Page 31 of Fury

“He would have. We’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”

The first thingI notice when we arrive back at Xanthe’s is the huge bouquet of white roses on the kitchen worktop. Donnie doesn’t bother addressing her. Instead, he heads upstairs to where Logan is resting.

I follow and linger in the doorway as Donnie takes a seat by the bed. “Who was it?” I roll my eyes. He doesn’t even bother to ask how Logan is. Axel can be a hard-faced fucker, but he always takes care of us over anything.

“Just kids,” says Logan.

“Bullshit,” spits Donnie, pushing to his feet. “You’re telling me kids took you down, Logan? You!”

“Boss, they took me by surprise. There were at least ten of them, all masked-up.”

“So, how do you know they were kids?” he demands.

Logan sighs. “I guess I don’t for sure, but they seemed like kids. They were scrappy.”

“Who do you think it was?” I ask, and Donnie turns to me, arching a brow. “Well, you seem sure it ain’t kids, so do you have an idea?”

“If I did, I’m not likely to discuss it with you,” he spits then heads downstairs.

Xanthe

I bracemyself the second I hear his footsteps coming down the stairs. Donnie stalks into the kitchen with purpose, kicking the door closed behind him so Fury can’t follow, and then hepulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. I stiffen, keeping my arms at my sides.

“I missed you,” he whispers, pressing his lips to the side of my head.

“Donnie,” I whisper, trying to pull away.

“It’s been a rough few hours,” he adds, still not releasing me.

I manage to get my hands between us, and I push hard, forcing him to release me. “I texted you,” I state, moving around the worktop to keep space between us.

He looks mildly irritated and places his hands on the counter, fixing me with a stern stare. “We talked about this already.”

“Yes, but you’re not listening to me, Donnie. You brought a man to my house. He’s sleeping in my fucking spare room.”

“Don’t get hysterical,” he mutters, rolling his eyes.

“Look, you need to leave, and you need to take that man with you.”

“That’s not possible,” he says, pulling out his mobile and staring down at it.

“It’s not a fucking request, Donnie. Get him out, and don’t bother me again or I will call the police.”

He throws his mobile on the worktop and rounds it so quick, I almost fall onto my backside trying to back away from him. His hand dashes out, grabbing my throat, and as if I weigh nothing, he lifts me and slams me onto the table. I wince as pain radiates through me, shock causing me to freeze up. I stare wide-eyed as he sneers down at me.

“Hey, Donnie, stop, stop.” I realise Fury is in the room trying to prise Donnie’s hand from my neck. He eventually releases me, and I cough violently, rolling onto my side. “Jesus, what the fuck are you doing?”

“You’re right,” says Donnie, calmly. He holds out his hand for me to take, but I stare at it with contempt until he retracts it. “I’m sorry. I overreacted.”

“I want him to leave,” I say firmly, glaring at Fury. “Now.”

Donnie’s anger returns. He switches so quick, I feel sick with panic. Narrowing his eyes, he snaps, “You want Logan gone?”

“Yes,” I say clearly.

He turns on his heel and marches towards the stairs. Fury winces. “Oh fuck,” he whispers, rushing after Donnie.

I go to the bottom of the stairs, confused as I hear Fury trying desperately to talk Donnie down. “Boss, not like this,” he hisses. “Come on, relax. She’s just upset.”

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