Read Online Amber Fire by Lisa Renée Jones - Free Book Online Page B

he saw it in her eyes, read it beneath the code words she spoke. She thought she was like Chris—alone and without anyone to care about her.
    When the nurse informed Amber that Chris had other visitors who would stay with him, Jareth and Amber exited to the hallway only to come face to face, once again, with Mike. Instant, sharp discomfort spiked among them. Mike’s presence was like pure acid eating away at the air.
    â€œWhat is he doing here?” Mike demanded of Amber, his chin motioning to Jareth.
    â€œJareth is the reason Chris is still breathing,” Amber said, snapping back sharply. “He deserves to be here. If anyone shouldn’t be here, it’s you, Mike. You took Chris to those woods. You took him too far from camp. And don’t tell me you didn’t take him hunting because I wasn’t born yesterday. You had loaded weapons.”
    Jareth barely contained a low growl. Damn it. They’d talked about keeping a low profile with Mike. Instead, Amber had charged right into this argument. Mike cut Jareth a hard, warning look that said he blamed him for Amber’s attitude. A look that had Jareth itching to drag the bastard out to the parking lot and beat his arrogant ass.
    â€œWe need to step down the hall and talk,” Mike said directly to Amber, his eyes sharp as darts; his tone, sharper. “Now.”
    â€œAmber,” Jareth warned, sliding his arm through hers. “Let’s go get some coffee.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” she refused. “I think Mike and I need to have this conversation. We both seem to have a lot to say.”
    Disgust rolled over Mike’s features as he glanced at Jareth’s arm linked to Amber’s. “Oh, my God.” His attention snapped to Amber. “You’re with him, aren’t you?”
    â€œWho else is going to be here with her?” Jareth challenged. “You left her to worry on her own.” He refocused on Amber. “Let’s get that coffee.” He started walking with her in tow and thankfully she followed.
    â€œYou have no idea how much I want to hit him,” Amber mumbled under her breath.
    Mike called after them, “Your father is rolling over in his grave.”
    Amber stopped dead in her tracks. Jareth tightened his grip. “Don’t do this, Amber.”
    â€œLet go,” she whispered, her gaze snapping to his. “Let go, Jareth.”
    But he couldn’t let her go. She was in danger as long as she clashed with Mike. There was no middle road. She was with Mike or she was with the Yaguara. Her destiny had been set by her father. Short term, Chase’s idea had merit. Mike suspected Jareth was Yaguara. He knew Amber and Jareth were, at a minimum, friends. Amber had to use that suspicion to her benefit, turn it around on Mike and make him believe she was on his side. If she talked to him before Jareth convinced her that this was a good idea, she was set on doing the opposite—letting Mike know he was considered the enemy.
    â€œYou are tired and emotional,” he told her. “Let this go until you have some rest.”
    â€œThat is not your choice to make.”
    â€œI’m protecting you.”
    â€œI can protect myself.”
    â€œYou don’t even know what you are dealing with,” he said, possessiveness rising within him. They needed to have their own conversation. About his intentions toward her, about her future. “You cannot protect yourself.”
    Her spine went ramrod stiff. “What do you mean what I am dealing with ? What haven’t you told me?”
    He was not looking forward to having the conversation about her father with her. “Walk with me now.”
    Her lips pursed stubbornly. “No.”
    His tone took on a snap, part warning, part demand. “If you think that I will not throw you over my shoulder and march out of here with you,” he said, “you are wrong.”
    She balked. “You