Vengeance MC Box Set - Volume 1: Call Me...Vengeance ~ Fury ~ Jonas

by Natasha Thomas

  Elbowing me in the ribs, I snap my head to Bella to see her grinning like a loon. Jesus. What is it with these two? I’m not seeing anything remotely funny about this situation, so why the hell do they have to smile about?

  “You’re crazy, you know that right?” She asks more like a statement than a question.

  “I’m crazy? I hate to break it to you, but I think that should be the other way around. I’m not the one sitting here looking like I’ve swallowed the Cheshire Cat, B2,” I say, using the nickname I gave her when I decided I couldn’t call both her and Blaine, B.

  “I’m not into pussy, but if I were, the Cheshire Cat wouldn’t be a bad choice,” she muses thoughtfully.

  In front of me, Blaine makes a gagging noise causing both of us to look at her and burst into laughter at the disgusted expression on her face. Blaine doesn’t have anything against carpet munchers, her problem is she can barely say the word sex without breaking into hives. Don’t ask me how she survived growing up in an MC with a Dad who uses the words; pussy, cock, blowjob, and the c-word like they’re vowels, but somehow she managed.

  All of a sudden, a knock at the door has the laughter dying in my throat and a lump of dread forming instead. Bella and Blaine both stand but not before, Blaine dips her head to kiss my cheek, saying,

  “Just be honest with him, honey. You both deserve that much, and in the end, you’ll be grateful you were.”

  Tugging me to my feet, Bella squares her shoulders and moves so that she’s standing in front of me, blocking my view of the door which Blaine went to answer.

  “Whatever you decide, you call us and we can be here in ten minutes. We’re headed to my place, so we’re not far away if you need us. But promise me something, Avery,” she prompts, putting both her hands on my shoulders.

  “What?” I choke out.

  “Promise me you’ll hear him out. I might not be his biggest fan at the moment, but he wouldn’t lie to you. You can trust whatever he says is the truth, babe. All you’ve got to decide is whether you’re happier with him or without him, because in the end, that’s what this comes down to. Can you see your life without him in it? And if you can’t, can you get over your fear and let him in? I promise you, if you can, he’ll make it worth it, Avery. So worth it.”

  Hugging her tightly, I whisper,

  “Thank you,” because what more is there to say?

  I have a choice to make, and I’m the only one who can make it. I only hope whatever decision I come to in the next hour or so is the right one. For me, and for Fury.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  ~ Fury ~

  “Blacking out is just your brains way of protecting you. After that many drinks, no one wants to remember the fucked up shit they did.”

  - Fury to Gage

  On the ride over to Avery’s I couldn’t stop my hands from sweating, my heart pounding, or my brain replaying all the ways in which tonight could go wrong. Call me a pessimist, but every way I look at it, my heart ends up crushed.

  I sat on my bike for a good ten minutes after pulling into the carpark at the front of her apartment building. My determination to settle what’s between us once and for all, abandoning me when I need it most.

  Just shutting off my bike and making the fifty-foot journey to her front door made me feel like a man walking to his execution. I can only imagine how much worse the return trip will be if this doesn’t work out the way I’ve been praying it will.

  Blaine opens the door after a beat, greeting me with a sad smile, gesturing for me to come in. Leaning into me, she gives me a peck on the cheek, whispering in my ear,

  “Go easy on her, Fury, okay. She’s scared.”

  Jerking back confused, I ask,

  “Why the fuck is she scared of me? I’d never do anything to hurt her, she knows that.”

  “It’s not you she’s afraid of, per say. It’s more like what you feel for her and she feels for you that’s frightening her,” Blaine explains quietly, I’m assuming so Avery doesn’t hear her.

  Well, that’s something, at least. Maybe not what I was hoping for, but hearing Avery’s got feeling for me is a step in the right direction.

  “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Blaine. Neither does she. I only want to talk to her, anything else is up to her.”

  “Good,” she mumbles, grabbing her purse and coat off the table beside her.

  The layout of Avery and Blaine’s apartment is open plan. Meaning, when you walk in the front or back door, you can see the entire apartment. Shy of one bedroom and bathroom down a short hallway off the living room to the left, and the second bedroom and bathroom to the right, that is.

  When Avery showed me this place, I wasn’t thrilled about the security nightmare it posed. On the second floor, the front door opens into an alcove, which in turn leads to the living room where one of the walls is entirely made of glass. Granted, the view is kick ass – the girls have a spectacular outlook over the foothills of the Rocky Mountains – but it isn’t safe.

  The whole apartment is fitted out with polished timber floors, painted in muted tones of brown, beige and white, and the kitchen was only just updated a month before the girls moved in. Each of them has their own bathroom and extra privacy seeing as they are at opposite ends of the house.

  I’ve got to admit, if I were in the market for an apartment, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one in this building. I’m not, though. I want a house and some land, something I can start a family in and grow into, preferably with the woman looking at me right now with fear clouding her beautiful green eyes.

