Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1)(24)

Tar had that uneasy feeling. The kind you get when you know something was about to go wrong, very wrong, but you couldn’t figure out the what, when, where, why, who, or how. His radar was signaling danger, which happened each time Leith was within an arm’s length from Keeley. Jealousy? Nah, she was gorgeous and turned heads everywhere she went. Granted, Leith desired her. Hell, it was written all over his face. If Tar had learned anything from his ex-fiancée and brother, it was one couldn’t control who they wanted or loved, only what they did with it. He eyed Keeley carefully seeing no signs that she returned anything more than friendship toward Leith. Thank fuck. Tar couldn’t live through that kind of betrayal again. It damned near killed him the first time. Keeley walked across the room and he noticed she had a slight limp. Again, he sensed they weren’t truthful about her newest injuries. He slung the duffel bag over his shoulder and met her in the hallway. “You alright?”

“Yeah, why?” Her forehead crinkled in bafflement.

“You can’t put all your weight on that foot.” Her eyes widened before she glanced down to the floor. What the hell? “You have something to tell me?”

She turned away from him. “No. Ready?”

In two powerful strides he was next to her, bending to her ear so only she could hear him, “I know you’re not telling me something, Viper.” He warned, “God help you if I find out you’ve lied to me.”

She stepped away from him and spun around, shoulders back, and finger on his chest. “Don’t you ever threaten me again.”

With a drop of the bag and a dark chuckle, he pinned her against the wall. “Baby, I don’t make threats.” He punished her mouth with his until they were breathless. Regaining the ability to speak, he pointed out, “I do what I say when I say I’m going to do it.” He bit her lip and growled, “I will absolutely spank your fine ass. Don’t you forget it.” Grabbing the black duffel at his feet, he strode away and left her panting with desire.

Fucking man was a menace to her sex drive. Though she’d love to say he was all talk, she knew better. He was sexy-as-sin and pure action. God she wanted him. Flushed and horny, she didn’t notice Leith standing next to her until he whispered, “Did you tell him what happened?”

She startled and gasped, “Hell no!”

His shit-eating grin left her feeling disconcerted. “Good. We don’t want to blow your cover.” The way he said, “blow,” sounded dirty and wrong, giving her the heebie-jeebies. Her signals were all mixed up, she was sure of it. Leith wasn’t trying to seduce her. He wouldn’t do that to Tarius. But as they left the building side by side, she couldn’t shake the feeling he most definitely would betray anyone to get exactly what he wanted.





Chapter Eleven





The historical house held old-fashioned charm. Keeley was surprised at how fast the team was up and running. Though it shouldn’t have shocked her, these men were topnotch. Her respect grew more and more for each of them. She was beginning to feel like their sister in many ways. The elected officials who ran this undercover operation had one steadfast rule: no family ties. A certain amount of kinship came with those who didn’t have families. Or maybe they were exactly like her, they had them but lost contact. Lacey kept trying. Keeley gave her sister credit there. Problem was, she couldn’t face her twin after everything she’d done.

A deep sigh pulled Tar’s attention from the laptop he was working on. “What’s wrong?”

If Keeley told him she missed Lacey, he’d bring them together. Something she couldn’t risk. Her sister knew her better than anyone, and she’d know Keeley was covering the real intention behind this ruse. Every time she considered telling Tar, she’d remember this was twofold: helping bring down some evil people and feeding her addiction. The latter was what kept her lips sealed. “Nothing. I’m going to look around.”

“I’ll be here.” He raised his coffee cup to her.

She couldn’t fight the grin at that sight. He was so damn sexy. His gaze met hers and she saw the fire there. Oh, to hell with work or anything else. She wanted him. Never breaking the heated contact, she stepped toward the door and reached for the lock. Before she could get her hand on it, Mitch entered the room and damned near knocked her into the wall. “Shit, Keeley. I’m so sorry.” He reached out to assist her.

“I’m fine,” she replied. Tar was standing, about to come help her. “No,” her hand came up in a stop motion, “you two talk. I’ll go explore.”