Free From The Ashes (After The Burn Series) by Shyla Colt Page B

brother’s jaw had turned to granite, and fire flickered in the depths of his amber eyes.
    “What’s the meaning of this?” Cain’s voice held steel and grit. He liked Devon too. Maybe even felt a bit protective of the man.
    “Tell them.” Micah shoved Devon forward, and he placed a hand on the ground to keep from face planting.
    “What do you want me to say? You piece of shit.” The hatred in Devon’s words Stunned Cole.
    Micah grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked. Buttons flew , and Cole set his gun down and stood. “What the fuck are you doing! None of that shit in here.”
    “And not to a man who’s not willing,” Cain said.
    “Wait until you see this snake in the grass for what she is,” Micah said.
    “The hell you say?” Cole drew his eyebrows together.
    With the flannel hanging by a thread, the gap in the red and black cloth revealed a black bra filled to the brim with creamy caramel colored breasts. His jaw hung open, and he turned to Cain, who wore a similar expression.
    “You’re a girl?” Cole said, shaking his head.
    “I’m sorry…you can understand why I kept it from you.”
    “Is your name even Devon?” Cain’s world were so bitter they could curdle milk.
    “Yes.” She nodded, looking into their eyes. Regret and fear shone bright.
    Normally he’d want to rip her head off, but this had been a lie to survive. Cole pursed his lips. If he did nothing he’d look weak, and he couldn’t have that.
    “What are you going to do about this disrespect? She lies to your face, stays under your roof under false pretenses. She knew the rules when she joined.” The glee in Micha’s face as he spewed words like bullets he aimed to mow them down with.
    “I’m assuming you have something in mind?” Cain said dryly.
    “I want her. I need a woman , and she’s too pure to be given to the masses. At least at first.”
    “Kill me if you want, beat me up, toss me out of town. But don’t hand me over to him to be some sort of living blow up doll. I managed to keep this to myself al l these years to avoid this. I understand doing what you have to. Please, one survivor to another grant me that.” She stared him in his eyes, a fearless being, wrapped in what appeared to be an impressive form.
    Cole locked eyes with Cain. He could see the gears in his brother’s head turning.
    “Shut up, bitch.” Micah shoved her, and Devon turned growling as she barred her teeth.
    “I swear I’ll kill you before you put your hands on me.”
    The fierceness of this lioness made his dick hard and garnered his respect. She was proficient at what she did, and he couldn’t stomach the thought of caging something so brave with a coward who had a pension for abuse. Every woman Micah took on had turned into a broken shell, hallowed out, dead-eyed, and useless.
    “No , we need to handle this ourselves,” Cain said, meeting his gaze.
    Cole fought down a smile as his message came in loud and clear. He wanted to keep Devon.
    “Yeah, this is an in house problem. While we appreciate your passion for her slight, she’s too valuable to make her start living on her back. But don’t worry.” Cole stood up and pried her shirt open, running his hand down the ample curves barely supported by her black bra. She gasped, and he smiled. The breathy sound did more than any of the fake purrs he got from the woman who made a living lying in bed, or the ones out to latch on to his power. He had nothing against women. Not the way some towns did. If they could make their way and be useful, he’d allow them to set the terms.
    “She’ll suffer. Won’t she Cain?”
    “Oh yes, she’ll know her place, and who she belongs to.”
    Her chest heaved. If he wasn’t mistaken, she liked it. He heard Cain stand behind him, and glanced over his shoulder. Cain walked toward them, eyes trained on Devon.
    “We’d like to begin our questioning now, Micah. You’re dismissed. ” Cain waved toward the door, gaze locked on Devon’s. The