Page 40 of Fury

“You only heard part of a conversation.”

A bitter laugh bubbles out of my throat. “Oh, well, do enlighten me. Because I’m not certain how you calling me weak and saying I have no backbone could be misinterpreted.”

His jaw tics, but he doesn’t say anything.

I straighten, just a little. “I can’t believe I trusted you. I actually thought you could help me, when all along you’re just looking at me as this pathetic, broken little woman you need to help so you can be rid of her.”

“You’re fuckin’ overreacting. If you’ll just listen.”

“Fuck you,” I yell, kicking a heap of dust in his direction and immediately regretting the movement.

“Alex,” Bonnie’s sweet voice fills my ears, and my eyes whip to hers.

“Do you feel the same? After all, you were telling him not to get involved with me. None of you have any idea, do you? Not a single fucking one of you. Tell me, Bonnie, have you ever been afraid in your life? Truly, soul crushingly afraid? To the point where your stomach is always in knots, your adrenaline is always running, and you’re terrified to say the wrong thing every single second of every single day?”

She closes her mouth and shakes her head slowly. “No.”

“No. You don’t. Well let me tell you, I do know what it’s like. I feel that way every fucking day. He scares me, so badly that when he’s around, I withdraw into myself, scared to say the wrong thing because I know what he’ll do. I have no voice, I have nothing, and you’re all here calling me weak.”

Bonnie shakes her head, going to take a step forward, but I stop her by throwing my hand out in front of me. “Don’t.”

“I think you’re incredibly strong,” Bonnie tries. “I was wrong, I’m sorry.”

“It’s too fucking late for that. Screw all of you.”

I turn and hobble toward the gate.

“If you leave, he’ll kill you,” Fury calls.

I pause, turning to stare at him. “If I stay, I’ll kill you.”

His face goes slack, and, for a moment, hurt flashes across his gaze.

It takes me back, and I’m momentarily stunned.

“You’re in pain, if you go out there, you’ll get worse. Please, just let us help you,” Bonnie tries.

I shake my head. “I can take care of myself.”

“Alexis,” Fury growls. “Don’t leave this compound.”

“Try and stop me, Ford. If you do, I swear to everything, I will kill myself fighting you.”

With that, I walk out.

I don’t have a plan; I just start hobbling down the road.

A moment later, a car slows down beside me. The window rolls down and Bonnie stares at me. “I’m not letting you walk into town. You can hate me all you like, but at least let me take you somewhere safe and get you some help.”

I pause, wanting to scream at her to go away, but I know right now I am out of options. I can’t stay at the club, I can’t go home, and I have no phone or car. She’s the only chance I have.

“I’m getting in, only because I can’t take another step. It doesn’t mean I’m okay with what you said.”

She nods, and I hesitantly get in.

Stretching out her hand, she opens her palm and exposes two white pills. Then, she reaches toward the cupholder and hands me a water bottle. I don’t hesitate, I don’t even ask what it is, I just know I need something to help with the pain. Swallowing it, I close my eyes and lean my head back against the headrest.

“Western has a place in town—he rents it out but right now it’s vacant. He said you can stay there as long as you like.”

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