Page 68 (1/2)

Part I

1

Fury

“I love you” is a lie that falls too fucking fast fro those words hen I witnessedher over our couch, yanking her dress up, and shoving his dick inside her so hard she screamed louder than I’d ever heard her scream It had been my sixth birthday Mum had made pizza for dinner—my favourite—and aited hours for my father to coer by the time he finally turned up Muued with hi home so late on his son’s birthday My brother and I went to bed hungry that night while our parents fought I’d crept out hours later for a drink of water and stu about loving er and caused his to her He’d told her his behaviour was her fault “I love you” was the chaser

It wasn’t the last time I witnessed that kind of shit from my father Hell, it wasn’t even close The very last tihteen Dad had taught ht So well in fact, that Ihim at the front door of the coke dealer he owed thousands to I knew the guy would put a bullet through his head, saving my mother in the process

I haven’t bothered with any bullshit “I love you” declarations in my twenty-five years Not to any women, anyway I told my mother I loved her, because it was true But not my brother Calvin turned out to be a replica of our father In some ways, we both are The main difference between us is that Calvin can’t be trusted He would have screwed over his own ht he’d benefit from it And he did Me? My word can be trusted I don’t ood on them The other difference between Calvin andata hand on her And even then, I’d try to disarm her first

The fact I’veatabout howto encourage her feelings

“You’re a fucking asshole, Fury,” she screeches while flying acrossfrom them

I step back and raiseknife down before this goes somewhere you don’t want it to” Christ, all I had in ettingdra on just because we’ve screwed a few times All the club whores do

Still co at etting laid I heard all about how you fucked Lola last night and Veronica two nights before that Why the hell can’t you keep your dick in your pants?”

I clench ht

When she reaches me, I yank the blade from her hand And when she takes toher around and locking her in place with one, I demand, “You finished?”

Forcing a heavy breath out, she snaps, “No We had so special—”

“What the fuck ether a few times I made no promises, and neither did you What’s special about that?”

She wriggles in , she shoots ether seven times over the last few months Seven! I didn’t think we needed any

proh of one I just didn’t knohat an asshole you are” With that, she coainst my chest

Gripping her wrists, I put an end to the assault “I’ saint, Lynette Never told you I was But check your facts with Lola and Veronica, because they’re feeding you some bullshit I’ve never touched either of them Noant you out of ain Whatever you thought was happening between us, wasn’t, and never will”

I let go of her and step away When she doesn’t move, I bark, “Leave now!”

Her lips flatten as she continues glaring atand stalks out ofsome shit I barely bother to listen to

As the screen door sla it up off the couch, I snap, “What?”

King’s voice coain?”

“Fuck,” Ito work some of the irritation out of my system “What’s up?”

I hope he’s not calling to dragfor hi the heat of working with that bitch, but I’ most of the dirty work Nor and dealing with a target for her; I want a night off

“Need you on soht Meet me at the clubhouse in an hour”

“What is it?”