Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1) (14 page)

She couldn’t quite wrap her brain around what he’d just done to her as the tremors still pulsated through her body. She stared down at his head as he raised it, their gazes met. Keeley couldn’t deny the awe in her voice. “I-I have no words for that.”

He kissed his way up her body, and she grabbed his face, pulling his mouth to hers while latching on with a passion that surprised her. In that moment, the earth’s plates shifted. Tar could give her everything she needed. He would help her fight every damn demon she wrestled with. He absolutely loved her. On her tongue, she tasted herself and truth and love, power coursing through her bloodstream at the acknowledgement. With a soft exaltation, “I love you, Tar,” she deepened the kiss, showing him how much she meant those words. Guilt and shame could not penetrate the fort they just erected together. And silently Keeley vowed,
I’ll tell him the truth
.
Everything
.

Chapter
Twenty-One

Leith entered Mitch’s office. He needed to come clean, but visions of Keeley strapped down as he fucked her senseless prevented it. God, the woman was going to be his ruin. His lust was at an all-time high. Something he’d never dealt with before. Somewhere deep down he knew how wrong it was. Wrong to Tar. Wrong for him to feel this way. Wrong to Keeley because he actually put her in danger every single minute he didn’t confess his true feelings. And it was wrong to the operation. Anytime one put their own needs ahead of the team, it was a disaster waiting to happen. Still, he couldn’t bring the words up and out as Mitch updated him. Yet Mitch wasn’t being completely honest with Tarius either, for he was fully up to speed on the other assignment. Leith capitalized, “How long you plannin’ on keeping McNeil in the dark over his lady double-dipping.” A hard, nasty glare met his.
Crossed the fucking line
written in each spark that flew. Well, hell.

“She’s helping us out. And the only goddamn reason he’s out of the loop is because the higher-ups want it that way.” He angled his head. “What the hell are you up to?”

Shit! “Nothing,” he feigned innocence before hedging, “Keeley’s reasons for doing this are not all honorable.”

Mitch pushed back from the desk and stood, “Out of fucking line,” while his eyes widened in an oh-shit look.

Tar tapped Leith on the shoulder. As he turned, a perfectly aimed left hook caught his jawbone and he staggered backwards from the blow. He cocked his jaw back and forth before spitting blood to the floor. “Can’t handle the truth.”

Stupid motherfucker! “Tar,” Mitch warned, “cool your jets.”

Tar’s chuckle was downright menacing. “Fuck. You.” He shot out a heavy right cross that sent Leith in a tailspin.

Mitch attempted to get between them before Tar did serious damage. But the heated glare that met his told him to back the fuck off, he was under control. Mitch gave a tight nod. Tar hauled Leith up by the top of his T-shirt. “Keeley’s reasons for doing this are none of
your
fucking business.”

Leith actually cackled, earning him an uppercut. Blood poured from his mouth and if Tar didn’t have a hold of him, he would have collapsed.

Damn idiot! “Here. Give him to me,” Mitch grit out, easing Leith onto a chair. He began to check his pupils and make sure the dumbass didn’t choke on a tooth as he checked that all his teeth were present and accounted for. After everything was confirmed fine, he handed him a towel. “Let me grab some ice.” He leveled a hard stare at Tar. “Play nice.”

Tar nodded once, affirming he would. He grabbed another chair and straddled the back of it in front of Leith. “You. Stay. The hell. Away from. Keeley.”

“Roger that,” Leith lied smoothly, noting that when Tar found out what he was doing with the lovely Keeley and Mitch was not only aware but following orders, McNeil would be an unstoppable force. But after just having his ass handed to him, he wasn’t much up for saying another damn word.

Leith slumped to the side, and Tar barely caught him before he struck his temple on the sharp corner of the desk. Probably shouldn’t have beat the shit out of the kid, he shrugged.

Mitch entered and swore violently. “You better not have fucked him up enough that I have to pull him from the field for recovery time.”

“Nah, he’ll be alright,” Tar answered nonchalantly, earning him an incredulous glare from Mitch.

He knew when it was best to lie low and took his cue to leave without another word. The hunch that Keeley wasn’t the only one lying and hiding things stung him like angry wasps. Someone better start puking up the truth before the tempest building inside him unleashed. They just
thought
that little episode back there was a can of whoop-ass being opened. Fuckers.

