold onto the laugh as I look out the windshield at the wooden structure spanning the creek.

  “Dad was out here about a month ago with Ollie and he said it was fine, but there’s been a few storms up here since then. The creek looks calm, but it’s deeper than you think, and it can get wild when the rains come down the mountains.” Reaching over, Jared pats my knee, smiling at me as he starts to move the SUV across. “I promise you’re safe, babe.”

  The creaking of the wood under us seems to be questioning him, but I force myself to look at him again and smile. “I trust you.”

  “Good,” he answers, squeezing my knee just before he lifts his hands in the air and claps them together. “Aaaand we’re across! See? We didn’t die. Perfectly safe.”

  “Would we have figured out that it wasn’t safe before or after the car went into the water?” I ask, and he laughs.

  “Probably before?” Tilting his head, he pretends to think hard, and I groan as he continues. “Definitely during the fall into the water, but you know I’d rescue you. I’m the king of the outdoors, remember?”

  “I don’t remember ‘bridge construction’ being a part of your skill set as king of the outdoors.”

  “It’s definitely in there.” Nodding, Jared lets out another laugh as the SUV bounces over a few rough dips on the road. “I’m just going to have to update my kingly
resumé.”

  “Riiiight.” Shaking my head, I can’t help but laugh along with him. I gave him the ‘king of the outdoors’ title on our first camping trip when he’d impressed me with his skills setting up camp and cooking for us. It was like he’d been born in the woods, like he belonged there, and so for his birthday that year I’d bought him a shirt with the title printed on it, and he loved it. It’s got holes in it now, but he still wears it all the time, and I’d bet a hundred bucks he’s got it packed for this trip.

  Jared starts humming to himself, tapping his thumb on the steering wheel to the rhythm of whatever song is playing in his head. Leaning against the door again, I look off into the trees, loving the way the sunlight changes the color of the leaves from bright, pale green at the top to dusky and dull closer to the forest floor. I can see why he loves this place so much… it’s beautiful.

  “So how much of this is your property?”

  “We’ve got a little over two hundred acres, and the cabin is tucked almost in the middle of it,” he answers, and I try to remember what the hell that means in normal language.

  “That sounds like a lot,” I reply lamely, and he chuckles.

  “Yeah, it’s one of the bigger properties up here, but my family grabbed it forever ago. I think my great-great-grandfather built the first cabin, and the family just keeps improving it.” Leaning forward, he points through the windshield at one of the rolling mountains. “That’s Mitchell Mountain. It’s got an open summit and when we’re up there you’ll be able to see all the way to Lake Champlain. Luckily, our cabin is higher up than a lot of the others, which gives us some great views anyway, and there’s always a ton of deer.”

  “Is that dinner?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

  Jared smacks his chest with his fist, rolling his shoulders back as he lets out a grunt. “Me king of outdoors. Me feed my woman.”

  “I’ve got Tarzan for a boyfriend, I’m so lucky!” Laughing, I grab the water bottle and take a drink as he winks at me again. “At least I know you’d help me survive a zombie apocalypse.”

  “Oh yeah, we’d totally survive. And, for the record, I promise I won’t make you clean the deer,” Jared says as he shifts in his seat, twisting to stretch out his back. We’ve been driving for hours, and I’m sure he’s as ready as I am to get the fuck out of the car. Just thinking about it makes me stretch my legs out, arching my back against the seat to loosen my stiff muscles.

  Aaaand now I have to pee. Awesome.

  “Please tell me this super secret cabin has a bathroom.” Putting the water bottle back into the cupholder, I try to ignore the suddenly insistent nudge from my bladder.

  “Of course it does,” he replies, chuckling. “I told you we’ve updated it. There’s indoor plumbing, well water, a septic system, and electricity.”

  “Ooooo, so fancy!” I joke, trying to find a comfortable position, but it’s not working. It’s like now that I’m aware of my need to pee, it’s all my body can focus on. “Well, are we close? Because if we’re not then I’m going to need you to stop so I can visit a tree.”

  “Five more minutes, babe. Can you hold it?” Jared asks, but I can tell he’s not teasing me. He’ll stop the car if I ask him to, but I’d much prefer a real toilet than risking squatting in the wrong place.

  “I’m good.” I smile at him and he reaches over to hold my hand, lacing our fingers together. Jared may be a joker, and rarely serious, but he always takes care of me and I love him even more for it.

  It takes seven minutes, not five, before the cabin comes into view, and there were a few moments as the SUV bounced along the road that I thought about giving up on the thought of indoor plumbing — but I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t know what I expected from the Loxley’s top-secret hideaway, but the one-story log cabin looks a lot nicer than whatever I’d been picturing in the back of my mind. It’s clear from the different tones in the wood where sections have been added on, but it somehow works, looking both rustic and modern at the same time.

  “Doesn’t this count as ‘glamping?’” I ask, knowing how much he hates the concept, but he just laughs.

