Page 73 of Property of Chaos

“Let me worry about that.”

Each chapter sets its own damn rules.

“Can you answer the damn question?”

Back to me, she settles on one of the two armchairs. “Not tonight.”

A bolt of anger shoots through me, forcing my muscles tight as I rein the urge to smash a fist into something.She doesn’t need that.And besides, it’s not directed at her. She has every goddamn right to choose not to talk about her trauma when it hurts her like this.

But damn, I want to take that pain away.

And not knowing how has me feeling all kinds of useless.

“Do you want me to leave?” My breath thickens in my throat as I wait for her answer.

She takes her time, fingers slowly moving around the mug in her hold. “Do you?”

“If I wanted to go, would I ask if you wanted me to stay?”

“That’s not what you said.”

For fuck’s sake.“Does it matter how I worded the question?”

“Yeah.” She turns her head side on. “It does. Because if you asked me if I wanted you to stay, you’d want to make sure I feel the same way. But you didn’t. You asked if you should go, which means you’re seeking a reason—permission—to leave.” She presses her lips tight. “So leave, Chaos. Get the fuck out while you can.”

It’s too late for that.I could walk out that door and never return, yet it’d do nothing to get her out of my head—my life. “I don’t want to leave.”

She sighs. “What do you want then?”

I open my mouth, yet she cuts me short.

“And don’t say me because any man in his right mind wouldn’t want this hot mess.”

“Good thing I’m not in my right mind, then.” I approach her chair, settling my hands on the back.

She refuses to turn around and look at me. “I’m not some project you can fuck around with for fun, Chaos.” Her tone is soft. Sad. “If you try to fix me and fuck it up, there’s real consequences at play.”

“I know.”

“I’ve had men use me to fulfill their savior complex before. It never ends well. Especially for me.”

“I don’t want to save you.” I want her to save me.

To remind me that even the things people perceive as wicked or evil are entitled to love.

To a soulmate.

My fucking phone rings, hacking into the moment like a dull blade. I wince when I dash away to retrieve the goddamn thing from her bedroom, returning to her side as I answer the call. “Yeah?”

“There’s been a development at the loading dock.” Jinx delivers the news in a lifeless monotone. “You planning to be here any time soon?”

Fucker’s sass is getting on my last nerve. “Be there in fifteen.”

Vanessa shifts her gaze, watching me from her hunched seat, cradling the redundant coffee.

“Darko is taking Selena to school today. You know, in caseyoucare to know.”

My teeth ache under pressure. “Fine.” I disconnect before the asshole can fuck with my headspace any further and run a hand over my head, messing up my hair.

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