A commotion drew her attention to the border between California and Mexico. There were police everywhere and two young women about her age in the back of police cars, crying. On the ground, in handcuffs was a business man. Keeley realized what she was witnessing as she read the lips of one officer. “Sex slaves.”
She met the eyes of one of those girls. Lost and alone were written in her features, but the shame etched between her brows was what made Keeley Kincaid stand up and square her shoulders. No way in hell was she letting another girl live through this horror if she had a way to stop it. Maybe she could only save one, but that one was worth more than all the gold on the planet. Fuck what happened to her. If Viv killed her, then she’d make damn sure she took the bitch with her. Keeley nodded toward the eyes locked on her. She mouthed, “I promise to do what I can.”
The girl leveled her gaze with Keeley’s. “Stay strong,” she mouthed in return.
Keeley turned away from the border and beelined for the car.
The demon seethed as he watched the angel walking right behind her. He wasn’t giving up on Keeley but knew he needed to go after her weaknesses from a different angle. Fine by him, he would prevail. She was his and she knew it, sooner that fucking light left her for good, the better. Love made him physically ill as he clutched his stomach. In his opinion that four letter word was the vilest of them all. And he would bring out every lie and trick of deceit to win this battle of Keeley Kincaid’s soul.
The laugh was terrifying enough to cause her to look over her shoulder, searching for the source. She faced forward and continued without looking back again. Keeley was going to tell Tar every gruesome detail of her role in Caleb Reynolds’ death. Fully aware this could be what took him from her forever. Yet she wasn’t going to let fear win. Time she stood her ground and damn the consequences.
Lisa peeked around the corner making sure Tar was distracted. Cole had him engaged in a mad game of Go Fish. She smiled wondering for the umpteenth time what it would be like if Tar were the father of her son. Easy enough to remedy, she could easily get pregnant that night. She’d make sure not to give Tar too much diazepam that he couldn’t perform. And knowing him as well as she did, he wouldn’t just walk away from his baby. A wicked grin lit up her face. Yes, she would take this man from Keeley. No way Chase would deny a niece or nephew either. They could be one big happy family. She snuck the pills into her front pocket and went to the kitchen. Taking the prescription bottle out and putting it inside a drawer when she heard, “Can I help you with dinner?”
She jumped and slammed the drawer shut. “Crap! Tar, you scared me!”
“Sorry.” He quirked a brow. “What’s in there?”
“Um…not the cooking utensils I was looking for.”
He reached around her as her heart raced and opened the other drawer. “This what you need?” His voice was in a tunnel as her ears were filled with the heavy thump of her heartbeat.
“Yeah,” she breathed out heavily.
“You okay?” His head angled at her. He reached for her forehead and she dodged his hand.
“I don’t like people watching me cook,” she shot out the explanation.
Tar crossed his big arms over his chest. “Since when?”
“I’ve changed. Now go!” She pushed him out.
He relaxed and chuckled. “You’re a great cook, Lisa. I’m sure that hasn’t changed,” he said over his shoulder as he met Cole in the living room.
She leaned against the wall that was out of his sight. Holy shit! That was too close for comfort. “You okay with lasagna?”
“Absolutely,” came his happy reply.
She’d remembered it was his favorite dish and went to make a meal he’d never forget in more ways than one. By the time everything was ready, Cole had fallen asleep on the couch. Silently she thanked her little boy, Good job, pumpkin. “He’ll be fine right there while we eat,” she reassured Tar.
He sat down at the table and praised, “This looks incredible.”
She beamed. “Thank you.” Walking over to the counter that was at an angle where he couldn’t really see what she was doing, Lisa dropped the already crushed seven white pills into his wine glass. She made a show of tasting the wine before bringing him a glass.
“I can only have a little of this.” He raised his goblet to hers.
“I figured. But a good Chianti is necessary with Italian food.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is.”
She giggled. “You can take the man out of the military but you can’t take the military out of the man.”