RedeemingZorus (10 page)

“They are going to allow me to go with you?” She didn’t
believe that. “What about Gerald?”

“I convinced the captain not to deliver you to the man who
purchased you.”

“How?” Uneasiness rose inside her. “What did you do? When
did you do it?”

He ignored her questions when he crossed the room to sit on
the bed next to her. He dropped the clothing on the end of it and turned a
little to place the tray across his thighs. “Who is the human who attempted to
buy you from your brother?”

She met his dark gaze and saw anger there. “When I was
younger I used to date him. We were lovers.”

Definitely anger.
The cyborg’s fist clenched the
metal tray hard enough to dent it. The sound of metal bending made him stop.
“You had intercourse with this male?”

“We were together for a few years. I thought we’d marry and
have kids. I believed I loved him but then this rich woman took an interest in
him. He had a job dealing with the upper-class, training them in self defense.
She wanted to marry him and he dumped me to go live in her world.”

Oh yeah
. Fury darkened his eyes and the metal dented
enough at the corner where he gripped it until the entire thing curved
downward. She reached out and tugged, trying to take it from him before their
breakfast hit the floor. He released it to her and both of his hands fisted
over his thighs while he glowered.

“It was a long time ago,” she explained, stunned that he’d
be jealous. She was certain that had to be why he looked mad enough to hit
something. “Gerald started sniffing around me again a few months after his
marriage, wanting me to agree to be his mistress.”

“That’s a female sexual partner a male obtains besides
possessing a primary sexual partner, correct?”

“Yes.” She set the tray on her lap, looking away from Zorus.
“The bastard thought I’d jump at the chance to be with him after he ripped my
heart out.” She shook her head and sighed. “As if I could ever forgive him for
walking out on me and breaking my heart. Do you see the word ‘stupid’ stamped
across my forehead?”

Zorus glanced up. “No.”

Charlie laughed. “Rhetorical question.”

“You have no forgiveness for males who betray your trust and
abandon you.”

“No, I don’t. Would you have forgiven that?”

The anger in his eyes left. “Do you still love him?”

“Hell no.”

“Good.” He dropped his gaze to the food and reached for one
of the sandwiches piled on a plate. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Charlie grinned but didn’t say anything, stuffing food into
her mouth instead. Zorus admitted to being glad—an emotion—and she wasn’t even
sure he’d realized it. They ate in silence until they finished everything on
the tray and didn’t speak until Zorus stood.

“I’ll use the cleansing unit first.” His dark gaze settled
on her. “You won’t attempt to leave, will you?”

“They are going to let me go with you, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Then there’s no reason to try to get off the shuttle
without you.”

“Good. I will hurry.”

“At the first port, I need to obtain transportation to
Saturn. Can you get your cyborg people to drop me off at one?”

His features tensed. “We’ll discuss that at a later date.”

“I want to discuss it now. Am I going to be safe with your
people?”

“No one will harm you, Charlie. I give you my word on that.
There’s no reason for alarm.”

“Then you’re going to have them drop me off somewhere so I
can find passage to Saturn?”

He shifted his stance and then stalked toward the corner.
“Yes.”

Charlie watched him disappear into the cleansing unit and
heard it turn on a minute later. She sighed loudly while staring at the closed
door that separated her from Zorus. She admitted that she’d miss him more than
just a little when they said goodbye. She trusted his word that he’d make sure
she got off the shuttle they were about to board and get safe passage to a
port.

She had a brother to track down. Russell would pay for what
he’d done to her. First she’d kick his ass and then make him give up half the
money. After that he would be on his own since she’d never trust him again.
She’d be all alone.

An image of Zorus flashed inside her head, his intense brown
eyes. She pushed it back. It would be crazy to even consider trying to track
him down after she took care of business. They were too different and he
wouldn’t welcome her if she showed up at a future date to take up where they
were about to leave off.

“Me and my attraction to men all wrong for me,” she
muttered. “Stupid, Charlie. Don’t even go there. He’s a cyborg and he doesn’t
even like humans.” Her gaze drifted to the messed-up bed she still sat on and
she grimaced. “At least out of bed.”

