Page 98 of Fury

Davis cinched the strap on his duffel while Fury supervised from his sprawled out position on the bed.

One week had passed since the mission had come to a head. One week, and he still hadn’t been able to bring himself to say those three words to Hollyn. But with damage control after everything, and the funeral, it hadn’t felt like the right time. Now he wasoutof time. Crew’d called him mere hours ago saying the ranch was ready to take Fury.

Davis’s hand stalled over the last strap. Guilt plagued him for what he was about to do. But this wasn’t forever. It was just for now. They’d talked it over and agreed that Hollyn had a lot of things to take care of as far as the company she was now in charge of and wasn’t in a place where she could move. Still, she’d been very quiet since he’d broken the news about Crew’s call.

With a heavy sigh, Fury tracked him. The RMWD’s gaze was relaxed but heavy. He didn’t know it yet, but they’d be on a 747 back to the States in about two hours.

Clearing his throat, Davis secured the last strap. “Look. Things are going to change soon.”

Fury lifted his head, all ears. Tail thumped on the bed as he listened.

Flip.

If it was this hard to try and distance himself from the shepherd, doing the same with Hollyn was going to be amplified a hundred times over.

Regret pressed on his shoulders. Drained him. Reminded him how much he was putting on the line by leaving Hollyn now.

Still. He couldn’t say what he needed to say and then jet off for who knew how long. But this time he wouldn’t make the same mistake as when he enlisted. Hewascoming back for Hollyn, but it would take time to train a new handler for Fury. Time to make sure the transition was smooth. Weeks. Maybe a few months. Then he was free to do what he wanted.

First things first. Get Fury settled.

He owed the RMWD that much after all they’d been through.

“All finished packing?” Hollyn’s soft voice brought him around.

Davis swallowed down thewowthat almost slipped out of his mouth. Even in jeans and a simple tee, she was a knockout.

“Yeah.” Davis slung the bag over his shoulder, and Fury popped up, ready to go.

Hollyn nodded, and he couldn’t deny the sadness written on her face before she turned to walk with them down the hall. His resolve faltered, but he steeled himself to what needed to happen.

Feeling like a class-A jerk, Davis followed her outside and down the front path of the house to where Bongani was waiting to drive them to the airport.

“If I find anything you left, where should I send it?” Hollyn asked as he and Fury stalked to the other side of the car.

She wouldn’t find anything, but he wasn’t going to say that. “The A Breed Apart ranch. I’ll be staying there while I train a new handler for Fury.” He paused. “Hol.”

She looked to him over the top of the black Mercedes without saying a word.

“This isn’t forever. Just . . . for now. I’ll be back.”

A halfhearted grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Right.” She ducked into the car, and they settled in their seats.

Fury sat between Davis’s legs in the backseat, happy to be out for a drive. Trying—and failing—to findsomethingto say, Davis noted Bongani eyeing them through the rearview mirror a handful of times during the half-hour drive from Saadiyat Island toward the airport. But the guy didn’t say so much as one word. Only the sound of Fury’s panting from the backseat broke up the silence.

Cautiously, Davis reached for Hollyn’s hand. Wanted to give her some kind of physical reassurance that he wasn’t leaving her willingly. She clung to his hand but didn’t look over at him.

Palm trees and sandy beaches whizzed by the car as they drove down Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street.

They pulled up to the curb with Davis still wrestling for something to say. Coming up short. There was nothing that would make this easier.

Bongani opened Hollyn’s door, and Davis grabbed his duffel from the trunk. He could hear several people murmuring awe at Fury’s size as they walked past.

“Thank you, Davis. For everything.” Hollyn moved in for a hug.

Davis held her close. Didn’t want to let her go, but it was time.

Don’t do anything that will make this harder on her.

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