Page 78 of Fury

“Higher ups, who he is trading with, who he has sold to. I don't know how your husband got his hands on it, but it’s why he’s fuckin’ dead.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice shaky. “I shouldn’t have run off.”

“Could have gotten yourself killed, but I was a fuckin’ dick to you. I can’t say I blame you.”

He’s right, he was.

“I was afraid of him, Fury. I didn’t sleep with him because I wanted to...”

Pulling me tighter, Fury rests his chin against my head. “I fucked up.”

“It’s okay.”

“He’s gone now. You never have to think of him again.”

“Do you think...do you think Marek might pin it on me if he doesn’t get what he wants?”

The thought hadn’t crossed my mind, until now.

I made him angry. I took Hope. I escaped. I screwed up all his plans. He could effortlessly bring me down for Ethan’s murder, and he’s powerful enough to do it. The thought has cold chills running up my spine.

“Not goin’ to lie,” Fury answers, his tone icy, “it’s a possibility, but we’re goin’ to do everything possible to get to him first.”

What if it’s too late for that?

My bottom lip trembles.

I don’t want to go to prison. If they link me to Ethan, it won’t take much to link me to Ella. Then, I’ll never see the light of day again. Not even the club can save me from that if Marek decides to act out his revenge.

Fury pulls me closer, an attempt at comfort, but right now, nothing is easing the anxiety filling my chest, making it seem as though a hundred pounds are sitting on top of it. I want this to go away, but I also know the club isn’t just going to sit back and let it slide. Marek took Hope, and they won’t stand for it. They’ll start a war, and that war could destroy my life.

There has to be another way.

“You didn’t come for me.”

The words come as a shock, even for me. The feeling deep down of hurt that he didn’t come for me, isn’t something I was willing to bring up, but it slipped from my lips before my brain could register that it’s a bad idea.

“I was comin’ for you, Alexis. Don’t doubt it. When we found the USB, we had to pull back. Needed to rethink the situation and use it to our advantage. We knew he wouldn’t kill you because he wanted it so badly. That is until he took Hope, and that’s when I knew how much I had fucked up because your life wouldn’t matter anymore. I misread the situation, but don’t ever think I would have left you there.”

“He was going to kill me,” I say softly, “but there is a girl there, and she promised to dance for him if he let me go. He wants her so badly, he agreed. I want to get her out, Fury. She deserves freedom.”

He squeezes me. “One thing at a time.”

Right.

One thing at a time.

Hang in there, Ellie.

“OH MY GOSH, I’M SO glad you’re okay,” Bonnie cries the second we step through the clubhouse gates.

She throws her arms around me and squeezes me until I wince, then pulls back mouthing sorry before making her next hug a little less forceful.

“Hope, sweetheart, come here.”

Pulling Hope into a hug, Bonnie squeezes the little girl, the relief evident on her face. Her eyes meet mine and the smile she gives me is so full of gratitude. Fury has thanked me, over and over again, for saving Hope. I did what I had to do, what anyone would do. There was never a moment I was going to leave that little girl there, even if it cost me my life.

We make our way into the clubhouse and the second I step in, Acacia comes over. She puts her hands on my shoulders and gives me a sympathetic smile. “I am so sorry you had to deal with Marek. Are you okay?”

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