Page 1 of Fury
PROLOGUE
Dear Fury,
I get it, okay?
You didn’t sign up to become a fill-in father, or uncle, or biker dad, or whatever it is you want to call yourself.
But the hard truth is, you don’t have a choice.
I don’t want to have to be the one to point out that you can’t send your niece to school with no food.
Have you met kids?
They eat a lot.
I’m trying really hard not to get involved, trying not to let her sweet little voice sway me into calling you and telling you that I don’t like how you’re handling things.
But it’s really hard.
Because, dammit, she’s a good kid, and I can’t sit back and let you send her to school with no socks on for a single second longer.
Seriously. No socks?
And if you turn your back on me when I’m talking to you one more time ...
Dammit.
I can’t get involved with people like you.
Not when I’m hiding my own demons.
God, if he found out that my eyes watch you leave my classroom every day and I wonder how it would feel to be beneath you ...
No.
I can’t.
I won’t.
He’d kill me.
He would bury me six feet under, and I know it.
But you’re making it really hard for me when I’m constantly having to chase you.
So, if you could do me a solid and just take good care of your niece, I won’t have to talk to you again.
Please and thanks,
Alexis Parker.
1
Leaning down so I’m eye level with the beautiful new child in my class, I notice that she’s shy and withdrawn. Her head slightly tipped forward and tilted to the side ensures that she won’t make eye contact with me unless forced to. I’m not going to force her to, no, because I understand children like her. She’s scared, nervous, and from what I was informed by the lady that brought her in, she’s come from a rough world.
I need to be gentle with her, show her that I’m a safe space.
“Hi, sweetheart,” I say, my voice soft and steady. “My name is Miss Parker, but you can call me Alex if you like.”
