Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

10. Beau

10

BEAU

I blocked the fist coming my way, and hammered a jab into my opponent’s arm.

He grunted.

I bounced back, enjoying the sweat on my skin and my warm, loose muscles. There was nothing like a good fight to clear the head.

Boxing had given me that so many times. It had saved me.

After my time as a mercenary, and my rotten childhood, shit had built up. I could’ve chosen drugs, booze, and sex to drown in, but instead, I’d chosen to climb into the ring.

To train, learn to assess my opponents, then learn the strategy of the fight.

It had kept me sane.

And my brothers had kept me grounded.

“Damn, Beauden, you hit like a freight train.”

Across from me, Dante rubbed his shoulder.

I raised a brow. “You’re not giving up, are you?”

My brother’s jaw tightened. “Fuck, no.”

He came at me in a flurry of punches. We moved across the ring, and I fell into the fight. I was barely aware of Colton and Kavner fighting in the next ring beside us. Or Reath running on the treadmill in the main gym area. My brothers and I worked out together a few times a week.

But I noticed the second Bell walked into the gym.

She was wearing black leggings and a black Hard Burn polo shirt that Gio had given her. Her black hair was up in a high ponytail.

She looked so damn young.

While I was distracted, Dante punched me in the side of the head.

The asshole grinned at me. “The first rule you taught me was not to get distracted in the ring.”

“Fuck you.” I rubbed my jaw. “And I’d be careful, because you don’t want me to mess up that face of yours. Mila wouldn’t be happy.”

“She loves me however I come.”

Dante said that with a touch of awe. Like he couldn’t quite believe how much his girlfriend adored him.

I felt…something. No one had ever felt that way about me. Certainly not my parents. I’d been a burden to them, and then later, a potential paycheck.

I slapped my gloves together. I tried not to think of the people who’d birthed me. Neither of them deserved the time or energy.

Glancing to the side, I saw Bell wave at Gio. He stopped to talk to her. I’d told him to give her a tour and show her the ropes.

“Who’s the girl?” Dante asked.

“Woman. If Shay hears you calling her a girl, she’ll knock your teeth out.”

Dante eyed Bell. “She’s almost a girl.”

“New hire. She’s going to do odd jobs around the gym.”

“Not your usual choice of employee. Most of your guys are boxers.”

“She needed a job.”

Dante swiped his arm across his sweaty forehead. “I smell a story.”

I pulled my gloves off. “No story.”

“She’s a person in some sort of need. All your guys are, starting with Gio.”

Gio had been an old trainer of mine back in my early fighting days. We’d lost contact, then he’d gone through a bad divorce, and ended up battling alcoholism. He’d lost his job, his wife, his house, and was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

I’d given him a chance when no one else would. It was all he’d needed. Now, he was my most loyal employee, and he knew the gym inside and out.

“I’m not sure of her story,” I told Dante. “She’s on the run from something.” I watched her. “Or rather, someone.”

“You guys done?” Colt was leaning on the ropes of the next ring, Kavner beside him.

They made a pair. Colt, the tall, grumpy bounty hunter with tats on his arms, and Kav, the glossy, handsome businessman.

I nodded. “Yep.”

“Who wants a round with me?” Reath appeared with a towel around his neck and sweat slicking his brown skin.

“I will,” I said.

That’s when I realized Bell was walking toward us. I stiffened.

“Now, who’s this?” Kav murmured.

“Beau’s new hire,” Dante said. “But I’m pretty sure there’s more to it.”

I ignored them.

“Hi,” Bell said brightly, her gaze on me.

“Hey.” I ran a hand through my damp hair and knew I smelled like sweat. “Bellamy, these are my brothers. Guys, this is Bellamy.”

Bell blinked and looked at them all. “Hello.”

I pointed to them one by one. “Dante, Kavner, Colt, and the one beside you is Reath.”

Beside her, Reath smiled.

She stared at him, and my gut tightened. Reath was handsome. We’d been giving him shit about being pretty his entire life. He made up for it by being a badass. He was former Army and CIA, and ran Phoenix Security Services—the best security firm in New Orleans.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She gave them a small smile. “I hope there’s not a test to remember everybody’s names.”

“You’ll get to know us.” Kav smiled. “We’re around here pretty often. Now, I need to go.” He climbed out of the ring. “My lovely London is waiting for me.”

Bell held up a cloth and a bottle of spray. “And I need to get to work.” She headed for the gym equipment, and I watched her go. Her leggings hugged her toned legs and ass.

“You like her.”

I whipped my head around and looked at Reath. “Yeah. She’s nice.”

“No, you like her.”

Reath had always seen too damn much.

“She’s a little young,” Kav said.

I managed to swallow my growl.

“Shit, Reath,” Dante said, gaze locked on my face. “You’re right. He likes her.”

“Don’t you assholes have places to be?” I climbed out of the ring. “Businesses to run. Women to get henpecked by.”

Dante snorted. “I’m telling Mila you said she henpecks.”

“Hey, I thought we were fighting?” Reath complained.

Kav stroked his jaw. “I think things are going to get interesting around here.”