Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
His hand moves to my upper arm where his fingers curl into the flesh there. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be here, living this life. Or have you forgotten that? You owe me some damned respect.”
“Please let me go,” I plead. “If I’m to get pregnant, you can’t keep doing this. It could hurt the baby or ...”
“What?” he seethes, and, once again, I know I’ve made a mistake. “Are you questioning my ability to parent?”
“No, it’s just ... you’re hurting me ...”
His hand raises up and slaps me so hard across the face my head swings to the side. A pained whimper escapes my throat as tears burn under my eyelids. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I don’t know if I can live like this any longer. If this is the rest of my life, then maybe I don’t want it.
“The only reason I hurt you is because you’re stupid,” he roars in my face. “Because you don’t listen, no matter how many times I tell you something. You’re ignorant, and you’re a fucking thorn in my side.”
My bottom lip trembles.
“I’m going out.” He shoves me hard in the chest as he steps away. “Maybe I’ll find a woman who actually knows how to behave.”
With that, he turns and leaves.
I sink down onto the floor, crying until there is nothing left.
I’m just about done.
I can’t do this anymore.
I SHOULDN’T BE HERE; I know it, and yet something in my body took over for the first time ever. The moment Ethan left, I got into my car, and I drove. I don’t know what came over me, or what I’m thinking, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Climbing out of my car, I walk through the front gates to the clubhouse where they’re very clearly having a party. There are people everywhere and loud music blares through the cool night air.
One foot in front of another, I walk toward the open garage where I can see him.
My eyes found him the moment I walked in.
I told him not to be a hero, so why am I seeking him out like he is one?
He can’t save me. I know this.
Why am I here?
The moment he looks to me, standing pitifully in the opening, my tear-streaked face no doubt red and blotchy, he strides toward me. There is a purpose in his eyes as he shoves people out of the way, his expression dark and dangerous, his jaw tight. He could kill Ethan in a heartbeat. Part of me wishes he would, but I know that the guilt of that would forever eat me alive. It would make me no better, and I pride myself on being better.
“Alexis.”
His voice is a low rumble, and I think it’s the first time I’ve heard him say my name. It rolls off his tongue, rich and gravelly, making my skin prickle.
“Tell me you’ve got a lot of alcohol around here.”
I shouldn’t drink.
If Ethan comes home and I’m not there ...
What do I care? One day, he’s going to kill me anyway. Might as well be today.
Taking my hand without another word, Fury leads me out of the garage and over to a quiet area of the yard, picking up two beers as he goes. Finding an old fallen log, we sit down, and as he turns to face me, I know he is looking at my cheek. Fingers stretching out, he reaches up and runs the tips down my cheek. His flesh is rough, but I don’t shy away. I know I should be anywhere but here, yet it’s the only place in this world right now that I feel safe.
“What happened?”
For once, he’s simply asking.
Oh, how I wish I could tell him everything, but there is just no way that can ever be a reality.
“He gets angry sometimes,” I tell him, just enough.
Even in the darkness, I can see as Fury’s gaze flashes, and his jaw grows so tight I’m worried he’s about to burst. Shifting away from him, concern etched in my features, I wonder if I’ve given too much away already.
“Do not pull away from me,” he growls. “I’m no fuckin’ monster.”
“To be fair,” I whisper, “I don’t know you.”
“Know this one thing then, I would never lay a fuckin’ hand on a woman.”
I ponder this, studying his face as I take a soothing sip of beer. “I know I probably have no idea what really goes on in this club, but for some reason, I find it hard to imagine that you haven’t done some pretty bad things to people. Would that be right?”
He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a cigarette, lighting it before he answers. “You’re right, but I don’t ever hurt anyone who isn’t the fuckin’ devil themselves.”