Page 73 of Fury

“Hollyn,” Davis warned. Now wasn’t the time.

Benn and Macklin were already hauling Archie toward the hallway. And for the first time, the guy did something smart—he didn’t fight them.

Fury neared, gaze intent on Hollyn.

She took a step away from the shepherd. “You guys can’t be serious!” she yelled at Chapel. “What do you think you’re doing?”

The burly guy nailed Davis with a hard look.

She got the message, stepping back as Chapel disappeared after the others.

“You too?” Hollyn turned on Davis. “I know you guys never saw eye to eye, but come on! Archie is my friend—heisn’tbehind all of this. You saw him!”

Fury planted himself in front of her in guarding position, body rigid with focus, clearly sensing the rising tension.

“Yeah.” Davis angled in. Kept his voice even. He could understand why she’d feel that way, and truth was, he didn’t think Archie was behind it either. “Protocols are in place for a reason. When we circumvent them, people die.”

Preaching to the choir.

“Germaine in the wind?”

Davis hadn’t realized Hale was still around. He nodded curtly. “Chapel said he got away on a boat before they could reach the dock.”

The way this had turned out was less than ideal. He owned that. But with the info they’d had at the time . . .

Hindsight and all that. One thing he could guarantee—Germaine hadn’t seen the last of them.

The video he’d taken needed to be combed through—quickly and thoroughly—before the next A-bomb blew up in his face.

When Hollyn took a step toward the hallway, Fury launched his ninety-pound frame at her. His paws punched into her chest as she screamed.

“Whoa, whoa!” Hale bellowed.

“Fury, no!” Davis reached out too late.

Fury and Hollyn tumbled to the ground. He grabbed the RMWD’s collar and hauled the dog off, afraid he’d clamp on to the arm Hollyn lifted to protect herself. But as he tugged the landshark backward, it registered that while the shepherd had brought her down, he wasn’taggressing.

Drawing in deep breaths, tail swishing back and forth in the air—he wasn’t trying to hurt her, he was scenting. Davis drew Fury around and held the lead tight to keep him under control as Hale helped Hollyn, who scrambled backward.

“You good?” Davis’s heartbeat punched his chest. How many times was he going to ask her that?

Hollyn clutched her throat. Red scratches streaked across her neck. So much less than Fury could’ve done. “I’m . . . ” She swallowed. “I think so.”

That’d been way too close.

She patted her neck, then her motions became more frantic. “My necklace!” She scanned the floor, turning in agitated circles as she searched.

Fury kept straining against Davis, pulling in the opposite direction of Hollyn. He released the RMWD, who shot forward. Within seconds, Fury sat, attention laser focused on the floor.

Davis neared. Saw the missing necklace. “Good boy.” He ruffled the shepherd’s head and stooped to grab the item.

Hollyn took the proffered necklace. Gasped. “No!” she cried out, looking at the pendant. Then him, her eyes watery pools. “It’s broken.”

Flip.

Davis glared down at Fury. Of all the things he could have ruined.

“Hollyn, I’m?—”

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