Page 63 of When He Hunts

Before he could speak, she was kissing him. A soft kiss on the mouth. One that just teased when he wanted deep and hard. He wanted her mouth fully open and crushed beneath his as his tongue plundered past her lips. But Luna was gentle. Careful. And then her mouth skimmed down to the scar that curved under his lower lip and swept partially down his chin.

She hadn’t asked about the scar. He knew it was more visible without the beard. But ditching the beard—temporarily—had been necessary. An easy enough change that made a big difference for any jerks who might be looking for him.

Gray, you’d better not leak our location. If you do anything to jeopardize her safety, hell will come calling for you.Friend or no friend.

She’d angled her head and was kissing his neck now. Soft. Light kisses. The delicate lick of her tongue teased him.

So easy to fuck her here. Just lift her up. Rip the panties away. Drive home.

No, dammit,no.

At least, not out in the open. They had a perfectly good bungalow waiting. One with a big-ass bed. One stocked with more champagne. One waiting with rose petals and candlelight becausemaybehe’d ordered the romance package just for her. Not because of their ruse. Because of her.

Shit. What was up with him?

“Our room,” he growled. Either they got there in the next thirty seconds, or he’d fuck her wherever they happened to be. Those little licks and the sweet bite she’d just given him had pushed Ronan too far.

“Race you there?” she asked.

What? It took a moment too long for her words to register in his lust-fogged head. By then, Luna had pulled away. She laughed. Scooped up her shoes and ran down the path. As he watched her flee, a smile tugged at his lips. One full of anticipation. A bit of savage need.

She wanted to be chased? She’d clearly come to the right man. He took off after her. He followed the sweet sound of her laughter. Followed the flash of her legs under the starlight. She darted up the steps and into their bungalow. Didn’t even stop to unlock the door. Just threw it right open and went inside.

Didn’t stop to unlock the door.

Except, the door should have been locked. It one hundred percent should have been locked. After the staff had set up the romance package, they knew to lock the door. Standard damn procedure.

She was inside now. He couldn’t see her. A burst of adrenaline and speed fueled him, a burst that might have also been marked by sudden, stark fear as he hurtled onto the small porch that led to the bungalow. “Luna!”

He burst inside. Then froze when he saw the man holding Luna.

You didn’t leaveloose ends in this world.

Fuck me. Ronan Walker knows that I sent Kurt to kill him.The attempt had failed. Marcus huddled over his computer. He was about to send payment for Luna’s kill. Maybe that payment would get Ronan off his back.

I didn’t get my proof that she was dead. No finger. No photos. The only photo I got was Kurt’s.Bloody, dead Kurt.

Kurt…who led right back to Marcus.

Ronan knows that I wanted to kill him. He knows I sent Kurt to end his life.Even if Marcus hit send on the payment for Luna’s hit, would that really stop Ronan from getting his revenge?

Marcus knew the man’s reputation. Ronan always got the job done. One word was routinely used to describe him. Relentless. A former military hero turned hired gun, no one escaped from Ronan.

He won’t let me escape, either. If I pay him, he’ll still come for me. I’ll be dead, and he’ll just be richer.

The only way out? To stop Ronan. Permanently. To kill the killer.

So maybe, instead of paying for Luna’s murder, he could use that cash for another purpose. Surely there would be people out there who would jump at the chance to claim credit for taking out Ronan the Relentless?

And with a million-dollar payday waiting, why not see who could get the job done? What did he have to lose? Marcus knew his life was already on the line.

Determination had his shoulders squaring. He wasn’t ready to die.

He knew just how to reach out to the right—and wrong—people on the Dark Web. Time to chum the waters.

And put a hit on the hitman.

Chapter Fourteen

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