Chance pounded the bag, the music of Metallica played in the background, fueling his fire as he beat one fist after the other, trying to ignore where his thoughts had been all day long.

He’d effectively avoided Alex, or anyone else in the clan for the better part of the day. His anger was something he couldn’t deal with on his own, much less have to explain away to someone else.

A good hour of his workout and he was finally releasing some of the energy he needed to be gone if he was ever going to be able to look Alex in the face again.

As he began pulling ripping the tape from his knuckles the room silenced and he turned to see Alex standing by the old tape player.

“Hey, man. What gives? I’ve been trying to track you down all day.”

Don’t kill him. Do not kill him.

The silent pep talk worked for the time being, but Chance was still seeing red. “Been busy.”

He grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby bench and began guzzling it as fast as it would come out.

“Yeah, looks like it. Anyway, I thought we were going to run down that lead on the mobile blood bank over in –.”

Chance snapped. “You’re awfully chipper today.”

“Am I?” Alex shook his head. “Well, maybe. I don’t know.”

“Sleep good, did ya?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact I –.”

“Save it!” Chance all but snarled his response.

“Whoa! What the hell’s eating you, man?”

He didn’t respond.

“Hello?”

“What do you want, Alex?”

“Umm… I just told you what I wanted. I thought we were going to…” he hesitated before continuing, “you know what, screw this.”

Chance watched in part disgust and part surprise as Alex turned around and began walking away. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going somewhere else. You clearly have your fucking period or something, so I’ll talk to you when you chill the hell out.”

“Watch who you’re talking to, Alex.”

“Watch who I’m talking to? What the hell is your problem? You’re the one that said we should go check out the mobile site. Then you’ve been dodging me all God damn day. And from the sounds of it you’ve been dodging everyone else too. So whatever your issue is, I don’t have time for it.”

“You son of a bitch!”

Chance wasn’t sure why he lost it when he did. In fact, as he lunged toward Alex he almost felt like it was something he was seeing on the television. He’d been so blinded by anger all day that he was finally overcome to the point of rage.

Alex went down with a thud when Chance tackled him. The dust of the dirt covered floor came up in a plume of orange, causing both of them to cough amidst the scuffle.

“Dude what the fuck? Get off of me!”

“I told you to leave her alone! I said to forget about her!”

Chance’s words came out with more jealousy than he’d intended and Alex saw right through them.

“Blair? Is this about Blair?”

His arms were shaking and Chance knew that if he stayed on top of Alex a second longer he’d take a swing at him.

“Just get out of here.”

“No.” Alex shuffled to his feet. “How did you know that… did someone see us?”

Chance glared back at him. “Yeah. Someone did!”

“Oh shit.” Alex dropped his head back and placed his hands on his hips. Several moments of silence passed before he started to speak again. “Listen, man. I know what you said. But I couldn’t help myself. And it wasn’t like I forced her. She was a willing participant. I’m only human after –.”

Chance glanced at him and raised his brows.

“Okay,” Alex added. “So I’m not human. But, I’m a man damn it. I’ve wanted her for so fucking long. And when I realized she wanted me too… well hell, what would you have done?”

Don’t answer that.

“It doesn’t matter what I would’ve done. I’m not the one that did it. Blair Alexander is off limits. Period!”

“Well I’m sorry, man. But what’s done is done. And I’m not sorry for it. And neither is she. She’s going to go ahead with this date tonight with Larry, but then we’re –.”

“She what?” Chance snapped his head around so fast it was a wonder he didn’t give himself whiplash.

“Larry Welch. She has a date with him tonight. I –.”

Alex may have been talking, but Chance stopped listening. He ran out of the room in search of Blair.

First Alex and now Larry? What the hell was she thinking?

He ignored Alex calling out to him as he got on his Harley and kicked up dirt as he sped away.

For years he’d stayed away, respecting their friendship and their family ties. To see her have sex with Alex, to hear that she was going on a date with Larry, knowing that she was constantly trying to seduce him, it was all just too much.

Enough was enough.

He didn’t care how spoiled or bossy she was. If he had to he’d put her over his damn knee and spank her himself.