Page 16 of Oz (Marked Skulls MC 4)
“I have to go. I have to get out of this place!” she said, and tried to brush past me. Even though I knew I shouldn’t have, I reached for her and gently brushed my hand against her arm. I expected her to push me away, to yell and shriek at me, but instead, she stopped in her tracks.
When Kaya turned to me, I could see how hard this was for her. She was doing her best not to cry. It was draining her of all her energy.
“You have to believe me, Kaya. I’m going to do everything to protect you,” I said again.
This time, instead of shaking her head, Kaya just looked at me like she was dazed.
“I can’t believe how foolish I was. I came here for an adventure, but I didn’t think I could get myself threatened or killed. What was I thinking?”
It was like she was speaking to herself.
“Kaya…” I said her name softly, snapping her out of her thoughts. Her eyes adjusted to me again, and I stepped closer to her.
“I know all you want right now is to get away from me. I respect that. But I want to keep you safe. Please, will you let me do that?”
She searched my eyes. Hers were green and wide. I could see she was afraid.
“I’m going to leave you alone after this, once all this passes. You won’t ever hear from me again. But, right now, because they’ve threatened you, you are my responsibility. I’m going to keep you safe,” I continued.
It wasn’t easy saying those words. I felt something for this woman. She was special, different. Telling her I would stay away from her was not a promise I wanted to make. But that was what she needed.
She didn’t need me in her life.
“Okay,” Kaya murmured and I felt relieved.
“Let me ride you back to your place. You shouldn’t go back to the diner today,” I said.
Kaya gulped again and nodded nervously, keeping her eyes turned from me. It was like she couldn’t bear to look at me again.
And I deserved that. Even though it hurt like a bitch.
“Let’s go,” I declared. and I led the way out of Lewis’ office. Kaya followed me in silence. The other guys from the club who were at the bar turned to watch us. They could sense something serious was going on, and it was not the time to ask questions.
I walked out of the bar, keeping my eyes peeled for any suspicious activity. Kaya followed me out and we headed to my bike together. Her apartment wasn’t very far from here, but I didn’t want her to take any risks by walking to it alone.
Chapter 22
Kaya
The last thing I should have been feeling when I got on Oz’s bike, was turned on. I was afraid just a few minutes ago. I wanted to get out of there. I knew the best thing to do would be to keep my distance from him. Spending time with Oz had put me in enough danger already.
But now that I was so close to him again, while I had my arms wrapped around him, I couldn’t help but feel that surge of heat rising up in me.
Oz spoke very little to me since we left that room. I could sense he was pissed off. He’d punched the wall! He’d bruised his knuckles. He was angry…with the Dark Legion? With himself?
But when he told me he wanted to keep me safe, I believed him.
What other choice did I have? Never in my life would I have expected to be threatened with a gun pointed at my stomach and told that my life was in danger.
Even in my wildest dreams—I hadn’t imagined this scenario. Even when Melody warned me about Oz, even when I saw them wielding guns earlier when they entered the bar…I didn’t dream there was ever any actual danger in all this.
Stuff like this belonged on the TV screen. I couldn’t imagine it happening in real life, and yet, it was happening to me now and I didn’t know what to do. Was I supposed to run? Could I leave town? What if I went home and they followed me there?
What if I was putting my family in danger? I couldn’t do that. As much as I wished they forgave me for leaving, I couldn’t bring them to danger. No, I would have to remain here in Orlando and face the consequences of my decisions.
But how was I supposed to do it alone? I didn’t know the first thing about defending myself against a motorcycle club. I felt helpless, completely in the care and mercy of Oz. The man who had put me in this position in the first place.
So…I should have despised him. I should have been blaming Oz for all the trouble he’d put me in. I should have been mad at him and screaming. But after the first initial moments of yelling, I couldn’t do it anymore.
Now I was just glad he was here. That he’d offered to give me a ride back home. I didn’t know how I would have done it alone if he hadn’t offered. I felt safe with him, even though I knew I shouldn’t have. I trusted him to protect me, even though I didn’t know him well enough.
All my instincts were pointing to Oz and I found myself giving in.
I sat behind him on his bike, astride, with my legs dangling on either side and my front pressed to his back. I had no choice but to wrap my arms around him. I could feel the heat and strength of his body.
Even just his back was wide and strong. I looked up at the back of his neck. He was riding his bike hard, and my hair came undone from its ponytail and flew everywhere around my face.
Just staring at his back was enough to make me wet. I could feel a tingling sensation in the pit of my stomach. I wanted him again. Right now. I wasn’t thinking straight. I should have been afraid, worried about my safety…but instead I was thinking about how hot it would be to have my legs wrapped around him, instead of my arms.
I wondered if he could sense that I was turned on. Did he want me too?
I shook those thoughts away from my head. How could he possibly want me now?
I was a liability to him. Did he want to get rid of me? Remove the weak link from his life?
Contradictory emotions of feeling helpless one moment and then wanting Oz the next filled my head and body. When we arrived at my apartment building, I reluctantly got off the bike. I couldn’t even look at him, in fear that he’d be able to see how much I really wanted him. I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself.
Oz was watching me closely. I was about to walk away from him without saying anything. Force myself to just go. Get out of there before I said something foolish.
“Kaya!” His authoritative voice stopped me in my tracks. Oz parked his bike and jumped off, stepping closer to me.
“I know you want to be alone, and you want to stay away from me—but I think I should stay here tonight. At your apartment. I want to keep an eye on you and make sure you’re safe tonight.”
His words seemed to take my breath away. It was like he’d read my mind. But being this close to him, spending a night with him in my apartment—would make me miserable. I didn’t know what to do. All I did was just stare at him.
“You don’t have to tell me. I know you despise me. I got you in this shit. It’s my fault for not warning you. You are right about everything.”
I gulped. My throat had gone dry.
“But right now, I need to do everything I can to keep you safe. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out an alternative plan so you don’t have to keep seeing me,” he continued.
“Fine, okay, you can stay,” I snapped.
I whipped away from him. I didn’t want him to see the look of excitement in my eyes. I needed to keep my thoughts and feelings private right now.
Oz followed me up to my apartment, and my heart raced in my chest maniacally.
I switched all the lights on in my apartment, because for some reason—I didn’t want to remain in the dark with Oz. I was afraid of what I might do.
He seemed much bigger in my apartment now than he did outside.
“This is it,” I said, turning to him. He looked around the place and nodded.
“It’s great,” he replied, and smiled softly. I didn’t have the heart or courage to smile at him. I was anxious about what would happen next. I was angry with the way my body was deceiving my mind. I knew it was dangerous to want anything more with Oz
right now, but my body was reacting differently.
“I’ll take the couch tonight,” he said and went to sit down on my couch. I knew it was going to be too small for him, but what other option did we have?
“Okay,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. Even though it was much earlier than when I usually came home from work, I was exhausted tonight.
“I don’t want you to worry, Kaya. Nothing is going to happen to you while I’m here. I want you to trust me,” he said and I nodded.
I turned from him and made myself walk away, but something made me stop and look at him again. Oz was sitting on the couch and watching me.
“Thank you, I guess. I know you don’t have to do this for me,” I said.
“You don’t have to thank me, Kaya. I got you in this mess. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re safe,” he said. I gulped and turned from him again.
