Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

25. Beau

25

BEAU

I drove as fast as I could toward Bell’s place. The engine of the Mustang roared as I pushed for more speed.

Reath sat in the passenger seat beside me. Colt’s truck was behind us, with Colt driving and Dante riding with him. Without hesitation, Dante had left his nightclub on their busiest night of the week. I’d called Kav, and he was on his way as well.

All I could think about was Bell. She was trapped in a burning building.

I stepped on the gas pedal, and took the next corner fast.

Reath braced himself. “Take it easy, Beau. Don’t kill us.”

“She doesn’t have much time.”

“You’ll be more help to her alive.”

I gritted my teeth and focused on the road. As we screeched onto Bell’s street, I saw a crowd had gathered. I also saw the flames. My gut clenched.

I jerked to a stop near the burning building. Half of the house was engulfed. Fuck . My throat was tight. Bell was in there.

I shoved my door open and rushed toward the house.

Halfway up the path, Reath grabbed my arm. “No.”

“I have to get to her.”

My brother’s face was set in grim lines. “Think first. You’re no good to her hurt, or worse.”

I forced myself to take a breath, fighting the urgent need to rush into the house. “I’ve got a leather jacket in my car.”

Reath nodded. He was already wearing a black leather jacket.

I jogged back to the car and grabbed the brown jacket.

“Shit,” Reath muttered.

I looked up and saw several women hanging out of windows on both stories of the house. They were all calling for help.

Bell’s window was closed.

Colt’s truck pulled up, and Dante and Colt jogged over.

“Fuck,” Dante said.

“We have to help them,” Reath said. “We need to get them out.”

A sleek, red Lamborghini prowled down the street. Kav parked in the middle of the road and ran over. Right now, there was no sign of the billionaire businessman. Right now, he was just a man ready to help.

“Here.” Kav handed out several masks.

I took one. “Bell’s on the top floor. I’m going to get her.”

My brothers nodded.

“I’ll come with you,” Kav said.

“Dante, Colt, and I will help the others out,” Reath added.

In the distance, I heard the wail of sirens.

“Let’s go,” I barked, pulling the jacket on.

“Everyone away from the building,” Reath bellowed at the crowd.

I charged in the front door. I wasn’t waiting any longer.

I pulled my mask on. The smoke was intense. I ducked low, and headed for the stairs.

“This way,” I heard Dante yell. When I glanced back, I saw him shepherding two women toward the front door.

I took the stairs two at a time. On the landing, I found a collapsed woman having a coughing fit.

“Kavner.”

“I’ll get her out.” My brother crouched beside the woman. “I’ve got you. Come with me.” He looked up at me. “Be careful.”

With a nod, I kept going. The flames were intense at the top of the stairs, and I threw up an arm to shield my face. The fire was a lot worse up here.

I’d bet money that fucker Carr had set something alight up here.

I pulled the leather jacket up around my face and leaped through the flames.

“Bell!” I yelled.

I hurried down the hallway. Doors to the rooms either side of the hall were open and empty. Then I heard a sob. I saw a woman crouched just inside the door to a bedroom.

“You need to get out,” I said.

“I can’t.” There was terror on her face.

“You can.” I slid an arm around her.

We’d just reached the top of the stairs when Kav charged through the fire. “Did you find Bell?”

“Not yet.” I shoved the woman at him. “But I will.”

Kav lifted the terrified woman into his arms, then carried her back down the stairs.

I strode to Bell’s door. The smoke was thick as I hammered my fist on it. “Bell!”

At first, I didn’t hear anything, and my heart squeezed hard.

“Bell!”

Then I heard a muffled noise on the other side of the door. “Beau!”

“Get back from the door.” The handle was too hot to touch, so I used my jacket. But the door wouldn’t move. I felt around.

Then I started coughing. The smoke was getting worse. My fingers ran over something.

Pure rage filled me.

The door had been nailed shut.

Carr .

I rammed my shoulder against the wood several times. Then I reared back several steps and kicked it. The wood splintered, but the door wouldn’t budge.

Bending low, I went into the open room next door. I saw women’s clothing spilled on the floor.

I needed something solid.

I spotted a chair with sturdy legs. I hefted it, testing its weight. It would do.

Holding it up, I ran back to Bell’s door. I paused as a coughing fit overtook me.

Kav returned. “Beau, the fire’s getting worse. The fire truck just pulled up.”

“Bell’s door is nailed shut.”

“What the fuck?”

We didn’t have time to talk. “Let’s get it open.” I picked up the chair. “Hold onto this. We’ll use it as a ram.”

Kav gripped the other side of the chair. We swung it back like a battering ram and stepped forward.

Thunk .

“Again,” I yelled.

Thunk. Thunk .

Wood splintered and the door burst inward.

Thank fuck . Dropping the chair, I charged into the room.

“Bell! Bell!”

She crawled out of the smoke, her face streaked with black. “Here. I’m here.”

I grabbed her. Relief was so strong that I felt dizzy.

“Rest of the rooms down the hall are empty,” Kav said, followed by a cough. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Just as I’d told her, Bell had a wet towel wrapped around her. I tucked it more securely around her head and held her tight under my arm.