*****

Keeley struck the practice dummy over and over with several different kicks since punching was out of the question. She wasn’t nearly as sore as she should be after Braxton had worked her over. The welts he’d left faded enough not to cause an interrogation. Lucky. She needed a plan for the next time, though the truth would free her from covering it up. Her intention was to spill her guts to Tar until the realization hit: He’d insist she stop assisting in gathering the information necessary to bring down this particular cartel. Not optional. She was walking a razor’s edge between truly wanting to help bring down these bastards, and her own addiction. One misstep and she’d plummet into a chasm there’d be no returning from. Her conclusion was to keep doing it and pray Tar didn’t find out.
He’ll never forgive you when he learns of your deception
. That was why she needed to make sure he stayed out of the loop. Leith was key to that.

Keeley sent a quick text asking him to meet her in an hour at a coffee shop. He confirmed time and location, giving her approximately forty-five minutes to grab a protein shake before a fast shower. She bumped the fridge door with her hip when E surprised her.

“Hey, careful, you don’t wanna drop that.” His big hand steadied the glass pitcher in hers.

She eyed him, wondering if he was referring to how her injury happened, but saw no suspicion. That was a relief. How the hell would she explain to anyone what actually transpired in that room? “No, I really don’t. Thanks.”

“Anytime, sis.” He gave her a playful chuck under the chin, making her smile.

Anyone else doing that would’ve pissed her off by insinuating she was a child, but not him. Her brother-in-law was simply showing affection. He’d softened a lot. Keeley wasn’t sure if it was Lacey, or his hard fought recovery after the shooting. Maybe it was both. Didn’t really matter—he loved her sister with every fiber of his being and his loyalty ran bone deep. For Keeley, that was more than enough. But Strand men seemed to have an amazing connection to family, meaning E loved her as if she were his blood. In that moment, she hoped it was genetic somehow and that his and Lacey’s children inherited it. Her face lit up. “So when are you and my sister having kids?”

His eyes grew huge as he coughed. “Um…do you know something I don’t?”

She couldn’t hold back the laughter even if she’d wanted to. “I’m thinking you’d know before me.”

He shook his head. “I’m happy to be an uncle for now.”

“Oh, my God. That’s right! Aimee and Nik are expecting.”

“Yes, they are. Four more months.” His grin gave away just how excited he was.

Plus, she couldn’t forget that he had a niece as well, Alex’s daughter, Ari. Keeley made a mental note to check on the beautiful teenager. She’d lived through her own hell at the hands of the senator and his diabolic schemes. “Do they know what they’re having yet?”

His pout was downright adorable. “They want to be surprised,” he answered in mock disgust.

Keeley couldn’t help it and threw a hand towel in his face. “You act like that’s the worst thing ever, as if they purposely did it to torment you.”

“Oh, they did!” He stood there, arms crossed, attempting to be stern.

Sooooo not E Strand. Well, okay, he absolutely had the Dom thing going for him. Still, he was one of the nicest men she’d ever met. “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes at him.

Lacey walked in the front door and Keeley had the pleasure of watching his entire demeanor shift. She was his sun as he began to orbit around her. Beautiful. The gravitational pull between those two was something to marvel. Every. Single. Time. E let Lacey up for air after placing one panty-melting kiss on her lips. Keeley’s gaze met her sister’s as Lacey fanned herself. “I missed you too.”

His growl was territorial as he swatted her ass, hard. “You’ve got five minutes,” he declared with a hint of warning.

Phew! That man was sex on a stick. “Don’t let me stop you from a little afternoon delight,” Keeley affirmed before she chugged the shake in her hand. She gave her sister a little shoulder bump, strolling past toward the bathroom. “Go get some nookie.”

Lacey gasped, “Oh. My. God.”

“Puh-leeze, Lace. We all know that’s what’s about to happen.” She winked at her sister still standing there with a shocked expression.

Lacey hollered out, “You’re such a brat, Kee!”

The, “Takes one to know one,” reply came from behind a door, while another very male, very horny one called out, “Lacey, I
need
you. Now.”

Lacey couldn’t fight the smile at hearing how much her husband wanted her, adding a little extra sway as she beelined toward their bedroom.

