A little after five thirty in the morning, Erikka paused at the bottom of the stairs. Chuck still slept where he'd crashed on the couch. Taking in the man who'd forced her away from meeting with Markham last night, all because he wanted to keep her safe, she sighed quietly. At first, when he'd ordered out of the casino, she'd been pissed

Last night was all about getting any information about her sister, and Chuck had taken her chance away from her when he'd ordered the other Notus members to take her outside. Once she was out of the casino, Glen had escorted her to Chuck's car and waited with her while Wayne and Thad disappeared. It'd only taken ten or fifteen minutes for Chuck to reappear and drive her back to his house. By then, she'd simmered in her anger, and when he offered her his bed to sleep in, she'd taken over his bedroom and locked him out. She hadn't cared where he ended up sleeping.

And, now she found him on the couch, his bare feet hanging over the end and his arm thrown haphazardly across his forehead.

"Still pissed?" he said without moving a muscle or opening his eyes.

She swallowed and stepped into the living room. "I was, but not anymore."

He lowered his arm, opened his eyes, and curled his abdomen sitting up on the couch. Hypnotized by his bare chest and the rippling stomach below, she took in the hard muscles, the spattering of hair, and the tattoo covering the area over his heart. It was a Notus MC design.

"What made you change your mind?" He stood and walked past her into the kitchen.

She followed him and stopped at the center island. A pang of homesickness hit her at the familiar floor plan. If she were at her house, she'd brew her favorite coffee and have a bagel with cream cheese while checking her emails before work. Until her routine had been interrupted with her sister missing, she hadn't realized how much she enjoyed that quiet time before dealing with the harder side of life at work.

"I was disappointed." She planted her hands on the counter. "I took it out on you. I forgot that if it weren't for you helping me, I would never have learned about Mr. Markham, so..."

"He doesn't know where your sister is. Notus will continue all avenues until we find her." He set a cup of coffee in front of her. "I need to leave for work in twenty minutes. I'm going to make contact with a few people at the police department on some names I want to run past them today. I'll do that while I'm on breaks and during lunch."

"You're not going to tell them Rachel is missing, are you?"

He finished his mouthful of coffee. "No."

"Then, you might know something when you get home this evening?" She sipped from the cup.

"I'm always looking." He motioned behind her. "I need to jump in the shower and get going. If you want to go to work, be ready and I'll take you on my way to Port Loaders."

"I'll just walk down the street and get my car out of my garage. There's no use hiding the fact that I'm at Bail Bonds any longer since Markham knows how to find me." She set the mug on the counter. "But, if you'd hang around while I go get my car, I'd appreciate it. I can honk when I drive past your house to let you know everything went okay at home. I'll be ready, so you're not late for work."

He dipped his chin and walked out of the room. She tilted her head and watched him leave. He seemed distant after last night.

Even when he was deflecting her attack on his choices dealing with Mr. Markham, he'd been more emotionally invested in his side of the argument without denying or becoming defensive. He let her say whatever she wanted and when she lost her temper and became condescending, rude, and personal, he never flinched.

She gathered her purse, her shoes, and put mascara and lipstick on that she always carried in her purse. Her cell phone rang while she waited for Chuck and she checked the number. It was a client. Instead of answering, she let the call go to voicemail. Michael Dillane was due in court on Wednesday, and she had a good feeling about him following the rules set for his bail and eventually being put on probation with his thirty-two days already spent in jail being enough punishment for an unarmed robbery charge.

Sagging on the couch, she closed her eyes. The cushion underneath her ass still warm from Chuck's body, she felt the tension of staying at his house, near him. She needed to concentrate on her work.

Her father never had a problem working with men and women who rather buck the system and break the rules. If he had a runner, he used bounty hunters—the same two companies she used. But, Tony Stoddard happened.

And now her sister was in danger or already hurt because of her line of work.

"Ready?" said Chuck.

She opened her eyes and stood, taking in the dressed version of Chuck in a flannel shirt rolled above his elbows, no leather vest, worn jeans, and black boots. She liked him dressed as well as half-naked.

"Yes." She picked up her purse. "I'll start walking, so I don't hold you up."

"You can ride on the back of the Harley."

"No, I'd like to walk. It's not far." She reached the front door ahead of him. "I'll hurry."

Escaping Chuck's house, she set a fast pace and hit the sidewalk before she heard his motorcycle roar to life behind her. Though, he caught up with her halfway to her house and idled his Harley on the street, coasting to keep even with her.

She glanced over at him and smiled her thanks for sticking by her side. Her heart mimicked the thrum of his Harley, rejuvenating her.

Within fifty feet of her garage door, she jogged. Anxious to drive her car and secure herself into the building at work now that the cameras were fixed—thanks to Notus—and lose herself in paperwork and someone else's problems, she started feeling more positive. Or, at least she'd try. With Notus helping in the search, today could be the day Rachel comes home.

She entered her house through the front door. Her anxiety level peaked at the things she needed to do. A week without vacuuming or dusting gave the living room a stale aroma. There were dirty clothes in the hamper and if she looked, two coffee cups in the sink that had been neglected. Hers and Rachel's. The morning of her sister's disappearance, Rachel had come over and had coffee with her before work. She'd planned to throw them in the dishwasher when she returned that evening.

Opening the door to the garage, she listened to the quiet hum of the door lifting. She looked past her driveway to the street and found Chuck waiting, and scrambled into her car. Not wanting to make him late to his workplace, she started the engine and backed out of the garage onto the street. Before putting the car in Drive, she pushed the garage remote and closed her house, knowing it was locked up tight.

Chuck pulled up beside her vehicle. She kept her foot on the brake and lowered her window.

"All set?" he asked.

She nodded. "Thank you."

"I get home a little after four." He shoved his hand into his pocket and then leaned over handing her a key on a rubber Syd Dorn car lot keychain. "If you take off early and I'm not home, let yourself in the house."

"Okay." She blindly reached over and slipped the key into her purse. "Chuck?"

He waited.

Her stomach fluttered. His patience with her meant a lot.

"Thank you. For everything. I know I'm not easy to deal with and you have bigger things to do. I really do appreciate all that you are doing. Notus, too. Can you tell the others thank you from me?"

"It's our job." He motioned his chin forward. "Go on."

She drove away expecting him to turn on Lombard Street and go in the opposite direction, but he continued following her all the way to her building. He circled the block twice as she unlocked the front door and because she could still hear the roar of his bike, she waved from the front window.

He lifted his hand. She smiled. Knowing she wasn't alone and someone big and strong was looking out for her safety was exactly what she needed today.