There was a fraction of a second where I felt proud of standing up for myself—proud that I took this fucking pervert down because he deserved it. Who knew what he’d done before to someone else. What he was capable of doing to someone who didn’t know how to fight back. How many women he’d pawed and gotten away with it because he thought he was owed.

But then his screams brought me crashing back to Earth.

I froze as I took in the blood covering his face and the way his arm dangled from his shoulder.

Oh shit. Oh shit. What had I done?

Even with him lying there, I could still feel where his fingers had been in my underwear. I felt dirty as I stepped away from him, straightening my skirt and pulling it down as far as the material would stretch. But no matter how dirty I felt, I knew I’d fucked up beyond all repair.

This was the worst moment of my life. With one action—one time that I stood up for myself—I’d given SpaceTech everything they’d always wanted.

I’d be arrested. They’d figure out who and what I was. And then, there would be war.

What now? What the hell was I supposed to do now?

“What’s going on out here?” Mom’s voice cut through my panic. She was stepping out from the kitchen, her eyes wide.

I glanced around the diner. Everyone was staring. Oh shit. Oh shit. This was really bad.

Chapter Eight

“This bitch hit me. She’s under arrest.”

I took a stumbling step away from the perv. Under arrest?

Wait. He was arresting me? Was he actually a SpaceTech officer?

“Oh my God? What have you done?” Mom asked as she came to stand between me and the perv. I couldn’t stop staring at the blood dripping down his face, plopping onto the checkered tiled floor.

“Have you gone loco?” Mom’s face was pale as she handed the officer a clean towel for his face. “Put pressure on your nose. It should help with the bleeding.”

Oh shit. The blood. There was so much of it. All over his face. All over his ruined clothes. It was too much blood.

Oh shit. It was all over my hands and face and dress.

Oh shit. What had I done?

I’d never get away with this. I’d just iced myself.

As Mom stood up, she whispered to me, “Run.”

She was right. I had to leave before the STPF arrived. The man was gesturing with his fingers, and I would bet my life that he was calling the police. Or calling backup if he was STPF.

I started to back away from them, but I hesitated.

“What about you?” I whispered.