Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1) by Lora Ann Read Free Book Online Page B

Tar’s best friends, Mitch. There was no time to think. No time to consider which end was up. Just react. Envisioning his brother’s neck in his arms, he made a clean break, unbeknownst to him it was one of their own. What Tar didn’t hear was the order given to stand down. Lost to his own misery and pain, plus the threat, he’d made a critical error—a deadly one. The life of their newest team member snuffed out all because Tar missed the crucial information that the lone scout was apprehended.
    His circuits were misfiring, present…past…present…past.
    Mitch took the window of opportunity given and struck Tar with the butt of the Sig in his hand. Not the best way to take someone down, honestly. Never went the way it did in the movies. Matter of fact, it was far more difficult than most realized. Right before Tar’s lights went out, he heard Mitch apologize, “Sorry, brother.”
    Leith was coughing hard as Mitch kindly spoke, “You have to know he mistook you for the one who did that ,” pointing at the blood-soaked shirt.
    Another loud gasping cough before he whispered, “Gathered that.”
    “Yeah, well, sure doesn’t help the situation.”
    “Sir?”
    “Our missions are connected, but he’s flying solo on his.”
    Leith met Mitch’s gaze. “The girl ties the two.”
    “Affirmative.”
    “Holy fuck!”
    Mitch nodded, noticing the younger man still was speaking in a raspy whisper. “How’s the throat?”
    “Sore as hell. Lucky he didn’t crush it.”
    “Shows he had some sliver of control left,” Mitch affirmed as he bent over Tar.
    “Will he be okay?”
    “Yup. One hell of a headache but didn’t break the skin. Should be coming to in—”
    Mitch was interrupted by Tar’s deep groan.
    Leith half coughed, half chuckled. “Now.”
    “Step back in case he’s unsure of his surroundings. Wouldn’t want that pretty throat completely destroyed,” he teased the other man.
    “Fuck you,” he replied without heat.
    Tar sat up suddenly, scanning the room. “The hell happened?”
    “You got a little up close and personal with Leith,” he inclined his head in the other man’s direction, “so to prevent any mishaps, my gun kissed your head.”
    “Shit!”
    “Didn’t give me much choice there, man.”
    “S’pose I didn’t.” Tar locked his gaze on Leith’s. “My apologies.”
    “No need for that.” Leith held out his hand.
    Tar shook it and introduced himself.
    Mitch assisted on getting the big man back to his feet as they studied the T-shirt that caused the incident. Tar’s gut told him it had once been on Keeley, but he couldn’t prove it. Mitch didn’t disagree with the speculation; however, it wasn’t anything they could go on. Leith excused himself, hoping to uncover some kind of lead. After scouring the premises thoroughly, the men came to terms—they were no closer to finding Keeley than locating the proverbial needle in a haystack.
    Tar scrubbed his face, hard. “Let’s call it.”
    “Copy that,” Mitch declared.
    “Sorry, man,” Leith said to Tar. “I wish we could’ve found something.”
    “Me too, kid. Me too.”
     
    *****
     
    Shelby watched the men move in an elegant grace that was incongruent to their formidable size and unmistakable danger. Her limp kept her at a distance that was frustrating. Not wanting to holler at Tar but needing his attention, she picked up a rock and hurled it. A disturbance in the air brought Tar around in a one-eighty, catching someone in his peripheral. The sidelong glance told him who was in the shadows. Granted, if she didn’t move to the left, he wouldn’t have put two and two together so quickly. But that leg of hers was a giveaway. He acknowledged nurse Shelby wouldn’t have tracked him down for no reason. Also told him she was skilled on these streets. The team with him wasn’t known for leaving traces of their existence.
    He clapped Mitch on the shoulder. “G’ahead. I’ll catch up.”
    A wry gaze met his with a