“How can I put my trust in someone I don’t know?”
“It’s a risk we all take, baby girl; there are no guarantees where matters of the heart concerned. Do you want me to come over?”
“No, I’m going to get off here now. I – I have a lot to think about.”
“You know I’m always here girl. I love you.”
“I know, Taye. I love you, too,” she said.
A weak goodbye the only thing she could muster before she hung up the phone. Perhaps Taye was right. It was time to leave the past behind, and move on in the present. Goosebumps broke out over her arms as she moved to grab a black-hooded zip up. She would prepare lunch, and set about the monumental task of clearing out the office. One step towards a life lived in the present and two towards operation avoid thoughts of Phelan for a while. If she kept herself busy with other things, he would never have a chance to linger. It sounded good in theory, but she had her doubts about the execution.
Chapter Five
Phelan normally had the patience of saint. It was a skill set he’d developed as the eldest of the family and the leader of the Shar. But when a week rolled by with no sign of Zasha, that polished persona began to crumble. He stalked around the D’Shar home so on edge, the smallest thing set him off like a firecracker with a short fuse. His brothers avoided him like a plague, and his employees all walked around on eggshells.
“Show her who she belongs to,” the beast inside him demanded. Its vicious claws tore his mind to shreds on a daily basis. The words of possession and dominance it expressed were so loud, he marveled that no one else could hear them.
“Still no word?” Bastian asked.
“No.”
His reply was short and terse as he paced the length of his office.
“I think I can help you with that,” Bastian said.
“How do you plan on doing that?” he asked.
“By taking you somewhere I know she’ll be,” Bastian said.
A cocky smirk lined Bastian’s lips as Phelan paused.
“You know I want her to come to me.”
“Maybe she needs a reminder of the attraction between you. It’s a lot easier to resist when you’re not in close quarters.”
“How did you come by this information?” Phelan asked.
“Taye.”
“You’re still seeing her? It’s been almost three weeks,” he said.
Shocked that he was still in contact; it wasn’t like Bastian to see a woman more than once.
“No, but we’re friends. She’s a lot of fun to be around.”
“Fair enough, where are we headed so I know how to dress?”
“They’re going to the concert at Devou Park.”
“I’ll be ready in ten,” Phelan said.
****
He was dressed down in a pair of worn dark denim pants, a black tank top, and his favorite pair of black Converse. A black baseball hat had been an afterthought to help conceal his identity. The walk from the parking lot had been too long once he caught her scent on the wind.
“She said they had a red blanket positioned between the trees on the hill side,” Bastian said.
“I know exactly where they are,” Phelan whispered. His eyes locked with hazel as Zasha looked up from her conversation with Taye and froze.