Page 26 of Fury

“She seems happy for us, don’t you think?”

I want to scream at him, to tell him that the only reason she’s happy is because she has no idea the kind of man he is, but, instead, I simply nod. I don’t feel like arguing with him right now. No, today I’ll just let him think he’s got me right where he wants me. My body is the only thing I still have control over, and I’ll be damned if he’s going to take that, too. At least I’m not going to let him impregnate me.

“You’re off.”

His voice is clipped, so I turn to face him, trying to put a smile on my face. “I’m just tired.”

Narrowing his eyes, he tips his head to the side. Gosh, once I loved him so incredibly. “If you’re thinking about going against me ...”

“I’m not,” I say, and my tone is a smidge too snappy.

I know it the moment his eyes narrow and his nostrils flare. I’ve taken it too far, once again. He steps up closer to me, slamming my back into the sink as he leans down so his face is level with mine. “What did you say to me?”

“I didn’t mean to snap,” I respond, as quickly as I can. “I’m just ... I ...”

His hand moves to my upper arm where his fingers curl into the flesh there. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be here, living this life. Or have you forgotten that? You owe me some damned respect.”

“Please let me go,” I plead. “If I’m to get pregnant, you can’t keep doing this. It could hurt the baby or ...”

“What?” he seethes, and, once again, I know I’ve made a mistake. “Are you questioning my ability to parent?”

“No, it’s just ... you’re hurting me ...”

His hand raises up and slaps me so hard across the face my head swings to the side. A pained whimper escapes my throat as tears burn under my eyelids. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I don’t know if I can live like this any longer. If this is the rest of my life, then maybe I don’t want it.

“The only reason I hurt you is because you’re stupid,” he roars in my face. “Because you don’t listen, no matter how many times I tell you something. You’re ignorant, and you’re a fucking thorn in my side.”

My bottom lip trembles.

“I’m going out.” He shoves me hard in the chest as he steps away. “Maybe I’ll find a woman who actually knows how to behave.”

With that, he turns and leaves.

I sink down onto the floor, crying until there is nothing left.

I’m just about done.

I can’t do this anymore.

I SHOULDN’T BE HERE; I know it, and yet something in my body took over for the first time ever. The moment Ethan left, I got into my car, and I drove. I don’t know what came over me, or what I’m thinking, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Climbing out of my car, I walk through the front gates to the clubhouse where they’re very clearly having a party. There are people everywhere and loud music blares through the cool night air.

One foot in front of another, I walk toward the open garage where I can see him.

My eyes found him the moment I walked in.

I told him not to be a hero, so why am I seeking him out like he is one?

He can’t save me. I know this.

Why am I here?

The moment he looks to me, standing pitifully in the opening, my tear-streaked face no doubt red and blotchy, he strides toward me. There is a purpose in his eyes as he shoves people out of the way, his expression dark and dangerous, his jaw tight. He could kill Ethan in a heartbeat. Part of me wishes he would, but I know that the guilt of that would forever eat me alive. It would make me no better, and I pride myself on being better.

“Alexis.”

His voice is a low rumble, and I think it’s the first time I’ve heard him say my name. It rolls off his tongue, rich and gravelly, making my skin prickle.

“Tell me you’ve got a lot of alcohol around here.”

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