Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1)(7)

Keeley gave a loud moan just as Mitch was finishing. He grabbed a syringe full of morphine to give her some much needed pain relief when Tar stilled his hand. “She’s a recovering addict.”

“Yes, the track marks between her toes gave away her dance with heroin. But I appreciate you telling me.”

“Won’t this set her back?”

Mitch heard the worry behind that question and he sure wasn’t going to lie. “Probably.”

“Some-something else,” a low groan drew both sets of eyes up to the small voice. Keeley’s tears were soaking the pillow her head was on. “Please don’t make me go through detox again,” her plea was faint as if a part of her was already craving the drug.

Tar acknowledged that was exactly what was happening. The demon already had a taste and demanded more. Not on his fucking watch. His held her gaze as he commanded, “Acetaminophen. Now.”

“Copy that.” Mitch filled another syringe full of the pain reliever most found over the counter. Granted, this was a much stronger dose, but he was reluctant to give her the one with codeine.

Keeley’s features relaxed a little but the pain was still etched in the crinkles around her eyes and the lines of her mouth. Though Tar saw something else there, and her ragged breath confirmed it, she was enjoying the agony. Fucking hell. He leaned into her ear, pressing his mouth along the shell. “I won’t let you do this to yourself. I will help you find balance.”

She jerked her head to the side and huffed, “And if I don’t want that?”

“Too damn bad, Viper. You’re stuck with me.”

Her lips pursed at that and he could do nothing to stop himself. Stroking her mouth with the tip of his tongue until she opened for him, then he pulled away. “Bastard,” she grumbled.

He actually winked at her. “I guarantee you will call me worse before this is over, darlin’.”

She lay there pouting as Mitch chuckled. “You’ve met your match, man.”

Tar tapped her bottom lip with his forefinger. “Indeed I have.” Keeley took advantage of his distraction with Mitch and bit down hard on said finger, refusing to let go when he hollered, “Fucking A!”

She wanted to draw blood but released him before she did. “That was a warning,” she cautioned.

He braced his hands over her shoulders, locking his gaze with hers. His warm breath skated along her mouth. “I’ma wear your ass out for that.”

Her pulse quickened. Hell, the thought of him working her over actually caused a delicious ache. Although Keeley quickly realized the ache was turning into honest-to-goodness cramps, and she cried out. Mitch began to examine her, shooting a leveled look at Tar. Her hand traveled down her stomach but never made it past her navel. Tar clutched it in his. “You’ll hurt yourself more,” he warned.

“I’ve had surgery on my uterus.” Her voice held a calm she didn’t feel inside. Something told her this wasn’t going to be good news. Far from it.

The statement made Mitch respect the hell out of Keeley. More and more he understood what Tar saw in her. He replied, “Yes. And you need to be careful. Rest is crucial.”

She didn’t want to know, but knew she had to ask. “Is it…” her bottom lip began to tremble as the damn tears betrayed her, and she stuttered, “g-g-gone?”

Mitch wouldn’t lie to her, though he’d rather wait, he answered, “Yes.”

Her sob broke his heart. Or so he thought, until he witnessed the most tender, raw moment of his life. Tar squeezed in beside her on that tiny gurney, tears pouring down his face as he spoke to her. “Shh, baby, it’s okay. I’ve got you. I’m not going anywhere,” he vowed.

She buried her head against his strong chest as he enveloped her in his muscled arms. Mitch left the distraught couple, not wanting to invade on such a private moment. He couldn’t help but acknowledge they had some huge mountains to overcome, and found himself doing something he hadn’t done in years—pray.







Keeley knew this was what she deserved. Someone like her should never become a mother. God had ensured that. But even as the thought slipped through, a tiny part of her screamed, Noooooo! You’re not being punished, Keeley. Could’ve fooled her. Sure seemed as if for every step forward she took, something set her back ten. She wanted to disappear into oblivion. Morphine could do that. Hell, maybe just the right cocktail of drugs would finally remove her from this godforsaken world.

What about Tar?

He slept next to her, and she couldn’t help but snuggle in closer to him. It was wrong of her to use him like that, yet she couldn’t help it. She needed him. Tomorrow she would separate her feelings and make it damn clear to her heart that falling in love with this man was forbidden. He deserved a wife and children. He should have happily-ever-after, not completely-fucked-up. That was her. There was no redemption for what she’d done. She had helped murder a man. Okay, maybe she didn’t actually do the deed, but she sure as hell knew what Viv was going to do, and Keeley didn’t stop her. Never told a soul. So for that reason, and many others, love couldn’t be hers. However, tonight, just this once, she would bask in all he was willing to give her. Tar had become a lifeline, and she had to sever it. She leaned in and let the tears fall once more.