Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

17. Bell

17

BELL

W ith Beau beside me, his strong hand holding mine, I felt a little steadier.

I dragged in a deep breath. I hated feeling weak and scared.

I wouldn’t give Carr the satisfaction.

I glanced around Beau’s office, and that’s when I saw all the food on his desk. I frowned. “What’s all this?”

“I bought breakfast for you.”

I blinked, looking at the food. There was also a bottle of fresh orange juice. “Oh.”

His callused fingers brushed my jaw, then he turned my face to his.

“Talk first, then you can try the best beignets in New Orleans. According to Colt’s woman, Macy.”

I imagined Beau didn’t eat beignets often. I swallowed. “I don’t know where to start.” I twisted my hands together.

“Start at the beginning.”

I nodded. “I met my best friend Allison, Allie, in the second grade. She was so much fun. Friendly. Smiling. Loyal. She grew into a beautiful woman. Red hair, slim body. Everyone loved her.”

Beau was silent, not asking questions about why I was starting by talking about my best friend.

“We went to college together.” Pain sliced through me. “We left Dallas, that’s where I’m originally from, and went to college at Baylor.”

Beau tangled our fingers together. I realized my hand was shaking.

That small touch grounded me. I released a shaky breath. “We had so much fun those first years. I was studying business, and Allie wanted to be a nurse. She wanted to help people.”

Misery wrapped around my insides, and I stared at the floor.

“Take your time,” Beau said.

It was best to just get it all out. Taking my time made no difference to the grief and pain. “Allie had a date with a new guy she’d met at the campus coffee shop. Said he was so attentive and handsome.” I rubbed my chest, a painful ache growing. “I was excited to have the night to myself. We shared an apartment. I ran a bubble bath, poured a glass of wine, put my earbuds in with my favorite playlist.” I bit my lip. “I didn’t hear anything. Nothing.”

His fingers tightened on mine. “What happened?”

“Chandler William Carr happened.” God, I hated that name so much.

Beau frowned. He’d probably heard the name and was trying to place it.

“Rapist and murderer. They call him the College Killer.” Grief gripped me. “He raped and murdered Allie while I was in the next room taking a bath.”

“Fuck.”

“I didn’t hear a thing, and she must have called for help,” I whispered.

“It wasn’t your fault, Bell.” Beau’s voice was a deep rumble. “ He’s the killer.”

“I didn’t hear a single thing while my best friend was hurt, dying. Do you know what that feels like?”

“No, angel, I don’t.” His grip stayed tight and firm on my hand.

“I came out of the bathroom and saw him leaving. He walked out of her room with a smile on his face, blood all over his hands. He erased Allie like she was nothing.” My face twisted. “He’s a monster.”

“Why is he free?” Beau growled.

“I gave a statement to the police, and there was a manhunt. But he’d already disappeared. Allie was his fourth killing of a female college student across the South. His first in Texas.” I dragged in a breath. “He’s a college student from Georgia, raised by a good, well-off family who just happens to have a sick need to kill innocent women.”

“I’m sorry, Bell. Sorry you lost your friend, that you had to go through that.”

“My world turned into a nightmare. My best friend was dead, slaughtered.” I paused. “Then it got worse.”

Beau cursed under his breath, then pulled me back into his arms. I leaned into his strength.

“I couldn’t stay in the apartment. I got my own place, but every day I grieved for Allie. It was hard to focus on my studies.” I stopped, the old memories eating at me. “Then the notes started coming. He was watching me, and he knew where I lived. I’d see a glimpse of a shadow on the street after class. I’d find a note shoved under my door or under the wiper on my car. He was taunting me.” I heaved in some air.

Beau’s big hand rubbed up and down my back. “Take another breath. Remember, you’re safe.”

For the moment, I was, but as soon as I stepped back out onto the street, that was another story.

Carr had found me again. Despair swamped me. He never stopped.

“Carr attacked me when I was coming home from class one night. I tried to fight him, but I didn’t really know how. Thankfully, I screamed loud enough for the neighbors to hear. He ran off.” I sucked in air, trying to stay calm. “I was terrified. The police did what they could, but they couldn’t track him down. I started training in self-defense.”

“Good,” Beau said.

“Then I got a nasty note, with a photo of my mother attached. Her eyes had been gouged out of the paper. The next day, a dead cat turned up on my doorstep, with its eyes gouged out.” I looked up and met his gaze. I could feel the anger pumping from him. “I ran. To protect my mom, and myself.”

“And you’ve been running ever since.”

I nodded. “A year, now. I went to San Antonio, then Austin, a few smaller towns, then Houston. He always tracked me down. Then I made it to Pensacola. He found me again.”

“The bruises on your arm.”

I nodded. “I escaped him, just. Landed a good punch to the asshole’s face.” I sighed. “He just never stops. You’ve read the notes. He’s fixated on me, and he wants to kill me.”

“That’s not happening.” Beau’s voice was a deep growl. “I’ll teach you to fight, and we’re going to stop this bastard.”

“Beau, he’s a killer.”

“So am I.”

My lips parted.

“I was in the Army, then I became a mercenary for several years.” His gaze turned so serious. “Do you understand?”

I licked my lips. I wasn’t sure that I did.

“Uncle Sam taught me to kill.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

He gripped my chin. “I would never hurt you or another innocent person. Chandler Fucking Carr picked the wrong city. This is my town. My brothers and I, we protect what’s ours.”

“I’m not yours.”

“Yeah, you are. Now, tell me your real name.”

I swallowed. Beau made it easy to let out all the secrets I’d kept locked up for a year.

“Isabella Sanderson.”

“Isabella. It’s pretty, but Bell suits you better.”

I managed a small smile. “I like it better, too. Allie always called me Bell.”

“For now, I want you to put Carr out of your mind. It’s time for breakfast. Have you tried beignets before?”

“No.”

“You’re not a true New Orleanian until you’ve had one.” He rose, and then handed me a sugar-covered pastry, followed by a glass of juice.

I took them from him. “You think this is going to solve my problems?”

“No, but it’s a good place to start.” He nudged the pastry toward my mouth. “I had a foster mom who told me having a full stomach is always the first step to solving any problem.”

I took a bite of sugary goodness. Oh, God, that was delicious.

Smiling, he wiped the powdered sugar off my lips, then leaned down and kissed me.

My heart did a hard, one-two rap.

His lips moved over mine, but didn’t linger. I hadn’t really missed kissing, but with Beau, he made me want it. Badly.

“You’re not alone anymore, Bell. Understand?”

I wanted to believe that. I knew exactly how much being alone sucked.

But Carr was beyond dangerous. What if he hurt Beau’s friends or family? What if Beau got hurt?

The beignet turned to dust in my mouth.

A fierce look crossed Beau’s rugged face. “You don’t get it yet, but you will. Soon. Now, let’s eat breakfast, then we’ll work, then after that, we’re going to take a break from everything.”