Free Connelly's Flame by Aliyah Burke Page B

everything from him.
    Fingers wound in her hair, Jeb pulled her back from his mouth and said, “You…you could make a
    monk give up his vow.”
    “I don’t want a monk, I want you,” her honest admission fell.
    “What about my past?” he asked.
    Dropping her head to rest against his, she swore, “You’re right. I can’t do this. Not without
    knowing.” Dezarae began to back up off his lap but he lifted and placed her across it.
    “Just let me hold you at least, Firebird. Let me at least hold you,” he murmured into her hair.

    35
    CONNELLY’S FLAME
    Aliyah Burke

CHAPTER 9
    A dark van pulled up to the house. The two men getting out were impressive to look at. Both of them
    were tall men, but one was dark-haired, possibly a Native American from his coloring and the other was a
    tanned Caucasian with brown hair.
    Unknown to the curvaceous Black woman walking down the steps from the house to meet them,
    there were five more members of the Megalodon Team surrounding her home and shop. Those men were
    cold, uncomfortable, and, yet, completely in their element. “Can I help you gentlemen?” she asked as she hit
    the ground and approached them.
    Dezarae looked over the men before her; there was something about their stance and presence that
    seemed familiar to her. They were both large and imposing. But she hadn’t survived and become so
    successful in this world by being intimidated by men, so she waited for an answer.
    Maverick and Cade looked at the woman before them. Her gaze was direct as she met each of theirs.
    “We are looking for a friend of ours. His name’s Ross, Ross Connelly,” the lean white man said.
    “Sorry,” Dezarae said shaking her head. “I don’t know anyone by that name. Did you ask around in
    town?”
    Two sets of eyes narrowed as they watched her face. The same man spoke again, “Are you sure?”
    Readjusting her leather gloves, Dezarae arched both brows. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m not an idiot. Excuse
    me. I have some work to do.” She got two steps past them when the dark-haired man grabbed her arm.
    “Hey!” she shouted, trying unsuccessfully to get away. “Let me go.”
    “Don’t jerk us around, Lady.” This man’s tone was much more menacing than the other one. His
    fingers dug into the tender flesh of her arm, even through the thick coat she wore.
    “Look, I don’t know anyone named Ross.” She pulled futilely on her arm. “Unless…unless you
    mean—”
    “Let her go, or I kill your friend,” Jeb’s deep southern voice rang loud across the yard.
    “Him,” Dezarae finished quietly.
    Jeb was moving towards them, holding another man hostage. “Ross!” Both men by Dezarae said.
    “Ghost?” the white man asked the man who was the hostage.
    “Fine, Cade, he doesn’t know who we are,” the man said in an emotionless voice.
    “Shut up!” Jeb hissed, pressing the knife closer yet to the exposed throat. “I said, let her go!”
    When the light from the sun glinted off the knife, Dezarae realized this was no trick on Jeb’s part, he
    really meant what he said. “Let me go,” she ordered. “He thinks you want to hurt me.” Maverick dropped her
    arm and she ran towards Jeb at the same moment four more men with guns materialized out of the snow.
    “Let him go,” Dezarae commanded as she slid to a stop before her stranger. “Let him go,” she
    reiterated as he ignored her.
    Gray eyes were unyielding as the other men moved in closer. “He could have hurt you.”
    “He didn’t. Listen to me,” she pled. “Let him go. Hey,” Dezarae reached for his face and touched it.
    “You have to let him go now. Come on, Johnny Reb, let him go. They don’t want to hurt me. I think they are
    here for you.”
    Jeb shoved the man away from him only to haul Dezarae in close with the same motion. “Are you
    okay?” he murmured, stroking her face before his gaze hardened as he watched the group of men getting
    closer.
    “I’m fine,” she responded, immediately