  Movement to my left has my focus moving from Avery to the other person in the room I hadn’t even noticed until now. Bella. Jesus. Today is really not my day, is it? I had hoped to avoid her until I’d sorted my shit with Avery, but no such luck. And by the look on her face, Bella won’t be leaving without giving me a piece of her mind.

  Something she confirms only seconds later when she says,

  “Excuse us for a minute, would you?”

  Dragging me down the short hall leading to Avery’s bedroom, Bella slams her hands on her hips and glares at me. Most of the time I’d find her sass hilarious, but I’m sensing she would appreciate me pointing out how adorable she looks when she’s pissed right about now.

  Waiting for her to speak, I lean back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest. She shocks the shit out of me when she asks,

  “Have you got your shit sorted?”

  “Pardon?”

  “I said; have you got your shit sorted? When you were gone, did you spend that time wisely and sort out whatever was holding you back from finally fucking living your life?” She snaps angrily.

  I hadn’t expected this from her. If anything, I anticipated Bella kneeing me in the balls and screaming at me about how much of an asshole I am, not this, though.

  “Excuse me?” I repeat cautiously.

  Huffing, Bella exhales and slumps against the wall opposite me.

  “I’m sick of seeing the people I love suffer, Fury. First it was my Mom. Afterward, it was my sister when she realized Dad wasn’t coming home. Then, I watched you turn into someone else entirely when you lost, Rosalie, followed by Boss losing his shit when the woman he was falling for was taken from him. And my big brother is barely hanging on by a thread. Add to that, one of my best friends almost died, which means I’ve spent the last nine months terrified I’d lose one of the most important people in my life. I’m done, Fury. I can’t see anyone else I love hurting, so please for the love of baby Jesus don’t fuck this up.”

  Not knowing what to say, at short notice, all I manage to come up with is,

  “What is it you’re trying to say? Spell it out for me, babe because I’ve never been any good at reading between the lines.”

  Shaking her head sadly, Bella replies,

  “If you haven’t got your shit together, you need to walk away.” My first reaction is to yell, ‘not fucking happening,’ but Bella continues before I get the chance. �
�I’m not suggesting you can’t remain friends, Avery wouldn’t accept anything less. What I am saying is; take the forgiveness I know she’s going to give you, and then walk away if you can’t promise her this is the real deal, Fury. Avery is the strongest woman I know, but even the strongest of us have their breaking point, and hers is you. If you can’t convince her what you want with her is forever, then let her go. She deserves the chance to be happy, and while I’d love nothing more than for that to be with you, if you’re not one hundred percent committed to this, you need to set her free.”

  It’s now that my earlier thought comes flying out of my mouth in a low, menacing growl.

  “Not fucking happening. You think I’d be here if I wasn’t damn fucking certain I could be the man Avery needs? Do you think for one second, I’d put her through any more heartache if I weren't positive there’s more between us than just friendship? Fuck, Bella,” I growl, thrusting my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “I’ve wanted her for as long as I can remember, and I’ve loved her for even longer. It might have started out innocent, she was too young and I was married for Christ’s sake, but I can guaran-fucking-tee you it didn’t stay that way for long.”

  I shouldn’t be admitting any of this to Bella. The woman I need to tell is, Avery, but as soon as the words leave my mouth I can’t stop the deluge that follows.

  “You want to know the first time I noticed her as more than a little kid I cared about?” I ask, not expecting or wanting her to answer. “She was fifteen. Fifteen, Bella. Tank had brought her and Blaine to visit, and I can remember thinking, ‘fuck me, I’m in trouble here.’ She was so goddamn beautiful I couldn’t take my eyes off her when she walked in. It was the first time I’d seen her wear a dress, it was green the same color as her eyes. The whole time Avery was visiting – if she wasn’t with Sarge – she was stuck to my side like glue. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her I had shit to do, so for the first time ever, I said to hell with my responsibilities to the club and spent the day with her instead. And thank fuck I did because a week later Rosalie was dead, and I needed every happy memory Avery gave me to get through it.”

  “Why didn’t you do anything sooner, Fury? Why wait all these years to make your move? Avery has been a legal adult for seven years now, you can’t tell me you couldn’t have found time before she was kidnapped to tell her how you feel about her?” Bella stutters, sniffling through her tears.

  “You know, Bella, you fucking know why I didn’t say anything. I may have lost my wife, but that day I lost more than her, I lost my son too,” I snarl more viciously than I intended.

  The female gasp from behind me has me closing my eyes and counting to ten. I fucking knew I shouldn’t be talking to Bella about this shit, and this is precisely why.

  I don’t open my eyes until I feel a soft hand on my forearm. Avery having made her way to my side instantly, states,

  “Blaine’s waiting for you in the car, she’s been there for a while so I think it’s time for you to go, B.”

  “Sure, I’ll, um, I’ll just grab my stuff,” Bella stammers. “You’ll call me later, right?”

  “Of course,” Avery whispers, not taking her eyes off mine.

  “Okay, well, good chat.” Using humor to distract from the mounting tension, she jokes, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and remember, safety first.”

