Free Targeted (Firebrand Book 1) by Sandra Robbins

throat closed up, and she swallowed. “Y-yes, if that’s what you want.”
    He glanced over his shoulder at her. “I do.”
    With that he yanked the door open and headed into the back yard. Lainey stood at the sink for a moment before she walked over and collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs. She crossed her arms on top of the table and buried her face in them as the tears flowed down her cheeks.
    When she’d gone to bed last night, she’d had no idea her life was about to be turned upside down. Less than twenty-four hours later, she and her son had been threatened with death, and a man she hadn’t seen in eleven years had swept back into her world.
    She had told Ash she didn’t want Max harmed physically or emotionally, but she wanted the same thing for herself. Every time she thought of the masked men and the knife at her throat, she trembled in horror. On the other hand seeing Ash again threatened to stir up long dormant feelings. 
    At the moment she didn’t know which of the two was more disturbing.
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    The back yard looked different than it had when he was a boy. There were fewer trees than Ash remembered. The one where his and Richard’s tire swing had hung was gone, but the biggest surprise of all was a swimming pool that covered the area where his father had once carefully tended his roses.
    The freeform design pool with its flowing lines and a waterfall feature at one end created the illusion of a  natural lake in the middle of the yard. It reminded him of a secluded pond he’d once come upon when he was on a mission in South America. A large pool house faced him from the opposite side of the water.
    The back yard might not be the same, but the undercurrent of disapproval he’d always felt growing up was still evident in the house. Years ago it had been the escape of his father’s constant criticism that had made him leave home. A few minutes ago he’d felt his father’s presence again when Lainey had warned him about hurting Max. As if he’d ever do that.
    He glanced over his shoulder at the house and swallowed. Had their argument upset Lainey as much as it did him? He didn’t want it to be this way. Through the years he’d developed the ability to hide his emotions, and he hoped she hadn’t seen how he really felt. He’d spent too many years telling himself how much he hated her. But once he’d seen her again, he wasn’t so sure of his feelings.
    Maybe it was the fact that he liked Max so much that made him want to mend some fences with Lainey, but that was going to take time. Right now he had to keep his mind on his reason for being here.
    He let his gaze drift over the back yard in search of Casey and her team, but as usual they blended right in with the landscape. He cupped his hand around his mouth and gave the emphatic whistle bob white that Firebrand used to communicate their whereabouts. An answering call came back right away, and Ash smiled when Casey Morgan stepped from behind a tree and walked toward him.
    He hopped down the steps and met her before she’d covered half the distance to the house. As expected, she was dressed in camouflage from her uniform to the covering of her helmet. With an M-16 in her hands, she presented an impressive picture of a seasoned soldier. She stopped in front of him and pulled off the sunglasses she wore.
    She smiled, and her blue eyes sparkled. “Hi, Ash. How’re things going with your sister-in-law and nephew? I’ve caught sight of them several times, but I don’t think they’ve seen us.”
    Ash shook his head. “No, they haven’t.” He glanced around. “Where are the others?”
    “Cactus is by the back fence, and I’ve had two out front, but I’ve called them in. Phillip and his team are already coming in the back way to relieve us.”
    Ash reached in his pocket, pulled out the car keys, and stared at them. The thought struck him that he didn’t need to leave Max and Lainey right now. Then he shook his head and frowned. They