Chapter Five

D io walked into the parts shop and hitched his thumb over his shoulder. "What's with the girl outside, Ruger? She's just standing there, staring at the building."

"Why the fuck would I care what some girl is doing?" He grunted. "If she wants to stare at the fucking sky, she can. It's a free world."

The tape ran out on the dispenser. He chucked the empty cardboard roll into the garbage. The hours passed slowly today. All he wanted to do was get out and ride.

Dio put up his hands. "No worries. But I thought you took the girl home."

He frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that girl you had at the clubhouse is standing outside." Dio shook his head. "I swear, nobody listens around here."

Ruger dropped the dispenser and rounded the counter, going to the large windows in the front of the building. Looking out, he spotted Rachel. What the fuck?

He went out the door and stood on the sidewalk. Rachel turned as if sensing him there and walked straight to him. Several heartbeats later, without saying a word, she threw her arms around his waist and plastered herself against the front of him.

Cupping the back of her head, he scanned the area. "How did you get here?"

"I stole a car."

His fingers tangled in the back of her hair. He wasn't sure if she was kidding or telling the truth. During the time they were together, there was no room for joking.

"Where's the car?" he asked.

"I left it parked on the edge of the highway." She raised her brown eyes to him. "There are no cameras there."

Shit. That was at least three miles away.

"Come inside." He led her into the building and got a bottle of water from the mini fridge in the back of the shop. "Drink this."

Dio motioned to the back door. Ruger nodded. He could handle the shop and talk to Rachel until he found out what was going on.

When they were alone, he pointed to the stool. "Sit."

She took a long drink and then worked her lips together in worry. "Are you mad?"

He scratched his jaw underneath his beard. "You don't belong here."

"But I wanted to see you."

"Why?"

"I hate the apartment." She put the water bottle between her thighs and leaned forward on the stool. "There's nothing there, and Corbin only comes every other day to bring me food."

Ruger leaned his hip on the counter and crossed his arms. The last thing he wanted to do was get mixed up in someone else's problem. He'd returned Shady's favor. He was done.

"Are the cops following you?" he asked.

If the police were coming, he'd have to do something with Rachel. Havlin couldn't be found harboring a wanted person.

"No." She frowned. "Why would they?"

"You stole a car." He narrowed his gaze. "How do you know they didn't follow you or someone hasn't reported the car gone?"

"Because I'm good, and I've never been caught." She lowered her voice. "I didn't want to steal the car, but I had no way to get to you. I don't even have a phone—not that I know your phone number."

He ran his hand over his beard. She couldn't stay here. He had to take her back.

"Finish your water before you pass out from dehydration." He pulled out his phone, needing to contact Jagger, but he kept tapping the symbol. The keypad would come up and then disappear.

Gritting his teeth, he gave up and pocketed his phone. "Stay here."

He walked to the back of the shop, opened the door, and yelled for Dio. He'd need his MC brother to watch the shop while he took Rachel home.

He returned to Rachel. "Have you eaten?"

She frowned and then shook her head. "I was in a hurry to see you."

Jagger entered the shop. "I've got Dio doing something else for me. I'll cover for you."

He dipped his chin in thanks, grabbed Rachel's hand, and led her out the door. "I need to get my Harley."

He jogged around the building, got on his motorcycle, and drove around the clubhouse to the street. He handed her the extra helmet he had kept on the bike in case Katrina ever had an emergency and needed to ride. Once she had the protection on her head, he held out his hand and helped her climb behind him.

She never questioned where they were going. She followed his instructions and held on to the sides of his vest where the braided leather straps hung as if she'd done it a hundred times before.

He rode straight to Burger King and ordered them a meal in the drive-thru. Giving her the sack, he put the tray with their drinks between his legs for the short ride around the building to the back of the lot, where he got off the motorcycle and led her to the picnic tables.

There was no one there. Tourists usually ate on the beach or stayed inside the restaurant. The locals would take their meals home to enjoy and avoid the people who invaded every establishment in town during the season.

Rachel sat beside him instead of across from him. He ate half his burger before she spoke.

"Can I stay with you?" She put her hamburger on the wrapper that was spread out in front of her. "I could find a job and give you money—"

"No."

Rachel stared at her food. He understood how she could view him as someone who would help her. He'd rescued her from Los Li. But he wasn't the type of man to take care of anyone.

"Eat up," he reminded her.

"I'm not hungry anymore," she mumbled.

He finished his meal, including all the fries at the bottom of the sack. When he drank the pop until only the ice remained in his cup, he looked at Rachel. She'd barely touched her food.

"If you're done, I'll take you back." He stood. "Can you give me directions to where you're staying?"

She nodded. He threw their garbage away and wrapped up her uneaten burger, putting it in his vest pocket.

On the road, he headed toward Offshore. Once he rode into the city limits, he shouted for directions. Rachel pointed each time he needed to turn. He arrived at a run-down two-story apartment complex on the south side of town.

The unlit sign rented rooms out by the hour. His lip curled. It wasn't the kind of place he'd put any woman who lived alone. It wasn't safe. There were too many people running around. Anything could happen.

He stopped the Harley and patted her leg, signaling her to get off. Once she stood beside him, he exited the bike.

Rachel led him to her ground-floor apartment. Another bad idea on Shady's part. Anyone could walk in or break-in.

She paused at the threshold of door Eleven, her hesitation unmistakable. He stayed back, not surrendering to her silent plea to stay with him. She had to go. There was no way he could take care of her any longer.

Lifting her gaze, she locked eyes with him. "Corbin never gave me a key."

He suspected she lied to avoid staying in the apartment. "You hotwired a car. You can get into a locked apartment."

"I thought you'd let me stay." Her frown deepened, and she shook her head. "I locked the door on my way out."

Losing patience, he drew his pocketknife, flipped open the slim blade, and worked it between the door and the frame until he felt the lock. He turned the handle to the right, applied pressure to the blade, and the lock gave way with a click. He pushed the door open.

The tendons stood out on her neck. He looked away. It wouldn't be good for either of them if he kept riding to her rescue. She needed to learn how to cope with life on her own. He was no better than the men who'd kidnapped her. It was something she'd be smart to learn.

He investigated the dark apartment. There was nothing but a full garbage sack spilling clothes onto the floor. She was here by herself with no way to protect herself.

"Go inside. I'll come back in a couple of hours with a phone. You can use it if you need help." He patted her ass, moving her in the right direction. "Lock the door."

She closed the door slowly, and he waited until the lock engaged.

As he walked back to his motorcycle, he noticed a police car parked several vehicles away in the lot. Given the location, there could be numerous reasons for their presence. However, he had a hunch that someone had reported a stolen vehicle.

Rachel better be careful, or she'd find herself behind bars like her brother, and the women's prison was no place for her.