War of Hearts (Storm MC Reloaded 2)

“I don’t need to go back to being anything. I’m just being myself, princess.”

I hate that he’s being like this and it makes me more determined to talk to King. “You keep telling yourself that. In the meantime, I’m going to talk to King about this and make him—”

Fury steps closer to me, his body radiating with rigid determination. “King has enough shit on his plate; he doesn’t need this added to it. Not when this is nothing.”

“This isn’t nothing.”

“Yeah, it is.” The chill coming from him is enough to make me forget the muggy weather. “It’s a quick fuck at best, and that’s not something to go to King about.”

If I thought I felt reprimanded before, I now feel like I’ve been put in my place. So much so, I wish the ground would open up and swallow me.

I knew this about Fury.

I knew he was an asshole.

I knew he was the kind of guy who fucked a different club whore every night.

How could I be so dumb to think we had a connection?

Every inch of my skin feels like it’s on fire.

I need to get out of here.

Gathering up every ounce of dignity I can find, I stand up straighter and square my shoulders. “I take back all my ticks. You’re the biggest asshole I’ve ever met.”

I stalk back to my car as fast as I can, get in, and scream out of the driveway in a blaze of disappointment and hurt.

Fuck Fury.

Liking him is now at the top of my list of dumbest things I’ve ever done. And that’s a long freaking list of some really stupid things, so that shows me just how dumb this was.

I end up at the clubhouse after driving to see Mum and being informed by Gran she’s here.

It’s still early for a Sunday, just past 10:00 a.m., so it’s quiet. Mum is in the kitchen helping Tatum and Madison clean up, which surprises me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” I say, joining them. After her trip to the hospital last weekend, the doctor put her on bed rest. After much argument, King agreed to her attending the barbeque yesterday so long as she did nothing.

“Trust me,” Madison says, with a smile, “We’re not letting her do anything. It just looks like she is because we’re tricking her into thinking she’s contributing.”

I really like Madison. She says it like it is and doesn’t put up with shit. I remember one time when she took King on over something he’d said; she might have pissed him off, but she won the argument.

Mum eyes me hesitantly. I don’t blame her for that; we didn’t leave things in a good place yesterday when we fought. And we haven’t spoken since. “Hey, baby,” she says softly. “How are you today?”

“Can we talk?” God, I hate this distance. We both worked so hard last year to build our relationship into something stronger than it’s ever been, and over the last couple of months, we’ve taken some hits.

“Of course.” She glances at the girls. “I’ll be back.”

Tatum waves her off. “No, don’t. We’ve got this, and Monroe’s on her way to help, so we’re good.”

“Harlow’s coming, too,” Madison says. “Go sit. We’ll be out soon.”

Mum leads the way out to the clubhouse bar and we take a seat in the corner. There are a few members in here, but they’re all passed out, so we have the room to ourselves.

Mum opens her mouth to say something, but I jump in first. “I’m sorry for the things I said yesterday. I take them all back.”

Her relief is visible as her body lets out a long breath. Reaching for my hand, she says, “I’m sorry, too, Zara.” She pauses. “But while I wish I said things in a better way, I don’t take them back.” Her voice softens. “I still believe you need to talk to someone about the abortion rather than trying to block it out.”

I nod. “I know, and I will. I’m going to bring it up with the psychologist on Tuesday. I mean, I’m not looking forward to it, but if you and Holly think I need this, I choose to trust you both.”