Created In Fire (Art of Love Series) by Donna McDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

looking at Carrie’s face when she’d made the announcement to see what her father was going to say or do. When the fist connected with his jaw from the side and snapped his head around, it caught him completely off-guard. It didn’t move him, but still hurt like hell.
    Then everything seemed to happen in slow motion as his head came back around and turned to face the man who had hit him. Kevin was breathing heavily and had his fist still clenched. It had Michael bracing for a second blow, and telling himself that he was not going to kill him when he hit him back.
    Carrie’s sisters screamed and passed Michael like a blur. He brought a hand up to rub his jaw, watching them both hit their brother like linebackers.
    Behind him, Michael heard something drop and make a lot of noise on the patio. He turned slowly to look at Carrie, who was weaving, hand over her mouth in shock.
    Then Michael watched in complete shock as her mother ran past her ill daughter to catch her husband into her arms.
    Holy shit , Michael thought, watching the unbelievable scene in fascination. He needed to get Carrie out of there before she ended up on the ground. No one but he seemed to care that she was about to be sick any minute.
    So instead of rounding on the man that struck him, Michael reached out and put his arm around Carrie to keep her upright.
    “Michael,” Carrie said, tucking her head against him.
    “I’m okay,” he said, realizing it was truth.
    Then finally Michael looked at Kevin, who was now being restrained by Darla and Alison, who looked ready to kill him themselves. When Kevin almost broke free once, they tightened their hold on him and whispered ugly threats.
    Michael’s eyes glinted in the afternoon sun as his gaze narrowed on Kevin Addison.
    “Come ahead, Kevin. Hit me again when I’m expecting it and I will take great delight in beating some sense into you while your whole family watches,” Michael warned.
    “I can’t believe Kevin hit you,” Carrie moaned, clutching his shirt. “I’m sorry. So sorry I got you into this.”
    “Why? It’s not your fault your cowardly brother decided to behave like an ass today,” Michael said, his voice soft with her.
    When Carrie sobbed, Michael scooped her up into his arms fully intending to rescue both of them. “Okay, that’s enough of this craziness. We’re leaving now. You don’t have to worry about these people hurting you anymore.”
    Michael turned with Carrie in his arms, wanting to laugh when he saw Darla and Alison had Kevin in a firm lock. There was a pale woman holding a child crying pitifully nearby. With a disgusted look on his face, Kevin tried to break free again, but the girls gritted their teeth and gripped him tighter.
    It was definitely a scene out of a bad movie, Michael decided. Kevin was a villain. Ethan was a hard, unfeeling man. Maggie was a woman torn.
    Only Darla and Alison were exhibiting any sanity, and look what they were forced to do to help Carrie and him. Michael damn well knew where they’d gotten their fierceness from because he was holding the fiercest woman he knew in his arms. So it royally pissed him off that her family could take her down so easily.
    Shit , he thought.Your family was supposed to help you, not wreak more havoc in your life.
    “Darla. Alison. Thanks for the assist. You’re welcome to come see us anytime,” Michael said.
    Then he looked over and glared at her parents. “You two are being lousy parents. I don’t know why Carrie even cares about what either of you think about her, me, or the baby. I love your daughter. You can be damn sure I’m going to treat her better than you all have today. That’s more than you deserve to know about our situation.”
    Michael turned and walked off with Carrie in his arms, never looking back again.
    “I’m sorry I got you into this, Michael,” Carrie said pathetically, sniffling.
    “If you cry, I’m going to leave you on the patio and go back to beat your brother up,”