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Don’t panic. Don’t panic.

“I’m sorry,” he said, easing his grip, but his features didn’t soften at all. “Does Cane not typically grab you this hard?”

My skin felt like a blowtorch was being applied to it. I could feel my pulse throbbing in my arm, white noise rushing past my ears. I tried to block everything out except for the man in front of me.

I have to take control.

“If you don’t get your hands off me right now, I am going to scream with everything I have.” My teeth were clenched as tears from the pain began to sting my eyes. I continued to yank on his fingers with my other hand to no avail.

Panic began to set in.

“Oh, Jada.” He pulled me forward. I slammed roughly against his body, his hand releasing my arm in the process. I tried to pull back, but he held the back of my neck with one hand, and his other arm wrapped around my back. “You’re a little cocktease.” His pupils were dilated now, and his eyes hard.

I have to find a way out of this.

“I’m not,” I said firmly, trying to keep myself from losing control.

My stomach threatened to expel the small amount of dinner I had eaten. I raised my hand to cover my mouth when I realized my keys were still in my hand. I put one between two of my fingers—the sharp point out—and encased the base in my fist. I raised my hand back as far as I could and jammed the key into his back.

His eyes went wide from the impact, and he loosened his grip. I shoved him away, and he stuck his hand out to grab me, knocking me off balance. I caught myself on the side of my car, my hands slamming into the metal.

I looked over my shoulder. Simon was rubbing his back with one hand and was watching me, eyes blazing.

“Is everything okay over there?” someone’s voice rang out from a few cars over. I didn’t look up to see who it was. I jumped in my car and darted out of the parking lot, leaving Simon to deal with any questions.

What the hell just happened?

TWENTY

Jada

The thirty-minute drivehome felt like an eternity.

I was in shock, both physically and mentally. I had never been grabbed like that before. Even when Decker had threatened me or backed me against a wall, he had never actually touched me. The feeling of someone’s hands on me made me feel so violated, so vulnerable.

At least he’ll feel that pain in his back for a little while from the key.

I checked my rearview mirror a few times, fearing that he had followed me out of the parking lot. But I didn’t see him.

Surely, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to follow me.

I felt numb, unable to clearly process what had happened. My head felt like it was full of Styrofoam packing peanuts. The only thing that I could really feel was my arm, and it hurt like hell.

I swung my car into Kari’s driveway and ran into the house, looking over my shoulder. I burst into the front door, slamming itbehind me and locking it. I leaned my back against it, closing my eyes and letting the scent of coconut envelop me and comfort me.

Breathe …

“Jada? Is that you?” I heard Kari call from the kitchen.

Please, God, don’t let Max be here.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I yelled back. I cleared my throat and made my way through the house to find Kari taking a pizza out of the oven.

“I don’t know how I burn frozen pizzas. I set the timer and everything,” she whined as smoke billowed out of the oven.

I set my things on the counter, jumping when the oven door slammed.

“Jada? Are you all right?” Kari asked, eyeing me.