In Embers (The Ember Series Book 3) Read Online Free

COLLIDE
     
    ~ Beautiful Disaster: 311 ~
     
    “Asia Michaels,” his voice greeted me.
    “Avery Wahlberg,” I said, with a mouth full of anger. Just seeing him reminded me of much lonelier days. He looked so much like his younger brother, Devon. They both shared similar physiques, frosty blond hair, and devious gray eyes. Avery’s brother, Devon, had changed my life forever when he almost killed Max in a fit of jealousy over Samantha. In a blinding rage I took my revenge on Devon, killing him with a giant arc of lightning. The rest of the world never knew what really happened to him, most people believed he was on the run after shooting Max through the chest. Avery on the other hand, never believed that. He knew his little brother was never coming home, and he knew I had something to do with it.
    “Well, this is a bit of a surprise, Ms. Michaels. I figured you had your hands full getting your talented boyfriend free from his prison cell,” Avery tried to joke. I was in no mood. He was right though, my lawyers were the best money could buy, and they were doing everything they could to get Max free. Though, he was completely wrong about one thing…Max didn’t belong to me anymore. He belonged to Sam.
    “Where is she?” I asked, in a huff, trying to ignore my racing thoughts of Max and his warm embrace.
    “Who?” Avery smiled, wryly.
    “Stop screwing around, Avery! Where’s Sam?” I spit out, and the lights darkened as my surrounding storms rolled heavy outside. He winced at my emotional response. His two security guards paced at my sides with growing uneasiness. He nodded to them to calm their fears. Both guards stepped backward toward the only door in the room. Avery placed his hands in his pockets and continued.
    “Ahh, you mean Samantha Summers. The young woman who disappeared a few weeks ago. The proud mother of a beautiful baby girl that your boyfriend just so happened to father.”
    His words stung me to my core. Thunder rumbled louder and I wanted to punch him in the throat.
    “Yes,” I grumbled.
    “That little girl is special,” he said, softly. I just stood still. “And by special, I mean, she has a gift, doesn’t she.” Again, I just held his gaze. He laughed, heartily, “Like father, like daughter!”
    “I’m special too…” I seethed, trying to get his attention on my abilities and not Madison’s special gifts. She was so much like her father, Max. With only her touch she could heal any wound. A young and innocent healer. The world would never leave her alone. Someone would always want to take advantage of her. The thought shouldn’t have bothered me so much, but like her hotheaded father, Madison had grown on me. Samantha had trusted me with Madi’s well-being just before she disappeared, and I think I already had the strongest feelings for her.
    Avery leaned into me, making sure I heard his next statement. “I know.”
    Ignoring him, I murmured, “I want Sam. This will be your only warning,” I said, as fact. Electricity began swimming through my clothes, dancing upon the tiny hairs along my body. His eyes pulled together, excitedly.
    “I have a proposition for you, Ms. Michaels…”
    “What?”
    “How about a trade,” he smiled. I stood silent and determined. He shuffled his stance and reached over to the nearest desk. “I let Samantha go home, and you stay in her place.” With a quick flip of a switch a large HD screen attached to the wall flashed with a new image. It was Samantha.
    “Sam,” I whispered, staring intensely at the screen. Sam was alive and well. She looked stressed and possibly a little dehydrated.
    “I assure you that she is doing just fine. She isn’t sleeping very well, but she is quite the conversation alist,” Avery laughed to himself. I didn’t find his smugness funny in the least.
    “A trade…” I drifted off. Thoughts of Max and little Madison flooded my mind. This was my chance to save Sam. This was my chance to do the right