Chapter Four
Chaz pulled away into the early morning. The sun was just starting to come up and he felt a heaviness descend on him as his motorcycle moved through the quiet streets.
Had he done the right thing in making a promise to this woman? He could have left her there, let her take her chances in staying at her own apartment instead of taking her home with him.
There was something strange in the way he felt protective of her. He’d felt it the moment he’d seen her. Her body was on full alert. She’d looked ready to take down rhinoceros. The way she’d run straight into danger had left an impression with him.
He’d seen Zuri before. She was the kind of woman it was hard not to notice. She was beautiful, feminine, and there was a self-possession about her, like she knew what she wanted from life and she was prepared to go and get it. For some reason that he didn’t understand, he wasn’t willing to leave her in what might prove a dangerous situation.
No, he would take her home where he could keep an eye on her just until he found Ava and any of the other girls who might, even now, be missing.
A tingle ran up his spine as he remembered Zuri’s words, Why didn’t you shift? You could have saved her. Was that true? Would he have saved the girl if he had shifted?
A sinking feeling pulled at his gut. Would there ever come a time when he wasn’t responsible for hurting other people?
It had been so long since he’d had anyone else on his bike with him that the extra weight of Zuri made him unsure of himself. He took the turns slowly, always afraid that she’d fall off and then he would be responsible for yet another woman’s fate.
The roads outside of town were winding. The air was fresh and cold as it pushed against his face. Even though he was happy for the sharp chill he thought for a moment about Zuri. She must be cold. She wasn’t dressed for a ride or for the cold.
Chaz made a turn a bit too fast and he felt Zuri’s hands grab his torso. The suddenness of the feeling was almost enough to make him ride straight off the road, off the side cliffs, and into the unforgiving water and rocks of the Pacific Coast.
He clenched his hands around the handles, unable to move his mind from the spot where her hands still clasped at his sides.
They were only a few minutes from his house. And in a flash Chaz realized what he’d done. He had invited this woman into his living space. A space no woman had entered. In fact, he’d never let anyone in. It had been his sacred space.
He tried to imagine the state of his affairs but he hadn’t even been home in a few days and couldn’t remember how he’d left the place.
Chaz felt his stomach tighten. It would only be for the day, he reminded himself. Zuri didn’t want to be there any more than he wanted her there.
As they pulled up, he put down his feet and he felt Zuri’s grip loosen. Her hands slid back and he stopped the bike, waiting while she maneuvered herself off. She wasn’t any too graceful trying to get off but he squelched the urge to help her.
He turned off the motorcycle and tried not to look at Zuri as he headed toward the house. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her push both hands into her jeans pockets. She had thick hips, sprawling female curves, milk chocolate skin, and a mound of black curls that highlighted her face. It was a good face if he were noticing that sort of thing, which he wasn’t.
Chaz opened the door to his house and pushed it open. Reaching inside he flipped on a light and walked in. His eyes roamed over his possessions. Everything felt stark and very gray suddenly.
“You live alone?” Zuri asked as she turned around in his living room.
“Mmm hmm.” He bent and picked up a stray leaf that must have either blown in or come in on a shoe.
“It’s…nice…” She said it as if she were trying to be polite. It struck Chaz that he really didn’t know this woman at all. He turned to try and see what she saw but as he did Zuri took a step back. He realized that she was probably scared of him, at least apprehensive, which she should be. He’d taken her up to his cabin in the woods, his stark, ascetic, gray cabin. He was a bear shifter who worked for the strongest and most dangerous motorcycle club in the northwest.
Thinking about it, he wondered how she’d ever conceded to coming with him in the first place.
“A bit bare,” she added with a half tilt of her head, “but really nice. Did you just move in?”
Chaz felt his face grow hot. “No, actually. I’ve been here for…well, maybe five years.”
“Really?” Zuri looked genuinely surprised. “You live…light. I mean, that’s a good thing, if that’s what you like…” She trailed off and Chaz felt his face grow hot again.
“I’ll just…” He made an awkward gesture and disappeared into his room. He stripped the bed and put fresh sheets on. “You’re probably tired. The sheets are clean now if you want to sleep.”
“I’m not sure I can sleep. I could go for something to eat though.” Zuri gave him a look that told him she didn’t think he had any food.
Chaz walked into the kitchen and he heard Zuri’s footsteps behind him. He opened the fridge. Not much. He heard a cabinet open behind him and he turned. Zuri closed the cabinet guiltily.
“Sorry,” she said as she tried to look around innocently.
“No, it’s fine. Make yourself at home.” Chaz hoped he didn’t sound sarcastic. Zuri smiled again in the same guilty manner.
He closed the fridge and opened the freezer. Relief flooded over him.
“I have some microwave meals.” He pulled out a turkey dinner and handed it to Zuri. She smirked.
“Great, thank you.” She took it from his hands and began to unpeel the box. “What are we going to do about Ava?”
Chaz watched Zuri fumble with the box and frozen dinner inside. He resisted the urge to take it from her and do it himself.
“We aren’t going to do anything. I am going to go back into town. I’ll talk it over with Anthony, get some more information. We’ll get her back.” He wondered what Anthony would say if he knew that he had a strange woman in his house right now. If he knew what Chaz had already promised her.
“Anthony? He is…” her question trailed off.
“The head of Magus.” He peered at her. How could she have lived in Cliffs her whole life but not know anything about them?
“Oh, right.” She nodded. “I’ve seen you around town a few times.” Zuri looked up. “What is it you do for Magus?”
Chaz had a flash image of a bloody face in front of him. He thought of the enforcing he’d had to do and what it looked like. The broken faces, broken bones, men screaming for mercy. What would a woman like this think of his work, of his ruthless, unforgiving nature?
“I watch over certain neighborhoods, keep people in line when it’s necessary.” He didn’t want to say how often it was necessary or how he kept people in line.
“You protect the drug lords, don’t you?” She turned to him with accusation in her eyes.
“Certain people pay Magus to look out for their interests…but we hold loyalties only to our own.”
Zuri’s jaw tightened. “My mother was an addict her whole life, she died of an overdose because of those drug lords.”
Chaz stood staring at Zuri. Pain surfaced in her eyes and he opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it. He wasn’t used to confrontation that didn’t involve his fists.
Zuri took a long slow breath. She seemed to be grounding herself and she looked around again.
“Don’t you get lonely out here?” Zuri changed the subject.
“No. I like being alone. I like to keep myself to myself. And I always have my brothers in Magus.”
The microwave beeped and Zuri jumped at the sound. He hadn’t realized she was so jittery. He felt a momentary need to protect her, but quickly pushed it away.
“I’d better go and see what there is to find out. You’ll be safe here.”
“When will you be back?” Zuri’s question sounded strange to him. It had been a long time since anyone needed or even wanted to know where he was going or when he would be back.
Chaz turned away from her and grabbed his keys. In a flash he wished he hadn’t jumped in to save her. That he hadn’t felt the impulsive, burning need to protect her from those men. He wished he’d left well enough alone.
“Just try to get some sleep. I’ll be back when I’m back,” growled.