Read Resurrection River: Men of Mercy, Book 2 for Free Online Page B

women and children from battle zones, bloody and broken. He’d seen too many hurt and killed because of evil men. Only this time, stranger’s faces were replaced with Amy’s. Fury refueled his determination.
    “Ranger, please, let go. You’re holding on too tight.”
    He immediately relaxed his grip, but he couldn’t let go of the fear for her. “I’ve seen what they can do. Is that what you want? You want to get hurt? You want them to take Arturo and make him Lobello? And you and Chloe? I promise, once he is through using you he will sell you both and you will disappear. He knows you live alone, out here, on this farm. He could do anything and by the time I got here, it would be too late.”
    The last bit of resolve melted from her face. Ranger fought the regret climbing up his spine. All he wanted today was to talk to her, hope for a date, maybe a kiss. Instead, a goddamn Mexican cartel honed its sights on his woman.
    His woman.
    No, Shane’s woman. He shouldn’t think of her like that. Like he had a right to her body. But more and more he found himself wanting more than her body. He wanted her heart. Her soul. Her love.
    He wanted to be there to protect her and Chloe. The thought of children, or raising a child, had never before entered his mind. But seeing her with Chloe in her arms did things to him. Made him feel deeper. No, he shouldn’t want Amy Carter or her baby. He should honor his promise to look out for her, a promise he’d made to Shane at his graveside. But he did want her. He wanted all of her.
    “You can’t stay here. Not tonight.” Amy placed a hand, gently, on his chest. He felt like she shoved her fist into his chest and gripped his heart. “I’m not stupid. I understand that this guy is a threat. But it can’t be you protecting us. I’ll call Bo.”
    “Why are you so damn scared of me?” Did she have another man? Is that why she didn’t want him here? The control he’d fought so hard for flew further away. He’d kill whatever bastard laid a hand on her.
    “I can’t tell you. Just trust me, you don’t want to be here.”
    “Is it another man? Is that why you’re so hell bent on stomping me down?” Fury faded to red. Then black. He couldn’t see straight. Ranger had fought for so long against a ghost, he didn’t know if he could deal with a real live person.
    “Is that what you think, I’m sleeping around? You’ve lost it. I haven’t ever been with anyone else!” Amy shouted and twisted in his grip.
    “Why else won’t you let me protect you?” Ranger roared in response to her outburst. His chest clenched so tight his ribs were near breaking. He didn’t think he could take it. If she was in love with someone else. If she chose someone else again. He knew he couldn’t take it.

6
    Chapter 6
    “ L et go .” Amy screamed so sharp the metal walls rattled. She lifted her arms, and then yanked them down, flinging Ranger’s grip from her.
    Rage. Fear. Heat. Was she losing her mind? Why did she crave the touch of a man who thought she slept around? How could she betray Shane so quickly. It hadn’t even been a year since the funeral. What kind of woman could move past her husband’s death like that? And for a man who thought she was a slut. “You asshole. You really think I’m seeing someone else?”
    Ranger didn’t look remorseful. In fact, he leaned down, his stupid-perfect chest glowed gold in the sunset. And her stupid-stupid heart did a flip-flop for joy.
    “I don’t know what to think. You’ve flown circles around me so long I can’t see straight.”
    “So of course, big caveman, you assume it’s about sex?” Amy balled up her fist, the blood pumping. Shane had never talked to her like that. Never.
    But he’d never talked to her at all.
    “Just tell me. End my misery.” Ranger yelled right back. He didn’t turn and walk away. He didn’t go cold and distant, like she didn’t matter. “Dammit Amy Ann, I’ve never loved another woman in my entire