Page 29 of Fury

“I’m married,” I whisper, fighting back the tears.

“Don’t insult marriage by sayin’ what you have is anythin’ close to what it stands for. You are married to a monster; don’t you dare make yourself feel guilty about a single thing you do.”

I know he’s right; I know.

But it doesn’t make it better.

“I have to go.”

Turning, my heart racing, I begin to rush away.

“Tell me one thing before you go.”

His voice fills the night air, and I turn slightly to stare at him.

“Can you shoot a gun?”

What kind of question is that?

“No,” I say, slightly horrified.

Taking a step closer, he crosses his arms over his chest. “You won’t let me help you in any other fuckin’ way, so I can do this one thing. Tomorrow, when you bring Hope home, I’m goin’ to teach you how to shoot.”

“Why?” I breathe.

“So I know if that filthy mother fucker ever tries to take it too far and your life is in danger, that you can blow his fuckin’ brains out.”

His words are cold, terrifying, and callous.

A glimpse of the kind of man he can be is standing before me, and it’s terrifying.

I reel back, shocked and unable to process the scene he’s putting before me.

He wants to teach me to shoot, so that if Ethan ever takes it too far, I can kill him.

“If you want me to stay out of this,” he growls, “you’ll agree to this.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” I murmur, narrowing my eyes, fingers trembling.

“No, I’m givin’ you a choice. You either let me teach you, or I take matters into my own hands.”

“I said this was none of your—”

He cuts me off by stepping closer, leaning down and hissing, “It’s my fuckin’ business now. Make a choice.”

He is infuriating. He has wedged himself into my life and I know that he isn’t going to back down until I give him what he wants. I need him to stay away from Ethan at all costs, so if this is what I have to do, to ease his mind, then I’ll do it.

Swallowing the wild rage bubbling in my chest, I nod sharply. “Fine.”

It’s the only option I have, and he knows it.

He knows I’m not going to let him get involved, and he’s smart.

I guess it can’t hurt, right?

After all, you never know when you might need to shoot a gun.

7

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