Page 45 of Fueled Fury

“I’m sorry,” I tell Austin as Eli walks up beside us.

“What’s going on?” Eli asks, looking at Austin.

“Nothing,” I answer when Austin doesn’t respond.

Spotting Shirley walking over to Clyde, she speaks to him as his eyes dart up, fixating on us—or more like Austin.

“I’m not feeling well.” Truth. This isn’t good. Grabbing Austin’s arm, I say, “I’m gonna go lie down at my mom’s house for a little while.”

“You can use one of the rooms here,” Eli offers.

“No, that’s okay. Y’all have fun.” I give clueless Hannah a tight smile and grip Austin’s arm, leading him away. “Just follow me back to my mom’s house.”

I know it’s bad when my mom’s house feels like a safe haven.

We walk down the driveway in silence. As we reach our vehicles, I grip the door handle of Lucy, looking to the side as Austin passes and walks to his truck.

“I’m sorry, Austin.”

“Let’s just go.”

“Austin …”

He turns, taking the few steps back to me. “We’re leaving together. That’s all that matters to me. I don’t give a fuck about them.”

Reaching around me, he pulls my door open, motioning for me to get in. “I’ll follow you.”

Agreeing, I drop into the security of Lucy and start her up as Austin walks to his truck. Seconds later, we’re driving away from the Hale ranch as memories of being there throughout childhood resurface. The quiet, reserved Austin lurking around as his parents mostly ignored him, saying he was nothing but trouble. But had he been the problem or was it them? Because from what I witnessed today, a mother holding that much hatred for her son isn’t something that I’d wish on anyone. They made my parents suddenly seem like a walk in the park. The scary thought is I know now I haven’t seen but a tiny preview of what went on behind closed doors.