Page 44 of Fury

“I know you too well. Who is she?”

I sigh heavily and sit on her bed. “Joanne,” I mutter.

She scoffs. “I knew there would be someone,” she says accusingly. “Why weren’t you honest?”

“I didn’t lie,” I argue.

“Only you forgot to tell me about Joanne?”

“It’s not what it seems. She left me, so we’re not together.” She eyes me suspiciously, and I shrug again. “What can I say? She chose better. They always do.”

Xanthe lowers beside me. “That’s not true, Reese. You’re a good man.”

I smirk. “Really? That’s not what your body language said when you found out what I was doing for Donnie.”

She shifts uncomfortably. “It was a shock. I’m a nurse. I save lives, not take them.”

I feel a pang of guilt. She’s new to all this, and I hate that she’s been so exposed. “Jo was never truly mine to begin with. She’s with my old president.”

She winces. “Aren’t there rules on that sort of thing?”

I laugh, but it’s cold. “Let’s just say I’m lucky to be alive. But it doesn’t change the fact that she loves him and not me so . . . here I am, licking my wounds.”

“I’m sorry,” she mutters, placing her hand over mine. “Love hurts.”

“It ain’t the first time, and it won’t be the last,” I say, forcing a brightness to my voice. She doesn’t miss the dig, and I divert my eyes to the ground. “I’m over it. She’s happier without me there.”

“You loved her?” she asks, but it’s more like a statement.

“I’ve only ever loved once, Xanth. Maybe that was half the problem. I knew she wouldn’t leave him, and I didn’t want her to. No one after you could ever compare.”

“You’re not being fair,” she whispers. “I didn’t send you away.”

More guilt engulfs me. It’s not like she knew what her parents did. She couldn’t have stopped it even if she had. But I’vespent so long blaming them all, letting the bitterness seep into my exposed wounds, that it’s hard to change my mindset. Maybe it was to protect me. Perhaps it still is. “We should get some rest.”

I stand, pulling the sheets back and waiting for her to climb in. “I don’t want to be alone,” she says, slipping beneath the covers.

“I’m right next door.”

Sadness fills her eyes. “You hate me so much that you can’t even stay?” She grabs my hand. “Please.”

I give a slight nod, and she smiles. “Let me put some shorts on,” I add, going back into my room. I pull on the shorts and a T-shirt before going back and climbing into bed beside her. She lifts my arm and lies against my chest, tugging my arm around her shoulders. My heart swells, and I resist the urge to bury my nose into her hair and inhale her scent. Instead, I lie back and stare up at the ceiling.

If Donnie could see me now, he’d torture me for sure. He was so angry when he realised she wasn’t home, and even when we suggested maybe she’d met a friend or was just simply busy, he refused to relax, insisting his men start searching for her. He’s in way deeper than I realised, and he’s not going to settle until he has her back in his clutches.

Xanthe

We lie awake in silence.Something is playing on Fury’s mind, but he clearly doesn’t want to talk. And he certainly doesn’t want to fuck again. He made that perfectly clear.

I roll over, turning my back to him and closing my eyes. It’s only seconds before I feel him slip from the bed and sneak back to his own room. I press my face into the pillow, allowing myselfto feel mortified. He must think I’m a nutter, forcing him to lay with me. I groan, praying the next few days aren’t awkward between us. The sooner I can get back to my life, the better.

The following morning, I wake and shower before dressing. I stare at the conjoining door with anticipation. I don’t know anyone else well enough to feel comfortable just heading downstairs, but my inner bitch needs coffee desperately. I take a deep breath and tug the door open, only to find the room empty.

“Great,” I mutter, slamming it closed again.

I spin to the other door when there’s a light tap and almost cry in relief when Lexi sticks her head in and smiles. “Morning. I was wondering if you were awake or not. Bet you’re starving?”

“I need caffeine,” I admit, and she laughs.

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