Chapter Six

Nervousness had Charlie tugging at the oversized shirt she
wore for at least the twentieth time. She hated not having a weapon except for
the knife hidden inside her boot while she stood next to Zorus. Nine men
surrounded them inside the cargo bay of the shuttle. Captain Varel looked grim
when they docked with another shuttle.

“You remain here.” The captain nodded at his men. “I’ll be
back when they have paid and you can release them then.” The doors opened to
allow him to leave the shuttle with a few of the crew.

Zorus turned his head to peer down at her. “Enough
fidgeting. There’s no reason for it. This transfer will go smoothly. My people
will pay and we’ll board their shuttle.”

“I’m not fidgeting.” She gave him an innocent look while
lying, refusing to admit her fear of what awaited her when they came in contact
with more cyborgs or how out of place she felt. Time seemed to crawl by until
she wondered what took so long.

Zorus clenched his teeth, a muscle jumped along his jawline,
and he didn’t seem to enjoy the wait either. One of the crew smiled suddenly
and nodded. The money had been paid.

They both faced the doors when the sound of the airlock
softly filled the room. The noise reminded Charlie of a deflating balloon. It
slid open as the crew backed up. Captain Varel smiled when he returned to the
shuttle.

Zorus gave him a slight incline of his head. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you.” Varel looked really pleased.

Charlie followed Zorus onto another shuttle through a narrow
docking sleeve. The instant they entered the small cargo hold, fear gripped her
as she gaped at five large cyborgs who wore all black leather from their necks
to their booted feet. Even the hands of some of the men were covered with black
leather gloves. One cyborg with jet-black hair that fell to his shoulders
stepped forward. His blue eyes were cold and he appeared downright mean when he
scowled at Zorus.

“Councilman Zorus.” He gave a slight nod. “You look well.”

Zorus reached back and gripped Charlie’s upper arm to pull
her none-too-gently against his side, and kept her there. “You should better
hide your disappointment at my survival.”

The mean-looking cyborg didn’t deny it. “We have a cabin
ready for you. We’re giving you the captain’s quarters.”

Zorus hesitated. “Flint, are we currently free from danger
from Earth Government?”

Flint inclined his head. “Yes.” His gaze cut to Charlie.
“And we’re settled up over you buying the woman.”

Charlie tensed, her mind trying to digest what she’d heard,
but Zorus strode toward the other cyborg across the cargo hold, hauling her
with him. She stumbled but he kept going. His strength all but pulled her
through the room toward an interior shuttle door. She glanced around to take in
her surroundings and spotted a human woman who stood next to a tall,
fierce-looking, bald cyborg who mostly blocked the sight of her with his big
body. No one looked particularly happy. One of the cyborgs suddenly moved into
their path. Zorus came to a halt.

“What did he mean about buying me?” Charlie ignored the
other cyborg to peer up in surprise at Zorus. She jerked hard on his arm to get
his attention.

Zorus gave no hint of his emotions. “I had to buy you from
the humans to obtain your release.”

She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. He could
have left her to Gerald’s mercy or the crew of that shuttle but he’d paid them
off instead to get her free. It touched her deeply that he’d care that much. It
also made tears of gratitude prick her eyes. He really wasn’t a bastard after
all or an asshole.

“Why would you do that? How much money do I owe you?”

Zorus hesitated. He peered around the room more carefully
instead of looking at her. “Which ship is this? I don’t recognize it.”

Charlie reached out to touch Zorus on his arm. “Talk to me.
How much do I owe you?”

Flint answered Zorus. “It’s not one of ours. We borrowed it
from the human female over there. Her name is Jillian and she’s involved with
Coal.” He jerked his head in the direction of the woman with the scary-looking
bald cyborg. “We didn’t want to bring one of our ships this close to Earth in
case they identified them as stolen. The last thing we need would be a run-in
with Earth Government. We’re going to meet the
Star
and
Rally
when
we’re safely out of range. From there we’ll take you home where the council
awaits you. I’m supposed to send you their regards and well sentiments
regarding your safe return.”

Zorus nodded. “I want clothing and a secure com link to the
council.”

