Page 11 of Fueled Fury

That’s not gonna happen, which is why he said it. “Let. Me. Go.”

He doesn’t budge, holding me as a stare down ensues. He knew I wouldn’t agree to his stupid terms. I’d kept kissing out of the equation every time we hooked up, never going there even when I was ready and willing to hand my body over to him. Why the hell would I give in to him now when I’d rather spit in his face than feel his mouth on mine? Which is why I can’t believe he’s keeping up the ludicrous battle.

It seems like an eternity before I hear a forfeit announced and the next racers are called to the starting line. Every muscle in my body tenses when I hear the engines rev. Car tires spin during a burnout before launching, seconds later, down the track. It was already too late for me to line up, but the sound of cars crossing the finish line make the ruling final. I won’t be racing tonight. And it’s all because of him.

Struggling against him, I’m finally able to free my hands as I push him back, allowing just enough room to bring my knee up. He anticipates my move, catching my thigh in his hand before my knee can make contact with its target. Wailing around, I fight out of his grip as I scream, “I hate you! I hate everything about you! Is there anything that you won’t take from me? Anything that you won’t do to hurt me?”

“Lainey, I had to.” Remorse crosses his face which sends my anger soaring. He isn’t the victim. He isn’t allowed to feel sorry for himself.

“You left me there,” I scream, unable to recognize my own voice, unable to stop the tears from streaming down my face. All the months of anger bubble to the surface. “You told me to trust you, then you left me there. Alone. Standing in the hospital, covered with your brother’s blood. And you just left. You left us both there, not even knowing if Eli would be okay. If I was okay.” My voice trails off, becoming nothing more than a weak whisper, matching the weak feeling I experienced as I sobbed alone in the hospital waiting room, praying that my best friend wasn’t going to die. “And I wasn’t … I wasn’t okay.”

“Lainey, please,” Austin pleads, but I shove him away.

“No. It’s too late. You showed me who you really are that night. Who you care about—no one but yourself. And tonight is the perfect reminder of that. You don’t care who you hurt as long as you get your way.” I raggedly inhale air into my lungs, struggling to catch my breath. All I want to do it put my fist through his stupid face, cause him as much pain as he causes everyone else.

“I’m here now.” His frustration enrages me further.

I remain unyielding, glaring at him as I finally drag in a full breath. “I don’t need you, and I sure as fuck don’t want you here.”

Turning my back to him, I yank Lucy’s handle and throw the door open.

“Walking away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I never should’ve left you there alone.” His strangled voice causes my anger to reside for a split second before returning in full force.

“Please, do it again.” I drop into the driver’s seat and slam the door closed behind me. Wasting no time, I crank up Lucy and speed away from the Dome, but more importantly, away from him. Hopefully, he’ll listen for once and just leave. I know it’ll still hurt when he goes, but it’ll be less painful than if he stays.

6

Austin

Dragging my aching body off the bed, I pull on a fresh set of clothes. Even the hot shower last night had done nothing to ease the tension after seeing her, hearing her words about what I did, the pain I caused her. It doesn’t matter why it happened. I did that to her.

Walking into the kitchen, I find it empty. There’s no coffee brewed which means she’s not up yet.

The single-cup brewer would be an easier option to make a cup for myself, but I can’t pick the easy way—not even with something as minuscule as coffee. Grabbing the glass pot, I fill it with water, pouring it into the reservoir as Eli enters the room.

“One damn day and you couldn’t manage to not hurt her.”

Keeping my mouth closed, I scoop grounds into the filter basket as I attempt to ignore the bastard even if I know that feat is impossible. I’m never in the mood for him, but now is really not the fucking time.

He moves in front of me as I step to the cabinet to grab a mug. “She’s not going to forgive you. Me, she’ll forgive.”

Stepping forward, I get in his face. Nose to nose. “Bullshit.”

A slight smirk grows on his face. “You know it’s true. I’m her best friend. She’ll always stick with me. She’ll always pick me over you.”

My fury wavers as doubt creeps into my mind. Lainey would never excuse what he’s done, but there’s always the chance he could persuade her, convince her of some outlandish lie. She trusts him. She’ll never trust me.

Eli recognizes my moment of uncertainty and takes the opportunity to pounce. “You know it’s true. She’ll always run to me for protection from you, just like she did a few hours ago after you fucked up her night.”

“I have my reasons,” I say through gritted teeth, not wanting her anywhere near Eli but not surprised that she ran straight to him.

“Exactly. Your reasons with no regard for what she wanted.”

This is pointless. He’d never understand even if I wanted to explain. And I don’t. Stepping away, I head out of the kitchen and stomp up the stairs.

“She’s not here,” Eli calls from the bottom of the staircase.

I halt, gradually turning to face him. “Where is she?”

He unhurriedly makes his way to stand on the step below, tilting his head to the side with an air of arrogance that he’s held since childhood. “Where she wants to be … far away from you.” His shoulder slams into mine as he shoves past, making his way up the staircase. Seconds later, a door slams.

Finally, Eli made a smart decision because if he would have taken a swing at me, I don’t think I’d have been able to stop myself from killing him with my bare hands. The miserable piece of shit doesn’t deserve to breathe much less share the same air with Lainey.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I type a quick message.

Me: We need to talk.

The message unsurprisingly goes unanswered. There’s nothing I can say to erase what I did, but I won’t sit by and allow Eli to manipulate her any longer. Whether she wants to admit it or not, she needs me as much as I need her.