A lot.
I ignore everyone out on the street, focused on getting the hell out of this place.
“Jai,” Chance shouts behind me.
I ignore him and start to run, just wanting to get away from him and every other man on this damn planet.
“Jai!” He grabs my arm and yanks me back, my body slamming into his.
As I’m spun around, I don’t think straight, and the flat of my hand connects with his jaw.
I lose my shit entirely. “You just sat there!”
Tears of anger spill over my cheeks as I lock eyes with him, my body shaking uncontrollably.
“What did you want me to do? Run over and scoop you up in my arms?” he roars, his anger matching mine. He steps closer, his features dark and threatening. “Should I have played the hero and made you look like an idiot in front of every single person we will be going to war with?”
I shake my head as I step backward to put some much-needed space between us.
“What am I fighting for?” I push a trembling hand through the wild mess that’s my stupid long hair. “This?” I gesture at the men on the street. “To be leered at, molested, and maybe one day, raped?”
I shake my head again, my emotions an explosive ball of fire in my chest.
“This is not freedom for my kind,” I hiss. “And I’m sure as hell not risking my life for a man.”
He must see that I’ve lost control because his features soften, and he reaches for me.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I scream, stepping out of his reach, and far from done, I continue to rage, “Everything you’ve said to me was a lie.”
He glares at me with warning, and as his lips part, I mimic him, “You belong to me, Jai.” I let out a bitter chuckle. “I’ll kill any man who touches you.” Poking my finger at his chest, I hiss, “You left me alone in this place for the first woman who threw herself at you.” My tears stream faster.
Chance takes hold of my hand to stop me from poking at him again and drags me around the corner of a building where it’s private. Turning a dark look on me, he yanks me right against his chest.
“Let go,” I hiss, my anger turning hysterical.
My breaths burst over my lips, my heart thundering in my chest. My mind is a swirling mess of uncontrollable emotions.
Chance tightens his hold on me, his arms steel bands around me.
I start to gasp for air, my traitorous heart desperate to submit to this man so he can comfort me.
“I didn’t leave you alone in this place,” he says, his tone calm. “When I wanted to introduce you to Morgan, you were gone. Where did you go? I told you to stay by my side.”
“Does it matter?” I spit at him as I manage to press my hand to his chest and push back enough to see his face. Wanting to hurt him as much as he hurt me, I sneer, “After all, I don’t belong to you.”
“Jesus, woman.” He clenches his teeth, the muscle in his cheek jumping. “I said hello to an old friend.”
“Next time I see Kenzo, I’ll wrap myself around him and kiss him if that’s how friends are greeted.”
I strike a nerve because Chance shoves me against a wall, his entire body crowding mine. With his face not even an inch from mine, rage makes his eyes dark around the irises.
“Stop,” he orders, his voice nothing but thunder. “Calm the fuck down.”
I don’t break eye contact, refusing to be the first to look away.
“Calm down,” he orders again, his brute strength pushing against my very soul.
A tense minute builds between us until I lose the battle against my stupid heart and submit to the dominance pouring from him.
Chance’s eyes lower to my cheek, and slowly, as if he’s afraid I’ll run, he lifts his hand and brushes his fingers over the bruised skin.
The tender touch soothes me in a way that should terrify me. The man has way too much power over me.
“You kicked his ass,” he surprises me with a compliment.
I want to turn my face away from him, but needing the comfort, I lean into his touch. My anger fizzles out until all that’s left is an empty feeling.
“I’m proud of you,” he whispers, his tone gentle, and it makes tears well in my eyes again.
“It doesn’t feel like I won,” I admit, lowering my gaze from his.
“Why?”
I shake my head but say, “He touched me in an intimate way.”
Sure, Kenzo touched me during training, but this was different. That man was groping my breast.
“Intimate way?” Chance’s voice is strained above my head.
“Yeah. Everybody saw how he groped me, and no one did anything.” There’s a fresh wave of anger and hurt in my chest. “At least in the ecocity, the enforcers would’ve stopped him.”