Leith: 911
What the ever-loving hell?
Tar: Where?
Leith: Base of operation.
Tar: Give me 20.
He wondered if this had anything to do with the young woman Leith was assisting earlier. Tar didn’t want to disturb Keeley, kissing the corner of her mouth softly before whispering, “I love you. Remember that.” He stole one more glance over his shoulder, memorizing every detail. Golden hair splayed around her face giving her an ethereal appearance. The sheet barely covering her pert nipples. Her bare leg hitched up as if he were still lying beside her. Whatever the future held—that sight would forever be etched in his brain.
Keeley woke with a start. Hand searching for Tar and coming up empty, she rose quickly, thinking he’d be in one of two places: kitchen or gym. Her thorough combing of the penthouse left more questions. Seemed no one was around. Odd. A hot shower and coffee left her feeling more human. She reached over to grab a bagel and felt the soreness between her legs. Tar wasn’t all that gentle when he really let go. And Keeley would be lying if she didn’t admit, how much she craved more of him. The front door opened and Lacey called out, “Anyone here?”
Keeley walked toward her and from around the corner answered, “I am.”
“Come help me!”
She rushed to her sister’s aid. Lacey’s hands were full of various department store bags. “What the hell? You went shopping without me!” she accused.
“Stop it,” Lacey admonished. “I didn’t go for me.”
Keeley relieved her of the spoils. “Then who’s all this for?”
“Not sure,” she admitted. “E told me to go grab a bunch of clothes for some girl who was rescued last night.”
“Rescued? By who?”
“Leith,” Lacey affirmed.
“No shit!”
“I know, right? I honestly thought he had a thing for you,” Lacey confessed. “Guess I was wrong.”
“Um, no you weren’t. But maybe…”
“Okay, I’m starving. Besides we can stand here and play the guessing game all day, won’t change a thing until E tells us.”
“True,” Keeley huffed. She didn’t do well with patient.
Her sister chortled. “Wow! You haven’t changed one bit. Still can’t handle waiting for anything.”
“Shut up! Not like you’re any better.”
Lacey’s eyes widened. “I’ll have you know; I’ve grown more patient over the years.”
Keeley laughed. “You mean your man has taught you the art of delayed gratification.”
Lacey shook her head but couldn’t deny it. “A lady should have some secrets.” She winked, linking her arm with Keeley’s. “Let’s go get breakfast.”
Tar could hardly believe what he was hearing. The girl was an operative? About the same age as Keeley but looked a little older. He angled a look at Mitch. “Just how many girls do they have working on this?”
Mitch shrugged. “Need to know basis.”
“Fuck that,” Tar growled. “What the hell have you gotten Keeley in to?”
“Nothing she didn’t want involved in,” Leith pointed out, earning him a nasty-ass glare from Tar.
Tar’s fists flexed. He should lay the cocksucker out. “Below the belt,” he warned, daring the smart-mouthed little shit to say another word regarding his woman.
Leith wisely shut his mouth about Keeley and focused on Sheridan in the next room. “Mitch, she’s scared to death of Braxton. Is there anyone else we can pair her with?”
“I’m doing my best here, man. Thing with Braxton is,” he held his hands up in a surrender pose, “he knows who he likes, and we can’t have him sniffing around our asses. You feel me?”
On a heavily growled out sigh, he answered, “Roger that.”
Tar pinched the bridge of his nose. This spelled F-U-B-A-R. “Let me get this straight, Keeley’s locked into this shit until either the motherfucker cracks, or the cartel itself is brought to justice?”
Mitch couldn’t make eye contact with his friend. Tar just nailed it. He didn’t agree with it but his hands were tied. However, he wasn’t a pussy, so he turned to face him. “‘Fraid that’s the order.”
Tar pushed back on the chair, hard enough to make the metal legs screech in a horrific sound across the linoleum floor, as he stood ready to take on the fucking world to protect Keeley. “I’ll handle it.” Without another word, he marched his ass straight out, cell phone in hand to call the one person he despised—Chase.
“Hello,” his brother answered.
“We need to talk,” Tar seethed.