Page 5 of Fueled Fury

3

Lainey

If Eli doesn’t kill him first, I’ll be sure to do it myself. It doesn’t really matter which of us it is. Someone needs to strangle the asshole who’s hell-bent on causing chaos and destruction at every opportunity.

My best friend leans against his truck before bending forward, his hands covering his face.

“I’m so sorry. It was a mistake. I wanted to tell you, but I was—”

Eli’s hands drop to his sides as he looks to me with so much pain and agony it rips my heart to shreds all over again. “Why him?”

“It just happened. We—”

“No.” Eli holds his hand up cutting me off. “I don’t want details.”

He shoves off the truck, turning his back to me as he pulls the door open.

“Eli, please don’t leave. Just talk to me.”

He freezes, his back to me as he says, “I warned you.”

“I know.” The many conversations replay in my head, all the cautioning advice to stay far away from his brother. Austin ruins everything he gets his hands on. Anything good he can get to, he will destroy given the opportunity.

Turning to face me, Eli goes to reach for me but stops, his hand dropping back to his side. “I’m sorry I didn’t do enough to protect you from him.”

“What?” I whisper, blinking rapidly as tears trail down my cheeks. Why is my best friend apologizing to me when I’ve been lying to him? When I made the stupid decision to allow Austin into my heart after Eli repeatedly warned me.

“Did he hurt you?” Eli asks quietly, glancing behind me at the door leading into the house.

How do I answer that? Physically, no. Emotionally and every other way possible, yes. “I’m all right.”

I know Eli well enough to know he isn’t convinced, and he shouldn’t be. Nothing is all right because Austin is a few feet away from us, and he’s not planning on going anywhere. Attend Haine? Why? Even though money isn’t an issue for the Hales, Austin had a full ride to FSU but transferred to Haine. That is what nightmares are made of for both Eli and me.

“Just stay away from him,” Eli says as he gets in the driver’s seat.

“That’s my plan.” It always has been, even if poorly executed. “I’m gonna check the dorms to see if they have anything open.” I already know they don’t because spring semester started last week which makes me question how Austin would just now be transferring in.

“You’re not going anywhere. He’ll be gone before the end of the day,” Eli says with determination. And I’m sure he intends to keep his word, but when Austin has his mind set on something, there’s nothing that will derail him.

“Okay.” I agree but make a mental note to check into a few apartments for backup because I highly doubt Austin is going anywhere anytime soon.

“I’ll catch ya after class.” Eli shuts the door as I stand back and watch as he reverses out of the garage bay.

“I did you a favor.” Austin’s voice makes every muscle in my body tense as anger consumes me.

“You did that for yourself. Anything to hurt and cause misery to everyone around you.” I stomp into the house, grab my key, and turn to head back to the garage. Instead, I abruptly slam into Austin’s solid body blocking my path. Austin and Eli are similar in build, both having their fair share of solid muscles, yet Austin just feels like more of a force to reckoned with. Maybe because Eli never forces me to hear him out, unlike the idiot in front of me. Austin doesn’t care how he gets me to listen when he has something to say, but he ensures a way to get whatever it is off his stupidly muscular shoulders, regardless of what I want.

“He’ll get over it.” His disregard for the havoc he’s causing gets under my skin.

“Why are you here? Just to torment your brother and remind me what an insensitive, miserable asshole you are? Mission accomplished. Now, do everyone a favor and get the hell out of here.” I go to step around him, but he counters my move, impeding my hope for a quick escape.

“I’m not leaving you again.” He reaches forward, grabbing my hand in his as I jerk away from his touch.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t speak to me. I don’t want to see you anywhere in my sight.” Briefly I close my eyes, settling my mind before looking to him, recalling a time when I felt relief when I’d spot him across the field at his family’s ranch, watching for the sandy-brown-haired Hale brother to make his move. And he did. Only I wasn’t anywhere near being prepared for the damage he’d leave behind. “You caught me off guard last night, and it won’t happen again. Ever.”

A throaty laugh rumbles as he leans forward, his mouth near mine. “Challenge accepted.”

“Fucking lunatic,” I mumble, shoving past him as he thankfully remains in place, allowing me to hurry into the garage, hop into Lucy, and haul ass far away from Austin. And yet, no matter how far I go, it will never be far enough.