“Fine.” Flint moved closer to study them both with a frown.
“Who is she and what do you want done with her?”

“She belongs to me.” Zorus stated coldly. “She isn’t your
concern.”

A horrified expression transformed the tall cyborg’s features
and he definitely shot her a look filled with pity as his voice lowered. “I
know you hate humans and are always looking for a way to torment them but
please allow me to give her to one of the men instead.”

A gray-haired cyborg who’d blocked them from leaving the
cargo hold suddenly drew closer. Charlie couldn’t help but gape at him. His
hair appeared the same shade of gray as elderly people had but he looked no
older than his early thirties. His eyes were a pale blue, nearly glowing with
enough white in them to make her wonder if he were sightless, but then his gaze
locked directly with hers.

“Give the human female to me, Councilman Zorus.” He glared
at him then. “I’ve taken enough of your shit for you to owe me. I’ll even buy
her from you.”

Zorus tensed. “No, Sky.”

Charlie released his arm when the tension between them
radiated enough for her to sense a fight brewing. They were both big,
powerfully built cyborgs. She wasn’t sure what was going on but her inner
alarms screamed warnings at her.

“Damn you,” Sky hissed. “Did she do something to you while
you were on Earth? Is that it? She’s a female. I won’t allow you to torture and
kill her the way I’ve seen you do to a few of the male humans you’ve gotten
your vicious hands on. You enjoyed beating them to death but I’ll be damned if
I watch you do that to a woman, human or not.”

“Silence,” Zorus demanded, his tone icy. “They deserved it.”

“She doesn’t.” Sky advanced, going chest to chest with
Zorus, his voice rising in volume. “You’re a sick bastard who gets off on
killing humans. You even made a few of them believe you were their friend
before you attacked. You’re the one who demanded all humans be made nothing but
property on our planet and you’ve tried to order every female killed who hooked
up with one of us. I’m sorry you survived, if you want the truth. I’d have been
happier if you’d died on Earth. I won’t stand by and watch you turn on this
female. You’ve killed your last damn human.” He pushed Zorus hard. “I want
ownership of her and I’ll fight you for it.”

Charlie jumped out of the way when Zorus slammed hard into
the bulkhead. Horror at what she’d heard left her grasping to make sense of it.
Her gaze flew to Zorus when he pushed away from the wall, rage twisting his
features. The other cyborg said he’d killed humans after befriending them. That
horror sank in slowly and when Zorus glanced at her, he didn’t deny any of it.
Instead he looked away before he lunged to go after the other cyborg.

Their bodies hit hard, one of them grunted, and then they
went down onto the cargo floor. The other cyborgs rushed forward to separate
the two fighting men. They managed to pull them apart by dragging them away
from each other but not before more punches were exchanged between Zorus and
Sky.

Her brain jolted from the distress of knowing she had once
again been lied to and betrayed by a man she trusted. Zorus wasn’t even liked
by his own people and he obviously had lulled her into believing him by using
his sexual skills. Pain burned hot inside her chest and tears nearly blinded
her at how easily he’d manipulated her into buying all the bullshit he’d said
to her. He hated all humans and planned to kill her.

One of the cyborgs backed up closer to her, his arms wrapped
around Zorus to pin his arms to his sides from behind, and Charlie saw the
weapon strapped to his hip. She grabbed at it, surprised when she found it in
her grip, and stumbled back. Her hand shook when she raised the weapon, not
sure who to point it at. She put more space between her and everyone inside the
cargo hold just as they realized what she’d done.

The cyborgs released their holds on Sky and Zorus, going for
their own weapons. Terror threatened to give her a heart attack when she stared
at five deadly cyborgs taking aim at her so fast she couldn’t believe they were
able to move that quickly.

“Drop the weapon,” one of them demanded.

“Easy,” Flint ordered softly but his own weapon pointed at
her head. “Put it down, human. Otherwise we will kill you.”

“Don’t shoot,” Zorus roared, spinning around to face her now
that he wasn’t restrained. He stepped directly in front of her and blocked her
body from the weapons aimed at her. “If you kill her, I’ll kill the one who
fires.” His gaze locked with hers. “Charlie, trust me.”