A nurse kindly told them their time was up. After such a long day, E suggested they go home and rest. Lacey protested until Aimee explained, “You’re no good to her if you are exhausted. Best thing you can do for her is take care of you.”
Sofie added, “She needs you strong and healthy when she gets out of here.”
Lacey nodded her consent to her husband as he whispered, “Thank you,” to his sisters-in-law.
The rest of the Strand family filed out after saying good-bye to Tar.
Tar insisted on Mitch getting some much needed sleep, along with the rest of the team. While he appreciated their support, they had jobs to do. He threw away his terrible vending machine coffee before making his way to Keeley’s side.
He sat next to the frail woman he was equally pissed as hell at and loved so much. For the moment he locked down his anger, putting it in a box, and poured out his soul. “Keeley, I can’t say I’m sorry enough. I shouldn’t have said those words. I-I…”
She took a deep breath as sandalwood permeated the air around her. Tar was here. Keeley attempted to search in the dark for him but stumbled against some kind of wall. Her fingers traveled along the barricade, struggling to find a way through or around. An iciness clawed along her skin as the demon whispered, “That’s not the way, my dark angel. Come with me,” he enticed.
Keeley fought from his grasp with a resounding, “No!”
But he knew her weakness, turning his nails into her tender forearm and digging deep. Her gasp was full of pain, yet there was a deep-seated shot of pleasure that came from it. Her moan brought Tar’s face to hers.
“Fight him, Keeley Ann! I’m right here. Take as much of my strength as you need. But damn it, fiiiiiight!” Tar roared.
The more Keeley tugged to free herself from the monster, who held her captive, the more pain he brought. His talons were now ablaze on her, wreaking havoc, burning her from the inside out.
Tar jerked up when the smell of burning flesh tinged his nostrils. My God, what was she dealing with? H-E-L-L flashed before his eyes in a brilliant fireworks display. He began to yank the covers off Keeley, searching for the source. But as his eyes focused on her body, lost in some kind of gruesome display of agony and unmistakable pleasure, it all stopped.
Even though Keeley was lost to what the demon provided, somehow the tether to Tar gave her what she needed. With full authority in her voice she demanded, “Let me go!”
Tar knew he had to encourage her. “Yes, Tigress. You have the control. Come back.”
Bright light was all around Tar as Keeley reached for him. Exhausted from her hard fought battle, she grasped his warm hand and squeezed.
He leaned down and softly held his lips to her cheek. “So, so proud of you. Rest.”
Keeley was in and out for a couple of days. She vaguely recalled Tar being at her side, but then couldn’t make that compute with the way he left her sobbing on the street. The pain that memory brought didn’t carry satisfaction with it. No, it was full of emptiness. Something she didn’t want to deal with.
The doctor was explaining to Lacey, E, and Tar that Keeley’s brain activity was normal. She was healthy, and there seemed to be no medical reason for her to still be unconscious. He strongly suggested they agree to move her to the psychiatric ward where she could get the help needed. After he left, Lacey turned to her husband. “I can’t put her in a padded cell, E,” she cried.
“Shhh, Sweetness, let’s see what our options are.”
Tar turned around and marched right into Keeley’s room. Grabbing her slender shoulders, he gave a little shake. “You listen to me! Dammit. Snap the hell out of this and be the warrior I know you are.”
She lay there unmoving as he tried once more to force her eyes to open. The door opened and Lacey freaked out. “Get away from her!”
E moved between his wife and Tar. “Man, I don’t know what you’re doing, but for the love of…back the fuck up.”
Tar removed his hands from Keeley. “I just—”
“Oh my God,” Lacey squealed and ran over to Keeley.
Keeley’s eyelids fluttered.
Tar attempted to reach for her as Lacey screeched, “Don’t.”
E clasped his shoulder. “Come with me.”
The need to be with the woman he loved, despite how much she’d hurt him, and respecting Lacey’s wishes warred inside him. He was about to take a stand and to hell with the consequences when Mitch entered the room. Tar went on full-alert at the look on his face. He was not staring at his best friend but rather the commander of an elite unit, a battle ready gaze in those eyes. Shit. Tar gave the nod of acknowledgement as he left the room, but not before he glanced back and caught the wide-eyed gaze of Keeley. Every fiber of his being wanted to turn around and scoop her up, vowing to at least try to see if they could work through this shit. If it wasn’t for the muscled arm locking onto his, he would’ve. “What the fuck, Mitch?”