  Neither Avery or I say a word, quietly watching her as she hurries to collect her belongings. Avery doesn’t move a muscle until she hears the front door slam, only then does she take hold of my hand and pull me in the direction of her bedroom.

  Without hesitating, the moment we enter, Avery pushes me toward her bed instructing,

  “Sit down and make yourself comfortable, Tanner. I think there are a few things you and I need to discuss.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  ~ Avery ~

  “Who lit the fuse on your tampon today? Because you’re as friendly as a tankful of piranha’s are when Aunt Flow’s in town.”

  - Avery’s text to Blaine

  I watched as Bella led Fury into the hall, so when they still hadn’t returned long minutes later, I decided to find out what the hell was going on. I mean, considering Bella’s opinion of Fury of late, can you blame me? If it were up to her, he’d be strung up by his balls and castrated in front of all his brothers. Which to my mind is a little harsh, but that doesn’t make the possibility of it happening any less true.

  What I hadn’t expected when I went snooping was for Fury to be growling the single most heart-wrenching thing I’ve ever heard. In saying that, I’m glad I heard it. Not only does it explain his guilt and why he hasn’t been able to let go of it, but it’s also the missing piece of the puzzle I’d been searching for.

  Years ago, when Rosalie was murdered, I overheard some of the guys talking. I shouldn’t have, but I hid behind the wall that separates the kitchen and main room in the clubhouse so that I could listen in on their conversation. As far as I was concerned, I wanted to know as much as I could so that I could help my friend. Fury was hurting, and I wanted to be there for him, but I couldn’t if I didn’t have all the facts.

  Sadly, after they finished talking and walked away, I was left with more questions than I had answers. So, with no way to confirm or deny what I’d heard, I stupidly let it go. That was something else I shouldn’t have done; let it go.

  I should have asked someone, anyone, why Fury was mourning the tragic loss of two people, but, at the time, I was young and thought I must have heard them wrong. That or, another person, one I didn’t know had died and no one had bothered to tell me about it.

  Evidently, I wasn’t mistaken, however. What I heard was right. Fury was grieving the loss of two people, one of them his wife, and the other his unborn son. It all makes so much sense now. Why Fury takes a particular interest in all of the kids who are part of the club, and why he was ecstatic when I told him I was going into child care as a profession.

  Peering at him from under my lashes, my head bowed as I study my purple, painted toenails, Fury’s expression is bleak. His mouth is tight, his eyes shuttered, effectively hiding his emotions from me, and he’s clenching and unclenching his fists beside him, the stark white of his knuckle contrasting with the deep greens and purples of my bedspread.

  I want nothing more than to pull him into my arms, hold him and tell him I understand, but I don’t. How can I understand what he’s going through when he hasn’t thought to share it with me?

  “Don’t look at me like that, Avery,” he rumbles, not lifting his head from where he’s studying his jean clad thighs. “It fucking kills me when you look at me, your beautiful green eyes filled with pity.”

  That’s something I do know about him. Fury hates it when people pity him. He thinks it means they believe he’s weak. It doesn’t, but no matter how hard I’ve tried to convince him otherwise, there’s no reasoning with him sometimes.

  “How do you suggest I look at you then, Tanner?” I ask quietly, using his given name instead of his road name.

  Occasionally, when I need Fury to know I’m serious, I’ll call him by the name his Mom and Dad gave him at birth. He doesn’t like it, but he tolerates it. Fury says it reminds him of times he’d rather forget – happier times with his parents and his sister – times he’ll never have again.

  I like his name, though. In fact, I love it. And perversely, I enjoy seeing the spark of anger he shows when I use it. It isn’t often Fury allows his cool, calm exterior to crack, but when he does, it’s like seeing a glimpse of the real Fury under all the layers of armor he wears.

  When Fury doesn’t answer me, I ask,

  “Why didn’t you tell me? It’s been years and you never said a word. All those times we talked over the phone, hung out when I came to visit or you came to visit me, you didn’t mention anything about your son. Why?”

  “It wasn’t any of your business, Avery. You were just a kid back then,” he grumbles, still not looking at me.

  “Bullshit
,” I snap. Making my way toward him, I drop to my knees in front of him, splaying my hands one on each of his thighs. “You didn’t treat me like a kid then, so don’t use that as your excuse now. First and foremost, I was and am your friend. You could have told me anything, you still can, and I would never have judged you. I would have found a way to help you, Tanner. Back then, I would have done anything and everything in my power to see you smile again, and that includes bearing some of your burdens if that’s what it took.”

  “But I didn’t fucking want you to,” he roars.

  Flinching at the tone of his voice, I take a few deep breaths and wait for my heart rate to return to normal. I know in deep down to my soul Fury would never hurt me, but you try and tell the tiny, irrational part of my brain that’s still wired for fear that.

  “I never wanted to see the same look in your eyes then as I’m seeing now. I didn’t want you tainted with the shit going on in my life, Avery. You were my sunshine, everything about you was light. When my world descended into darkness, I didn’t want to drag you down with me. You meant more to me than that. Fuck. You still do, but now, you mean so much fucking more,” Fury ends with a grimace.