Page 48 of Fury

“This is about me as much as it is about you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I need to take risks, which I tried to do very recently and failed at pretty miserably. And today, what drops down in front of me? The two of you. Literally dropped down in front of me in a crap gas station bathroom outside of Tripp of all places. That’s a pretty huge opportunity for a second chance at risk-taking that the Universe just laid at my feet, I’d say.”

“I had other plans, but they fucking fell though.”

“Believe me, I get it. ‘Other plans’ usually do fall through,” Tania agreed. “I’m going to go in. You guys duck down or whatever. You know.”

“You’re funny.”

“Yeah, that’s me.” Her gaze lingered on us. She was concerned.

“You go on ahead,” I murmured, my hand stroking Serena’s cool face.

Her pale lips tipped up into a weak smile.

Tania came back within ten minutes. “There was only one room. Two double beds though. I took it, but I’m sure you guys are going to want your privacy and I—”

“And you’re afraid I’m going to assault you, slit your throat in the middle of the night, take your shit and run,” I said.

“Maybe.”

“Not gonna do that. First, you’re helping me out, and I respect that. Second, I’m no rapist. And third, I’m too fuckin’ tired for anything but sleep tonight.”

“Well, all righty then.” Tania grabbed a small duffel bag out of the passenger side front seat. “Let’s go.”

“Serena, we’re going to go inside this motel now. Gonna get cleaned up and into bed. Sounds good, right?”

Serena only let out a small sound, and I slid my arm around her and lifted her out of the car. The three of us moved toward Room 110. Tania slid the key in the door, theclickgiving me a ping of hope for the first time in hours. We moved into the stuffy, dark space.

“You wanna get clean?” I asked Serena as Tania turned on the bathroom light.

“I can help, if you want,” said Tania. “If you need me to, that is. Sorry, I don’t mean to…Look, I’ve got some extra clothes that will probably fit her. She’s really thin, so they may be big.”

“That’d be great.”

“Sure. Let’s get her in the bathroom.”

We both took Serena in the bathroom. I ripped off my gloves and undressed her, my fingers shaking.

Tania glanced at my damaged hands and blinked. “You want me to do this? I mean, are you okay? You must be stressed out, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Tania helped Serena take off her shirt.

“Oh God.“ Tania’s face flared, her voice a rough whisper.

Bruises and scars from cuts and cigarette burns mottled Serena’s pale skin.

“That motherfucker,” I said on a hiss.

We got her naked, her ribs and pelvic bones peeking through her bruised flesh. I ripped off my clothes and guided her into the shower stall. Tania turned on the water, and Serena shuddered in my arms, clinging to me, moaning.

Tania’s face flushed, as if she’d now realized that I was naked too. She stepped out of the small bathroom. “I-I’ll be outside if you need anything.”

“Don’t go anywhere. Wait for us to come out. My gun’s in my jacket if you need it.”

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