Page 18 of Fury
“No problem. You know when they’ll be getting in? Me and Gator and some of the boys are gonna round up Chase, get him home from y’alls clubhouse, and then we’ll lay in some supplies so Mason don’t gotta leave.” He stared at Gator who was looking puzzled. “Call it a goodwill offering. After an ordeal like this, he’s gonna need some space, and I’ll not be shoving my needs in his face. Having shit there will give him time to deal.”
“Better than decent idea, Fury,” the words came easier this time, and Fury smiled grimly. “I’ll call once I know.”
“Sounds good. Ride on, man,” he responded, hearing Myron’s return, “Shiny side,” just before he disconnected the call.
“Gets us in deeper, every good deed.” Since his men knew Fury was trying his damnedest to get them an entrance into the Rebel Wayfarers world, he knew that would be all the explanation Gator needed. He’d never know the satisfaction Fury would gain from selecting things certain to soothe Bethy. Favorite foods, the bath products he remembered her using. The idea of her wearing clothes he’d picked out sat easy in his belly. “Let’s roll.”
***
Bethany
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Bethany pulled on a shirt and then reached up to smooth her hair down, the scent of her shampoo a familiar comfort in this strange setting. “You might as well come on in,” she called, having heard heavy footsteps pause outside her door. A moment later the knob turned and she had a shiver of fear. Then the door opened and Davy’s face appeared. “Stop lurking.”
He grinned at her testy order then came through the doorway, leaving it open behind him. The mattress lurched and shifted, and she rocked against him when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You doin’ okay, honey?”
“Did you call Ty?” Davy wouldn’t talk to her about going home yet, and she understood his fears. Understood, and shared them, because right now she couldn’t imagine being alone. “Just because I’m not fighting you on staying here a couple of days doesn’t mean I won’t be going home. You know that, right?”It won’t always feel like this, so it’s best to set the ground rules now.
“I did, and he’s ready to rip me a new asshole. Man’s protective of you, girl.”
She grinned. “He’s a good friend.” The smile tried to fade, and she kept it plastered on her face, holding it in place while gritting her teeth. “I bet he was worried.”
“I fired your assistant.” Davy’s words shocked her and she twisted to stare up at him. “Asshole told everyone you were out scouting. Shit you do all the time. Ty never thought to check your room or we’d have known things weren’t right.” He paused, then swallowed hard. “You’re gonna have to give me a few days. Me and Ty got some things in common. You being the main one, and guilt about this shit is another.”
“Jesus, Davy. Do you know how long it took me to find that guy?” She leaned against his side, letting him take her weight, trusting him to hold on. “Thank you. He was kind of an asshole.” Davy’s frame shook, and she knew it was with suppressed laughter. “I like Chase.” His arm tightened around her shoulders and she nodded. “Yeah. I’m gonna be the best aunt in the history of aunthood.”
“A natural with him. I didn’t know you were so good with kids.” His words cut deeply, and she buried her face in his chest in an instinctive avoidance of the pain. “Honey, what’d I say?”Can’t pull anything past Davy. “Honey?”
Now would be the perfect time to tell him about Michael. In this moment, with so much going on around them, he’d never blame her for keeping a fifteen-year secret. Bethy bit her lips, holding the words inside.Michael’s mine, she thought, denying the words a voice. “Who bought me clothes? They’re nice.”
He had to know it was a diversionary tactic, but he gave it to her, chuckling as he responded, “Some of my friends volunteered. I can’t imagine them trolling the bra and panty section at the mall, but they did it for me.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “For you.”
“Well, whoever they are, tell them they have excellent taste in lingerie.”
He laughed aloud at that, still laughing when he told her, “Yeah, not gonna be tellin’ Fury that you like the panties he bought you.”
Eyes dipping closed at the glad sound of his laughter—maybe we’ll come out the other end unbroken after all—she smiled, slipping her arm around his waist and hugging him close. “Love you, Davy.”
“Love you, too, doll. More than you know.”