*****

Tar needed some outside help with his gut feeling. E was working too close with the operation. He couldn’t trust his brother, Chase, any further than he could throw him. Besides, going to that asshole was out of the question. So Tar decided Nik might be able to assist him. He hoped that wouldn’t endanger him or his lovely wife, Aimee. Maybe, Nik could give him someone trustworthy so he wouldn’t be directly involved. Tar felt better with that option, especially with their baby on the way.

Nik was busy at his desk as Tar stepped in. His head shot up and he motioned toward the chair in front of him. Tar sat down and waited patiently, which wasn’t long at all. “How can I help?” Nik inquired.

Tar leaned forward, elbows on his knees, “I think I’m being deceived by several people. But the one that’s really raised my suspicion is Keeley.”

Nik whistled before steepling his fingers in front of his mouth. “You aren’t gonna like what I hafta say.”

A tight nod from Tar acknowledged that fact.

“She
is
lying. But to herself as much if not more than to you.”

He exhaled heavily. Nik absolutely nailed it. “Where does truth come into play?”

Nik shook his head. “Fuck if I know, man. I mean until she can at least see it for herself just a smidge—”

“I’m screwed six ways to Sunday.”

“‘Fraid so,” Nik sighed.

“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming.” Tar scrubbed his face, regaining some composure. “Okay. What about the others?”

“You think someone’s helping her lie?”

“Hell yes, I do. And I’d give my left nut it’s Leith.”

“Hmm…no damn secret he has a thing for her from what I’ve seen,” Nik admitted.

Tar scoffed, “Ya think? But there’s something missing to it all.”

Nik’s fingers drummed on the desk until his gaze locked on Tar’s. “Mitch is keeping something quiet.”

And that confirmed his other hunch. Mitch was first and foremost the commanding officer of his team. His friendship with Tar took the backseat. Nothing Tar didn’t know or understand, but this time, it was too fucking personal. “I need to find out exactly what’s going on.”

“Agreed. Let me make some calls. I’ll have something for you in about an hour or so.”

“Thanks, Nik. I owe you one.”

“The hell you do.” Nik shook his head. “I’ve had my own troubles with Aimee. You’ve become family. Family sticks together. And Keeley is my little sister, she needs our help.”

Tar was once again amazed by the loyalty in each Strand brother. Something he admired. Plus, they all understood why he couldn’t just walk away from the woman he loved. Felt good to be with those who were like-minded: fight for those you love. He shook hands with Nik before leaving. On the elevator ride down, he made a promise to himself—no matter what he learned he would
not
give up on Keeley.

*****

The flat of Keeley’s hand slammed down hard. Not the smartest move considering her injury. She winced, but not from pain as much as the pleasure it brought her. Good God, she was seriously in danger if she didn’t find a way to get this under control. Regulating her breathing while she shot a nasty glare at Leith across from her. Dickhead knew she enjoyed the burn in her arm that little stunt just caused. “Wipe the fucking smirk off your face.”

His brows rose. “Excuse me.”

“You heard me,” she said with not a little indignation. “We’re working together on this, but that’s all it is. You’re not my friend. Oh sure, you want my pussy, but that’s not the same thing, now is it?” Her gaze dared him to contradict what she just said.

Fucking smart-mouthed little bitch. He couldn’t deny her snarky response gave him a raging hard-on. He adjusted himself. “How ‘bout we ask Tar?” Take that!

“I want to tell him the truth more than you know. But if I do, he’ll insist I quit. You cool with that?” Her snide expression screamed,
You’ve just been served
.

Hell. He really had. “You jeopardize many lives with that flippant attitude.”

“Oh, no you don’t,” she huffed. “This is in no way on my shoulders.”

She was right, of course. Being the douche that he was, Leith went for a different angle. “The fact that you need not just a sexual sadist but a tyrannical one as well, to satisfy your sick little habit, will force him to leave your sweet ass. You know it, too.” He gave her a trumped nod.

Defeat wove its treacherous fingers around Keeley’s throat, making words impossible to form. He called it. Damn bastard held all the cards. Leith studied her, causing her stomach to churn like a washer set to high spin. Any minute she was going to throw up. Her timid voice barely carried over the noise, “I want this over with as soon as possible.”