The Fire Still Burns Read Online Free PDF Page A

night.
    Something churned inside him, something large and uncontrollable, some primitive desire to hold and protect her despite what she had done.  Damn it, she was his once and he still remembered the taste of her.
    Without thought, he closed the distance between them and gave into his primitive urge to taste her again.  Roughly, he sealed her mouth with his own, fighting off her protest by forcing his tongue between her soft lips, opening her to his invasion.
    She broke free, shoving at his chest until his hold broke, and unsuspecting such anger, he was blindsided by a jab to the left temple.  His head jerked to the side, and she brought a knee to his groin before he could recover.  His body doubled over, reacting to the blow.  Sharp little rocks ground into his knees as they met the hard dirt road.
    “Dream on, Adam,” she said viciously while she ran from him.  “You'll never hurt me again!”
    He heard his truck start and cursed himself for leaving the keys in the ignition.  Running after her was impossible, the pain ricocheting through his groin as the struggle to breathe kept him from moving.  She had damn near sent his balls careening into his throat.  He tried to call out for her, but couldn't find his voice.  He realized it was too late anyway as a cloud of dirt blew over him.
    She had just stolen his truck.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Adam saw Chief Parker outside of the station smoking a cigarette as he approached and growled a word obscene enough to make his mother faint, if she were around.
    He had just walked all the way back from the Mulroney property, sweat dampened his T-shirt and his temper rose with every step he took.  His pride was battered, his ego badly bruised, and, judging by the smirk on the chief's face, he knew he was about to go through round two.
    “Fine day for a stroll.” Chief Parker called out to him as he neared.
    “Where'd she go?” Adam cut to the point, in no mood to hang around chatting it up with the chief when he had a little wench to find and set straight on a few things.  He noticed his truck haphazardly parked, but Brynn's compact piece of uselessness was gone.
    “I knew it would be difficult for the two of you to work together, but I never thought she'd beat the crap out of ya and steal your truck.”  The chief let out a small chuckle, interrupted by a harsh cough as smoke came out his nose.
    “She told you?”
    “Nope.  You just did.”
    “Dammit.  I’m glad you’re enjoying this.”  Adam wiped his hands through his sweaty hair in frustration.
    The chief flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it beneath his boot.  “I always liked that little girl.  Full of spunk.”
    “Yeah, well, where did she and her spunk go?”  Adam clenched his hands into fists, wanting to wrap them around her spunky little neck.
    “I reckon she went to the farmhouse since she wanted to inspect the properties.”  The chief peered closer at Adam's face and chuckled.  “You're gonna have one hell of a battle scar tomorrow.”
    Adam brought his fingers to his temple where the beginnings of a bump already formed and gritted his teeth against the pain and humiliation.
    “You kids play nice from here on out.”  Chief Parker headed back into the station, his back shaking from holding the laughter in from his amused warning. 
    “Play nice, my ass.”  Adam grumbled and walked around to the driver's side of his truck.  He climbed in, readjusted the rear-view mirror and cursed at his reflection.  A myriad of colors surrounded the skin around his temple.
    “Son of a bitch.”  Adam backed out of his parking space and headed toward the farmhouse his brother was murdered in, vowing if Brynn Harlow knew what was best for her, she'd hide herself somewhere before he got there.
     
    ~~~
     
    Zeke had finally crossed the wrong person, Brynn concluded as she stared at the place where he'd burned alive, unable to feel any sadness