In some ways, it was reassuring to have a big, tall, handsome bounty hunter as a full-time bodyguard
When sheâd first come to Montana, Sierra hadnât known what to expect. In the back of her mind, she might have been thinking sheâd find herself a man who was nearly as spectacular as the landscape. A handsome cowboy with tight jeans and broad shouldersâa man like Trevor.
Last night, when sheâd looked out her front window before going to bed, she saw him standing watch. In his shearling coat with his arms folded across his chest, he was the very archetype of a cowboy. Strong and silent. A manâs man.
Still, an aura of danger surrounded Trevor that made her uneasy. Sheâd already allowed herself to be swept away by cowboy fantasies once. Look how badly that turned out!
There would be no more volatile cowboys in her life. Not now. Not ever.
Hereâs to Thursday nights with the Vietnam vets
and the mariachis.
And, as always, to Rick.
From the balcony of her Denver high rise, Cassie Miles has a view of the gold dome of the Colorado State Capitol and the front range of the Rockies. If she could figure out a way to add the ocean, sheâd have the best of all possible worlds. Though a typical day is all about writing and reading, thereâs always time for a walk in the park or a longer trip to the foothills for a hike or to watch the rock climbers and para-sails.
Recently voted Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Cassie attends critique groups specializing in mystery and in romance, the perfect balance for Harlequin Intrigue. One of her daughters once described her writing this way. âRomantic suspense. You know, kiss-kiss, bang-bang.â If only it were that simple.
Sierra CollinsâTransplanted from Brooklyn to the wide-open spaces of Montana, Sierra was once engaged to Lyle Nelson, a lieutenant in the Montana Militia for a Free America. She has reason to hate the Militia, but will she betray them?
Trevor BlackhawâThe former Special Forces commando is legendary for his fierce interrogation tactics. What secrets will this half-Cherokee loner draw from Sierra?
Lyle NelsonâThough engaged to Sierra, thereâs no room in his cold heart for anything but the Militia.
Warden Craig GreenâFor years, the warden ran the inescapable Fortress Prison with an iron fist. Heâs days away from retirement.
SnakeâSo mean that nobody remembers his real name. Snake is the wardenâs favorite enforcer in the prison.
Boone FowlerâThe leader of the Militia plots a horrible and spectacular act of terrorism.
Perry JohnsonâSadistic Militia lieutenant who wants to take slow revenge on Sierra.
Cameron MurphyâThis highly decorated former Special Forces colonel is head of the Big Sky Bounty Hunters, determined to recapture the Militia after their jail break.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Lyle Nelson strained against the shackles that chafed his skinny wrists and ankles. Under armed guard, he was being returned to the Fortress, the most impregnable penitentiary in the state of Montana. A hellhole.
White-hot rage burned inside his chest. The only way he could contain his fury was to remind himself that his stay at the Fortress was temporary. Heâd be back outside. Soon. And heâd take bloody revenge on every soul who got in his way. It didnât matter who died. Cops. Feds. Women and children. They would all be sacrificed for the Militiaâs sacred cause.
The guards shoved him into a special isolation cell. No windows. Heavy iron bars. The walls were stone, and voices echoed.
Though Lyle knew it was cold in here, beads of sweat collected on his forehead and upper lip.
âI want to see the warden,â he yelled. âAnd I want to see him now.â
âYouâve got no right to make demands.â
âTell Warden Green that Iâm here,â Lyle snarled. âHeâll see me.â
The guard snapped his billy club against the bars. âShut up.â
If Lyle had been free, heâd strangle this moron guard with his bare hands. âGet the damn warden.â
âIâm here.â The warden strode across the concrete floor. âI want a close look at the man who thought he could break out of the Fortress and get away with it.â
For a moment, Warden Craig Green stared into the flat blue eyes of Lyle Nelson, knowing that he was face-to-face with pure evil. The recapture of this fugitive was the worst possible thing that could happen to Green.
He turned away from the bars and gestured to the guards. âLeave me alone with him.â
Grumbling, they filed out of the room.
Lyle stood close. His white-knuckled fingers clutched the iron bars. âI want out of here, Green.â
âThatâs not going to happen.â Only a few weeks ago, Green had arranged for all the imprisoned Militia to escape. Heâd been well paid, but he couldnât take that sort of risk again. âI canât pull off another prison break.â