Page 36 of Fury

He drops the saw and pushes to his feet, getting in my face. “I wanted your parents to like me, Xanth. I wanted to stay in one fucking place for once because I was so damn tired of being moved from one home to the next, no one ever taking the time to bother getting to know me because all they cared about was the money they made from fostering a kid like me. So, I put on a front where I pretended to be kind and thoughtful. I was being the kid everyone needed me to be so I could be loved. Turns out, that didn’t fucking work, so I learned the hard way that no matter what you do or say, you can’t escape your past. You can’t pretend you weren’t abandoned over and over until it eats you away inside.” He’s so angry, his face is red, and spittle flies from his mouth. “So, no, Xanthe, you didn’t fucking know me at all.” He drops back to his knees and continues to saw through bone.

I turn and run from the room. I can’t take another second acting like everything he’s doing in there is normal. Even if it is in his world.

Chevy looks up in surprise as I shove past him and go into my bedroom, locking the door. I lean against it, sliding down until my backside hits the floor. I pull my knees to my chest and rest my forehead against them.

He’s lying. What we had was special. He wasn’t pretending when he was with me. I know it.

I lie on my side, closing my eyes. I need all this to just go away now.

I wake with a start,instantly groaning as I uncurl myself, realising I’m still on the floor. I push to sit up, looking around in bewilderment. It’s dark outside, which means I must have been asleep for the last few hours.

A knock on the door startles me, and I realise that’s what woke me. “Xanthe, come out. We have to leave.”

I push to my feet and unlock the door. Fury is pacing with worry etched on his face. He exhales in relief when he lays eyes on me then places his hands on my face. I instantly pull back, causing his hands to fall to his sides. His words hurt me, and he can’t pretend he didn’t say them.

He sighs again, this time placing his hands on his hips. I note he’s changed his clothes. “You need to pack a bag.”

“Where are we going?”

“To the clubhouse.”

“I can’t hide forever. What if he comes there to find me?”

“He won’t. He doesn’t know we know one another, and I left with Chevy earlier, so as far as they know, you’re here in your bedroom.”

“Where’s Logan?” I ask, shuddering as images assault my brain.

He goes to the spare room and pushes the door open. I step closer, looking inside. It’s clean, like he was never there. “All gone.”

“From the house maybe, but not from here,” I mutter, tapping my head.

“Yeah, that takes a while to fade.”

“What time is it?” I ask.

He checks his watch. “Six.”

“I need to see my mum.” He begins to shake his head. “I have to. I always go for dinner on Wednesday, and she’s expecting me. I can’t cancel half an hour before I’m meant to be there.”

“I don’t want to leave your side,” he admits, staring at the ground. It’s another glimpse of his vulnerability. A reminder that I do know him, despite what he’d said.

“Then come with me.”

“She won’t want to see me,” he mutters.

“She might surprise you,” I reply, going back into my room and rummaging through my drawers until I find a pair of jeans and a jumper. I change quickly before taking a bag from under my bed and packing for a few nights.

Once I have what I think I’ll need, we head out. Fury makes sure the coast is clear as we get into the car he drives for Donnie, one I’ve been in many times. I shudder, realising how utterly stupid I’ve been.

I tap my mum’s address into Fury’s phone satnav and then pull out my mobile and call my mum, ignoring Fury’s curious glance as he drives. “Hi, Mum,” I say the minute she answers. “Is there room for one more?”

“You know I always cook for an army,” she jokes. “Are you bringing Jorja?”

“No, it’s a surprise,” I say, forcing myself to sound like I’m happy.

“Oh, does this mean it’s a man? Is it the one you told me about?” She sounds excited, and now, I feel like a shit because I don’t know if she’s going to be happy to see Fury. Not after what he’s told me.

“No, it’s not him. You know this guy. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

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