consequences. Keeley was his . He didn’t share. Damn well wasn’t going to start now, either. He got why she had to do this. Actually felt it was good for her mentally as well as emotionally. If she could slay a dragon, then the memories of her captivity wouldn’t haunt her as much. Sure, they’d always be there. Triggers would forever be part of her life. The mind was powerful and could lock any survivor back into the darkest pit before they knew which end was up. But Keeley doing this could reel hers into controllable. She deserved a second chance at life, to let Tar show her how much he could cherish her. Most of all, she needed to feel worthy. Tar learned by trial and error that self-confidence went a long way. Keeley was in dire need of some. Shit…he acknowledged she fought daily not to take her own life. She was full of self-loathing, guilt and shame. As much as he wished his love could conquer those demons for her, he knew better. And once her addictions were added to the party, he had one hell of a rave on his hands. They didn’t stand a chance against any of these if she didn’t lock in and want to fight.
Fight for her.
Fight for him.
Fight for them.
“I feel ya, man. This is your lady being put in harm’s way.” He clapped Tar’s shoulder. “I’d want to keep her safe any way I could if it was me in your shoes.”
Thank fuck. “Appreciate your understanding.”
“Anytime.” Mitch turned to leave and check on his team, since they were about to leave on assignment, when he remembered something vital. “Hey, McNeil.” Tarius brought his gaze to Mitch’s. “I’m catchin’ all kinds of heat on this. Teach her how to protect herself only when you or one of us can’t assist.”
“That an order?”
“Affirmative,” Mitch said with authority.
Tar was fully aware he needed to play by their rules. But he needed Keeley safe more—so the team, Mitch, and the people they worked for could bite his motherfuckin’ ass.
*****
Keeley took a deep, cleansing breath and focused between the two dots, sighting the Bersa on a silhouette’s head. If she were put in a position to have to use a firearm, then make it count. Although she made peace with the fact she could be sold, in which case that would leave her one-on-one and without Tar. That scenario would be most helpful, but he would be beyond uncontrollable if it came to pass. So this was her reasoning for talking to Leith on how to do the assignment without Tarius.
“Holy shit, Viper. You hit it again.” Tar grinned.
She glanced over at him. “You doubted my skills?”
“Hell no!”
Keeley reloaded the magazine and unleashed once more. Tar whistled. “Damn baby, you’re a natural marksman.”
Her brow quirked. “Wouldn’t that be marks woman ?”
He chuckled deeply. “My bad.”
She winked before picking up a blade and launching it dead center into the dummy. She wasn’t able to make any of the knives stick since they started this a good two weeks ago. And the fact she finally did, sent her into a happy dance. “BOOM goes the dynamite!” she squealed with excitement.
Tar picked her up with ease. “I’ll show you some boom .” His eyes were heated with desire.
She latched her arms around his neck. “You think you can handle me,” she mocked.
“Oh, Tigress, I know your combination.” His tone was cocky as hell. As it should be, since it was absolute truth. Before they could get down and dirty, Leith interrupted them.
“Very nice, Keeley,” he clapped his hands together loudly; ignoring the passionate embrace Tar and Keeley were in.
She blushed slightly as he placed her on her feet. Tar didn’t miss it either. His muscled arms folding over his chest, legs in a wide stance, as he glared at her. Damn. The man was sexy as sin. With an attempt to gain some semblance of composure, she addressed Leith, “I can leave so you two can talk.”
“Actually…it’s you I need to speak with.” Both she and Tar were
Fight for her.
Fight for him.
Fight for them.
“I feel ya, man. This is your lady being put in harm’s way.” He clapped Tar’s shoulder. “I’d want to keep her safe any way I could if it was me in your shoes.”
Thank fuck. “Appreciate your understanding.”
“Anytime.” Mitch turned to leave and check on his team, since they were about to leave on assignment, when he remembered something vital. “Hey, McNeil.” Tarius brought his gaze to Mitch’s. “I’m catchin’ all kinds of heat on this. Teach her how to protect herself only when you or one of us can’t assist.”
“That an order?”
“Affirmative,” Mitch said with authority.
Tar was fully aware he needed to play by their rules. But he needed Keeley safe more—so the team, Mitch, and the people they worked for could bite his motherfuckin’ ass.
*****
Keeley took a deep, cleansing breath and focused between the two dots, sighting the Bersa on a silhouette’s head. If she were put in a position to have to use a firearm, then make it count. Although she made peace with the fact she could be sold, in which case that would leave her one-on-one and without Tar. That scenario would be most helpful, but he would be beyond uncontrollable if it came to pass. So this was her reasoning for talking to Leith on how to do the assignment without Tarius.
“Holy shit, Viper. You hit it again.” Tar grinned.
She glanced over at him. “You doubted my skills?”
“Hell no!”
Keeley reloaded the magazine and unleashed once more. Tar whistled. “Damn baby, you’re a natural marksman.”
Her brow quirked. “Wouldn’t that be marks woman ?”
He chuckled deeply. “My bad.”
She winked before picking up a blade and launching it dead center into the dummy. She wasn’t able to make any of the knives stick since they started this a good two weeks ago. And the fact she finally did, sent her into a happy dance. “BOOM goes the dynamite!” she squealed with excitement.
Tar picked her up with ease. “I’ll show you some boom .” His eyes were heated with desire.
She latched her arms around his neck. “You think you can handle me,” she mocked.
“Oh, Tigress, I know your combination.” His tone was cocky as hell. As it should be, since it was absolute truth. Before they could get down and dirty, Leith interrupted them.
“Very nice, Keeley,” he clapped his hands together loudly; ignoring the passionate embrace Tar and Keeley were in.
She blushed slightly as he placed her on her feet. Tar didn’t miss it either. His muscled arms folding over his chest, legs in a wide stance, as he glared at her. Damn. The man was sexy as sin. With an attempt to gain some semblance of composure, she addressed Leith, “I can leave so you two can talk.”
“Actually…it’s you I need to speak with.” Both she and Tar were
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