Page 76 of Fury

“She’s downstairs, brother. Did you two argue or something? She’s knocking shots back like water.”

I shrug. “Take me to her,” I force out.

He arches a brow. “If you’re sure, but don’t expect me to defend you. She’s wild.”

Xanthe and Lexiare singing badly through the karaoke machine, and I wince as the sound pierces my ears painfully. Grizz laughs, slapping me on the back. “Told yah.”

“If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it,” Xanthe yells into the microphone. “Don’t be mad once you see that he want it.”

“Is this a veiled message?” asks Coop, pointing to the nearest barstool. I shrug, taking a seat. My legs are shaking, and my head is throbbing. The last place I want to be is in here with all my brothers shooting me pitying looks.

“If you don’t, you’ll be alone, and like a ghost, I’ll be gone,” sings Xanthe.

“I’d say that was a woman’s way of warning you, brother. What the hell did you do?” Coop continues.

“Nothing,” I mutter.

“Drink?” asks the prospect from behind the bar. I catch the way Coop shakes his head, and I roll my eyes, turning back to watch Xanthe. She looks mad and, so far, hasn’t seen me. Didshe feel pressured earlier?Fuck.Did I force her? I give my head a shake to clear the image of her sucking my cock.

She jumps off the table and places the microphone down. Thank fuck. She takes a bottle of vodka from Luna and sips from it. I see the moment she spots me because she stills then almost chokes on her mouthful of vodka, spluttering violently before handing the bottle back to Luna.

Axel joins me. “Good to see you up and about, Fury.”

“Is it?” I ask.

He follows my line of sight. “They’re hard work,” he says with a smirk, “but worth it.”

“She’s pissed,” I mutter.

“Do you know why?” I shake my head, and he grins. “Yeah, that’ll happen a lot.”

“I need to . . . see . . .” I take a breath as Axel waits patiently. “Jo.”

“Not a good idea. She goes to France tomorrow.” I stare wide-eyed, and he shrugs. “I offered her a ticket to anywhere, and she chose France.”

“He . . . Ripper . . . I remember things.”

“About the fight?”

“Some . . . and when he . . . found out.”

“Okay. So, why do you need to see her?”

“To say . . . sorry.”

“Man, she doesn’t need your apologies. She caused a whole lot of shit.”

I shake my head. He wouldn’t understand it, but she suffered badly while I just left. She deserves my apology. “Please.”

He groans. “Fine. I’ll have her here tomorrow before her train to France.”

I push to stand. “I’m tired.”

“You want me to get Xanthe?” he offers.

I glance to where she’s chatting with Nyx and the other women. I don’t like the way she leans in close to him, or how she occasionally glances my way to see if I’ve noticed. I shake my head. “No.” I slowly head for the stairs then turn back to Axel. “If she wants . . .” I look over to her and Nyx again. “With Nyx.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” asks Axel.

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