Page 44 of Tye

“Demi isn’t the bad guy,” Ice snapped.

“Says who? She shares blood with Fury.”

“Not by her choice. I respect you but won’t allow you to insult Demi,” Ice replied.

I was growing tense, which worsened when a second man joined Dylan. His eyes were bloodshot, and there were bags under them. This fellow seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“You won’t allow?” the second man interjected.

“No, Davies, I won’t. Demi’s as much as a victim as McKenna,” Ice stated.

My head began to pound as the tension grew.

“I didn’t see Demi in that room,” the other fella hissed, leaning down and getting in our faces.

Ice stiffened.

“Where were you when my sixteen-year-old grandma was kidnapped and raped? Where were you when she had six kids forced on her? What about when my twelve-year-old mother was raped? Your friend is fortunate that she suffered an hour of rape. Try years of that shit or being made to carry your rapist’s babies. Imagine looking in their faces daily and knowing they’re only there because of rape. Or knowing that your twelve-year-old daughter was violated by her fucking father? You can point the finger at me, but fuck you both,” I flared.

“Davies, get out of Demi’s face now. Before you start something there’s no coming back from,” Ice warned as he slid out from the booth we were in.

His movement forced the man called Davies away, and Ice stepped in front of me.

“Demi’s a victim like McKenna. Her entire family is, and what Demi said is correct. McKenna’s gone through shit. Ain’t ever gonna deny that, and my heart bleeds for her, and I wish I could go back and save her. But blaming Demi and her family isn’tfair, Hawthorne. Blame those that attacked McKenna,” Ice said in a low voice and leant forward. “Those assholes are in jail, and you can’t get to them. That is making you frustrated. But I’m not going to sit here and let you malign another victim of Fury. That’s how a split between allies starts.”

“You fucking her? That why you’re coming to her defence?” Davies snarled, and I blanched.

Ice went rigid.

“Watch your mouth. You may be hurting over McKenna, but you don’t get to say shit to me. I’m not a kid anymore, Davies. Demi is not Fury. And nobody will let you punish an innocent because you can’t find that asshole,” Ice hissed.

“The definition of innocent differs between us,” Dylan interjected.

“Demi didn’t attack the warehouse or McKenna. That means she’s innocent. Ain’t no question there. Wasn’t Demi who hurt McKenna,” Ice insisted.

“Yeah, but did she know about it?” Davies pushed.

I’d had it. I yanked out my wallet, shoved three twenties on the table, and slid past Ice.

“Everything Drake put into place, I’ve agreed with. Being followed by a guard not having a phone or internet access unless someone checks what I’m doing. I’ve had my luggage searched and, near enough, a full cavity search.

“This, Ice, is the point I was trying to make earlier. No matter how I was birthed, I am tarred with his blood. Nobody sees past that. I’m his daughter, not my own person. This suspicion is what my family is fuckin’ afraid of, and these are your friends, the supposed good guys. Look at them. This is what being with me means. Judgement, isolation, alienation, and everything other negative connotation that comes with being linked to Fury. Do you get it now?” I demanded.

Without waiting for an answer, I shove past the three of them and head out the door. I was done with this shit. Uncle Deke went to Rage because he thought it was our best chance. I’d disagreed then and was being proved right.

My plan had been to leave the country and set up in Europe somewhere. Nowhere was safe for us in the good old states. Fury’s legacy would chase us from pillar to post. Ice didn’t deserve the shit that came from being Fury’s kin. He’d soon move on and realise he had a lucky escape.

I headed towards the SUV at a pace, aware that my shadow was on me once again. I had to get to Reading Hall and get my family out of there. Life was shit, and it just kept getting worse. Why Fury wouldn’t lay down and fucking die, I didn’t know. But he needed to. I hoped the allies ripped him apart when they found him, but my family would not know. It was time to head underground and hide out and stay there. New name, country, and home. Simple.

I was a few car lengths away from the SUV when suddenly I was lifted off my feet and blown backwards. With a sharp pain, I smacked into a wall and slid to the ground.

Shocked, I stared at where the SUV used to be but was now a mass of burning and twisted metal.

Bells rang in my ears as I could not tear my gaze from the fireball engulfing the car I’d rode in. My head was swimming, and my neck felt stiff. A figure appeared in front of me, their mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear their words. I recognised I was in shock but didn’t know what to do.

“Demi!” Ice shouted. He was moved aside by Josh, who began running his hands down me. I watched as Josh shouted orders over his shoulder, and I was picked up.

I saw Ice beside me, and Jerry was holding the car door of another SUV open. Without understanding what washappening, I was shoved inside, and Ice climbed in next to me. Josh jumped in the front seat, and we sped off.

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