  “Probably, but it’s tradition.” Pulling the car to a stop near the door, he turns it off and jingles the keys as he pulls them free. “Come on, babe. I’ll let you inside to use the bathroom before I turn on the generator and everything.”

  “Thank God,” I reply, climbing out of the car as my bladder threatens a full mutiny. It’s my own fault though. If I hadn’t ordered the spicy sandwich at the deli in town, I wouldn’t have chugged my entire water bottle — and half of Jared’s — on the drive up here.

  The inside of the cabin is definitely a man cave, but I don’t have long to look around the living room before Jared shows me the bathroom. I did notice the deer heads and antlers adorning the wall above the fireplace though, and although I’ve never been against the idea of hunting, the trophies sort of creep me out. I think it’s the eyes, or the marbles, or whatever they put in their heads. They’re just… empty. Shiny, black orbs that seem to follow me wherever I am.

  Shaking off the shiver that rolls up my back, I use the toilet and then move to the sink. The pipes groan when I turn the water faucet on and water sputters from the spout a few times before the flow picks up, but I’m relieved the guys at least have hand soap here. The loud clunk of the generator kicking on has me reaching over to flip the light switch as I dry my hands on the towel. It takes a second, but yellow bulbs come to life above the mirror and I smile at my reflection.

  “Running water and electricity? This is definitely not Jared’s usual outdoor adventure,” I mutter to myself. Normally, we ‘rough it’ when we go away for a long weekend. Hiking out with all of our gear to set up camp in some obscure spot Jared heard about from a friend of a friend, but this cabin is more than a step above that. It could easily be someone’s home.

  “Everything good, babe?” Jared’s voice comes through the door and I snap out of my thoughts.

  “Yeah! Just putting my hair back up, one sec.” Yanking out the hairband from my rumpled ponytail, I quickly finger-comb my hair and pull it into a loose bun to keep it off my neck. When I open the door, Jared isn’t there, so I head outside to find him unloading the back of the car.

  “Well, what do you think?” he asks, setting my duffel bag beside his on the ground.

  “It’s really nice. I think I was expecting something more along the lines of pioneer days, not… vacation rental cabin.” Shrugging, I grab both of our bags to take them inside as he lifts the large cooler.

  “Well, I think it used to be closer to that,” Jared says, the muscles in his arms bulging against the fabric of his sleeves as he hauls the heavy cooler toward the door. “But each generation makes it just a little better than before.”

  “What are you going to add to it?” I ask as I drop one of the duffel bags to hold the door open for him.

  “Thanks, babe.” Huffing, he moves carefully up the steps to slide sideways through the door, heading for the kitchen as he talks to me over his shoulder. “I’m not sure what Ollie and I will add to it. We’ll figure it out when he’s older.”

  “Addison doesn’t get to help?” I ask, leaving the duffels by the large leather couch before I follow him into the kitchen. It’s narrow, galley-style, but it has a real stove and oven, a fridge, and even a microwave.

  Jared shrugs before rolling his shoulders, stretching his arms out. “Addison hasn’t ever been out here.”

  “Too young?”

  “Nah, it’s just…” Chuckling, he runs a hand through his hair before he walks past me toward the door. “I guess it sounds sexist when I say it out loud, but none of the women in our family ever come out here.”

  “That definitely sounds sexist,” I reply as we head outside to bring in more of the supplies for the long weekend.

  “Well, I think it’s just tradition at this point. I mean, Dad brought me out here for the first time when I was eight or nine. Oliver came with
us when he turned nine, but Addison is fifteen and he’s never even talked about it.” Blowing out a breath, Jared stops beside the car and turns to look at me. “You’re right, it’s totally sexist.”

  “Yep,” I say, letting my lips pop at the end of the word, and he reaches over to pull me against him, his arms wrapping around the small of my back.

  “I’m not sexist though.”

  “So, you’d bring your daughter out here?” The question hovers between us when he doesn’t immediately answer, and I feel a buzz rush down my spine as Jared’s gaze slides down to my lips.

  “If she were anything like you… absolutely.” Leaning down, he captures my mouth in a kiss that has my skin on fire in seconds. Nipping my lip, he deepens the kiss with a flick of his tongue, pulling me harder against his firm chest, and I know little moans are escaping under my breath as I try to tug him closer even though there’s not a whisper of air between us.

  “Jared…” His name comes out on a sigh as he trails his lips down my neck, finding that thrilling spot by my collarbone that always turns me into a warm puddle of need.

  “I love it when you say my name like that,” he growls against my skin, nipping my shoulder, and I smile up at the clouds floating overhead as tingles scatter out from the point.

  “Jared.” I do my best to use the same tone as I say his name again, a quiet moan following on its heels as the steadily hardening bulge in his jeans presses against me.

  “Fuck it, we can unload the rest later,” he says just before he leans down and throws me over his shoulder.