Page 7 of Fueled Fury

“Not you. Not even with something as simple as the way you take your coffee or as pretentious as the cruel pain you plan on causing. You’ll never change.”

“Your opinion doesn’t mean shit to me. What you want means even less. I’m not going anywhere. Deal with it and stay the fuck out of my way, or you’ll see just how much I haven’t changed.”

“Don’t go near her again.”

“You don’t have a choice because you may have known her secret, but I doubt she’s clued in on yours.”

The sudden tension in his face confirms that I’m correct. “I won’t let you hurt her, Austin.”

“It’s not up to you. But just remember, I won’t hesitate to inform her of exactly which one of us is the truly evil asshole.”

His weak attempt is lost as his shoulders slump in defeat. “I’m nothing like you.”

“No. You’re worse.”

“Ben told me how you questioned him. Even he realized you were asking more about Lainey than me. So, I hope for your sake—and hers—that she isn’t the reason you transferred in. Whether I intervene or not, all of this will blow up in your face in the end … and she will undoubtedly be the one who takes the brunt of the devastation.” Eli shoves away from the table and heads to the exit without another word.

As I watch him retreat, Lainey steps in front of him. He throws a quick glance over his shoulder, and she immediately zeroes in on me. She wastes no time looping her arm with Eli’s and leaving just as fast as she’d arrived.

Eli has a valid point, and it pisses me off. I’m not here to cause destruction. I came to repair it, but that will be the greatest challenge of all because they’re right. All of them. Eli, Lainey … even my own parents. I impose nothing but pain even when I don’t try.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial the number of the first person I learned to trust. Why he took pity on the scrawny kid his own brother despises, I’ll probably never know. But I trust he’s doing it for the right reason; something that has nothing to do with the motives behind my parents’ every move—money.

Clicking the contact for my uncle, I hold the phone to my ear knowing he’ll answer. And he doesn’t let me down.

“Austin, shouldn’t you be at that fancy uni you just transferred to?”

“I am. But I need a favor. There’s an abandoned airport out here, and I need to know who owns it.”

“Thinking of buying some more property out that way?”

“No. I just need some info in case things don’t go as planned.”

Waylon lets out a sigh on the other end of the line as I hear him shuffling around something. “Send me the address. I’ll get someone on it. There’re a few documents I signed off on this morning on your behalf. My assistant sent you a copy.”

“Yes. I got them.” I hadn’t opened them yet, but there’s nothing pressing that I’m worried about. Waylon proved the type of businessman he was long ago. Any decision he makes on my behalf, I’m behind.

“How’s Halo coming along?”

“Not much progress.” The full paper cup is mocking me as I try to justify my actions, or lack thereof. Not to Waylon, but myself. “I’ve been a bit distracted lately.”

“With Lainey?” Waylon asks, knowing he’s correct in his assumption. “Eli can’t be happy to have you show up after all these months. Are you certain that’s where you should be, Austin?”

Shit. I question myself enough without having the one person I trust doing the same. He knows the psychotic levels Eli is willing to go to, so I don’t blame him for not understanding why I’d live in the same house with the coddled asshole.

“Yes. I need to be here.” Answering to him feels different than it had with the old broad who’d questioned me because Waylon is the smartest man I know. Much smarter than I am, which is why I’m staying. “I’ll send over the address and stop by soon.”

Disconnecting the call, I shove the phone back in my pocket. Fuck. I am the idiot Lainey calls me.

Rising from the table, I toss her untouched coffee in the trash followed by my nearly empty cup. Being the good guy hasn’t gotten me anywhere. It never has. Being direct. Not putting on a show. That is what works for me, and that’s what I will do. Yes, there’ve been more than a few instances where pain was the cost. But in the end, the fleeting pain is better than eternal agony.