Fire (Beautiful Ashes Series, Book 2) Read Online Free

loved, despite how much she’d hurt him, and respecting Lacey’s wishes warred inside him. He was about to take a stand and to hell with the consequences when Mitch entered the room. Tar went on full-alert at the look on his face. He was not staring at his best friend but rather the commander of an elite unit, a battle ready gaze in those eyes. Shit. Tar gave the nod of acknowledgement as he left the room, but not before he glanced back and caught the wide-eyed gaze of Keeley. Every fiber of his being wanted to turn around and scoop her up, vowing to at least try to see if they could work through this shit. If it wasn’t for the muscled arm locking onto his, he would’ve. “What the fuck, Mitch?”
    “Trust me.”
    They rounded the corner and who met them caused Tar to step back. His brother’s wife, his ex-fiancée, stood there like a deer in the headlights. Tar was struck speechless. He hadn’t been in her presence for years. Of course he’d seen her on TV with Chase during different functions, charity events, and elections, but nothing could’ve prepared him for this. Even with her face twisted in worry, she was still breathtaking. He noticed Lisa had been crying, and when her hand came up to her mouth, he realized she still bit her fingernails when she was distraught. Forcing back all the memories and emotions vying for first place in his mind, he rasped out, “Why are you here?”
    Mitch didn’t let go of his arm as, all of a sudden, several other members of the team surrounded him. Tar shot a nasty look at Mitch. He held that scathing glare and affirmed, “We have a situation.”
    “Go on,” Tar growled.
    “It’s Chase!” Lisa cried out.
    “What about him?” Tar’s eyes darted between Lisa and Mitch.
    Mitch leaned into him and whispered, “She doesn’t know the whole story.”
    At the same time Lisa sobbed, “He’s missing.”
    Tar’s arms flexed as the men around him held on. “Talk,” he barked out.
    “He was working on an assignment you’re familiar with. Chase was scheduled to be at a meeting in L.A. but he never made it.”
    “Why the hell are we standing here?” Tar ground out.
    “We have a plane waiting. Lisa and her son are under our protection,” Mitch added that little piece of information while holding on tight.
    Damn good thing Tar couldn’t get free of the hold on him. He would’ve destroyed all in his path. He knew what assignment it was. The one where Chase was trying to help Keeley. Someone had his brother. And he would make sure they paid dearly if they harmed him in any way.
    Unbidden came the flashes of his own captivity, a time in his life he wished to die, for the pain and suffering to come to a blessed end. He begged for it. But in the end, he found a strength deep within his soul he never would’ve known existed.
    The will to fight.
    The will to live.
    The will to survive.
    It was the ultimate fuck you to those who bathed in your tears and danced in your agony. They wanted nothing more than to tear you apart and eat you alive while you pleaded for their mercy. Tar learned you had only two choices: be their victim, or be a survivor. Now as he stood there at a full-circle in his life, he saw a connector. Chase and Lisa’s betrayal had once led him down a path where he didn’t care if he lived or died. The emotional torment sent him spiraling where death seemed his only rightful companion. Here he was with Lisa and Chase needing him to save them. He wasn’t a stupid man. Tar acknowledged when he left that hospital for his brother’s sake, he was leaving all hope of ever working things out with Keeley. Yet as he stared at his brother’s wife wailing in that hallway, pleading for his help, he knew what must be done. Sacrifice.

 
    Chapter Three
     
     
    “Where’d he go?” Keeley sat up frantic.
    Lacey attempted to calm her down. “I’m sure he’ll be back.” There was no containing her ire with Tar, and Keeley didn’t miss it.
    She leveled a look at