Collateral Damage

chapter 8

My fists clenched. I didn't sign up for this. Alexis couldn't forbid me to leave the apartment. What was I? His slave? He couldn't order me around like that. I didn't sign up to be caged.

And I was pretty sure it was illegal.

I wasn't going to listen to his bullshit. I was a free woman. I would do as I pleased.

And I would do that right this moment. I unclenched my fists and strode toward the entrance.

Ready to leave, I opened the apartment door, if only so I could get my stuff from Elyse's place. I had only walked ten steps when the elevator in front of me pinged.

Shit! Shit shit shit.

The doors opened and my eyes met cold grey ones. I froze on the spot. He walked towards me. Slowly.

I deliberated on a possible escape route. Should I run back and lock the door?

He probably had a key.

Maybe, I could run past him and into the elevator and pray that it would close before he caught up to me.

Very unlikely.

I had thought of three more before I realized there was no reason for me to escape. I had done nothing wrong. Well, except for the one thing he told me not to do.

I couldn't help it. My first reaction when it came to him was to either flee or hide.

'Where do you think you're going?' he asked, stopping a foot from me. His head was lowered to glare at my face and voice sounded threatening.

I willed myself not to cower. It would only encourage him. I set my jaw and stared back at him defiantly. 'I'm going out,' I said confidently, happy that my voice didn't waver.

He raised his eyebrow. 'Out?'

I squared my shoulders. I was going to need all the courage I had if I was going to pull this off.

'Yes,' I answered, trying not to break eye contact. It was what keeping him rooted and the chances of him making a sudden move were low if I kept staring at him. It was my logic which made him sound like a vicious dog. From the looks of it, I wasn't that far off.

'Out as in outside? In the open?'

'Yes. Out as in outdoors.' I almost rolled my eyes but remembered who I was talking to. Rolling my eyes at him was probably not the best idea. I liked my eyes.

He grabbed my arm and started pulling me back to his apartment. I dug my heels on the carpeted hallway. I wasn't going to let a man manhandle me like that!

'Let me go!'

He didn't listen to me.

I cursed as he dragged me despite me doing my best to stay grounded, putting all my weight into my struggle.

I crossed my arms and huffed, giving up and letting him drag me back.

He let me go once the door was closed.

Then he left me and went to his room.

What the fuck? Was he only acknowledged me when I tried to go against one of his rules? And act as if I didn't exist the other times?

He came out of the room a few minutes later, dressed in casual jeans and a cream-colored full-sleeved sweater over a t-shirt.

'Grab your coat,' he said.

Huh?

'We're going out?' I asked. It was pathetic how excited that made me.

'Yes,' he said gruffly.