Page 68 of Fury

“I bet you’re glad to be home,” she says, but there’s caution to her movements, almost like she expects me to kick her out. When I still say nothing, she picks up the box of medication I’ve been sent home with and places it on the nearby bedside table. “It’s normal to feel tired, and I’m sure being back here is taking it out of you, so feel free to get some rest. I’ll just quietly monitor you.” She can’t be serious thinking she’s sitting here watching me sleep, but she lowers into the recliner.

“No,” I manage, and she sits straighter.

“Sorry?”

“No.”

She pushes to her feet and moves closer. “Erm, no, you don’t want to sleep?” I growl angrily, and she arches a brow. “I don’tunderstand caveman.” I almost smirk at her smart mouth, and she feels the mood lighten, taking it as a sign to sit on the edge of my bed. “I imagine you’re feeling frustrated,” she says, and I give a nod. “You never had any patience,” she adds with a small smile. “The doctor said not to bombard you with information, that filling your head with memories might set you back and confuse you more.”

I think over her words. It’s the most anyone’s told me so far, and it makes sense, so I force out, “Facts.”

She looks pleased with this and nods. “Yes, I can tell you facts.” She thinks for a minute then says, “Okay, you have serious head trauma from the fight you had. Your brain swelled so much that the doctors had to perform an emergency operation to remove some of your skull just to give it room.” I nod, remembering some of this from the nurse telling me when I woke up. “The swelling went down, but there’s some temporary damage. That’s normal, and hopefully, your memory will return along with your words.” I nod again, still staring at her expectantly. She thinks some more.

“We met again because of a previous fight,” she explains with a laugh, and I find myself smiling too, like her happiness is infectious. “I was on shift, and the nurses were all whispering about a fit biker who showed up in emergency.” She rolls her eyes in amusement. “I could hardly believe it when you walked into my room.” Her eyes lower to where her hands rest in her lap, and she knots her fingers together, something I remember her doing as a teenager when she was upset. I place my hand over hers, and she looks up again, our eyes meeting for the briefest second before she forces an uncomfortable smile and pushes to her feet. She begins fussing with the sheets. “Of course, you insisted we have a coffee after my shift. You were hurt,” she adds in a lower voice. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Hurt?” I repeat.

“You told me my parents were the reason you got sent away.” My heart twists. I’d been angry, mainly with her parents but partly with Xanthe for making me love her in the first place. I never truly got over her, and now, as she stands before me looking upset and vulnerable, I feel that familiar urge to hold her. “I took you to dinner with my mum.” I frown, hating that it’s another thing I don’t remember. “She explained what happened, and you forgave her, I think.”

“Dianna,” I say, and she smiles, nodding.

“Yes. And that’s why she visited you at the hospital. I couldn’t be with you because of the danger, so she went and let me talk to you on the phone whilst you were out of it.”

I close my eyes. I remember dreaming about a woman speaking to me, telling me she loved me. When I open them again, Xanthe is back in the chair. “Fight?” I ask.

She looks hesitant before replying, “Yes, you went to a fight that was organised by Donnie.” When I frown, she says, “You owed him money, and the fight was to cancel the debt.” I don’t like the sound of that, but she continues regardless. “Axel was supposed to come and support you to make sure Donnie didn’t screw you over, but when he got there, he wasn’t allowed in.”

“I . . . I lost.”

“Yes, you lost, which surprised us all. Apparently, you never lose.” I grin, and she rolls her eyes, laughing. “Anyway, I found you out front. You were in a bad way.”

“Here?”

“They must’ve dumped you here for Axel to deal with. I’m pretty sure they hoped you were dead.”

“Why?”

She groans. “Fury, if I tell you everything, it won’t do you any good, and Axel will kick me out of here.”

“Please,” I whisper, and she sighs.

“I was dating Donnie. You didn’t approve and advised me to break up with him. He didn’t take no for an answer and became obsessed. You brought me here to the clubhouse to keep me safe.”

It sounds like something I’d do. After all, I spent a long time loving Xanthe. “And with you owing money, you’d spent some time working for him, so you knew he was looking for me. You were coming up with a plan to keep me safe forever.”

The door opens, and Axel enters with Jo behind him. She’s been crying, and I immediately push to sit up, wincing through the pain in my head. I hold out my hand, and she rushes to me, allowing me to tug her against me. Xanthe stares at the ground while Axel rolls his eyes. “Xanthe, give us a minute, would you?” She doesn’t need asking twice, rushing from the room.

Axel waits for the door to close before glaring at Jo. “Say what you need to. Make it quick.”

Jo wipes her eyes even though there’re no tears. “I terminated the baby,” she announces, not meeting my eyes. I knew that.Fuck knows how.Maybe the fact she isn’t showing and she’s yet to mention it. “Ripper made me.”

Axel steps forward again, and my attention goes to him. “Brother, I don’t wanna set you back, but it’s shit you gotta hear.” I nod, and he looks relieved before motioning to Jo to continue.

“You fought Ripper in the ring,” she mutters. “Donnie contacted him and told him you owed money. Ripper offered to put on a good show.”Donnie.There’s that name again. It proves that so far, Xanthe is the only one who’s been upfront and willing to tell me shit.

“He . . . he found . . .” I sigh impatiently.

“Yes, he found out,” she mutters. “He was angry, beat the crap out of us both,” she says bitterly.

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