We hurried back down the hallway. Kav leaped through the growing flames and down the stairs.

I hunched over Bell, and followed.

The heat was immense, and I felt it on my cheeks. I kept my head down. The fire was getting worse, devouring the old house.

“Careful down the stairs.” We took them slowly.

Suddenly, one of my boots went through one of the stair treads. I lurched to the side.

“ Beau .” Bell gripped me.

Then Kav was there. He grabbed my arm. “The stairs are deteriorating. Move faster.”

I yanked my foot free and kept Bell close as we reached the ground floor.

It was like Armageddon. Bell gasped. I couldn’t hear it, but I felt her chest hitch.

Two firefighters in full gear approached from the front door. “You need to get out.” One bellowed through his mask.

They shoved us forward.

“Anyone else in the building?” the second firefighter asked.

“I think it’s clear,” Kav said. “We helped get the last few residents out.”

When we stepped into the cool night, I sucked in air and shoved my mask down. Bell thrust the towel off, lifting her soot-covered face up as she breathed.

She was alive. Thank God.

“That was close,” Kav said, then he bent over, and coughed.

I slapped his shoulder. “Thanks.”

He glanced at Bell, then back at me. “Anytime, you know that. You’ve had my back too many times to count, and London’s and her sister’s.”

I curled my arm around Bell as we crossed to the sidewalk. Dante, Colt, and Reath were helping some women out on the curb. Some were crying, and the paramedics had oxygen masks on others.

“Anyone injured?” I asked Reath.

He shook his head. “Some smoke inhalation, but nothing life-threatening.”

“Thank God,” Bell said shakily.

“You need to get checked out,” I told her.

She arched a brow. “So do you.”

I was so damn glad to see that spirit of hers that I couldn’t stop myself. I yanked her to my chest.

She made a sound of relief, and threw her arms around me. I boosted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Then I kissed her.

It was deep and demanding, and I didn’t care. I needed the reassurance.

“I was so afraid,” I said against her lips.

“Me too, but I knew you’d come.” She rubbed her nose against mine. “You and your brothers saved so many people.”

My only thought had been her. I kept hugging her. We both smelled like sweat and smoke, but I felt her heart beating—strong and steady. And I tasted her on my lips—my sweet angel.

“You’re next,” a paramedic ordered.

“Her first.”

A stubborn look crossed her face. “I’m only getting checked if he does.”

I heard a chuckle nearby and saw my brothers. They all looked amused. Assholes .

Then I saw flashes of light. Dammit, the press was here. Just what we needed.

I pulled Bell closer and blocked her from view. Quite a crowd had gathered. I never understood the morbid need some people had to gawk at tragedies and accidents.

“God, all my stuff is gone.” Bell looked stricken as the paramedic started checking her over. “What will I do? Where will I stay?”

That, I had an answer to. “We’ll get you whatever you need.” I cupped her cheek. “And you’re staying with me.”

Where I could protect her.

“Beau—”

“No arguments.”

Her lips tilted up and she nodded. I leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

Then she looked back at the house and the onlookers watching the fire. She stiffened.

“Bell?” I followed her gaze. She was staring at a man in the back of the crowd.

He had a clean-cut face and non-descript brown hair.

“It’s Carr,” she whispered.

The asshole smiled at us, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I tensed. “Kav,” I barked. “Stay here with Bell.” I looked at my brothers. Kavner nodded. “The rest of you, with me.”

“What is it?” Reath asked, his face sharpening.

“Carr. He was in the crowd. Let’s move.”

I took off at a jog. As I cleared the crowd of onlookers, I caught sight of Carr sprinting down the street. He was wearing a pale-colored shirt and jeans.

“That way.” I picked up speed.

Reath moved up beside me, and for a second, I remembered both of us in uniform, doing the same thing in a faraway desert. Colt and Dante ran behind us.

“You armed?” I asked.

“Yep,” Reath replied.

Carr turned down the next street.

“Faster, or we’ll lose him.” My boots pounded on the concrete as I took the turn.

Carr looked back and saw us coming. He darted into the yard of a house. As I got closer, I saw him go over the side fence.

“I’ll circle around the back.” Colt headed back the way we’d come.

I hit the wooden fence and hauled myself over. Dante and Reath followed. I crept into the well-manicured back garden. There were neat garden beds, a garden shed, and an illuminated swimming pool. Then, I spotted Carr on the other side of the pool.

His gaze met mine. He looked so fucking ordinary. Then he smiled, and I could practically smell the evil.

He whirled and launched himself into some trees.

I took off, sprinting around the pool, and following the fucker.

“Hold up, Beau,” Dante called out. “He could be armed.”

There was no way I was slowing down. If I caught him, I could end this. Bell would finally be safe.

The asshole had locked her in a burning house. Rage fueled me.

I saw Carr clamber over a high hedge. I followed, feeling sticks claw at my clothes. Dropping to my feet on the other side, I saw Carr running down the street. Colt came sprinting from the other direction. Dante and Reath dropped down beside me.

“Don’t let him get away,” I growled.

All four of us took off, following the killer.

He crossed another street, then turned right. He was going into a school. In the darkness, I saw him racing across a soccer field.

I followed and pulled ahead of my brothers. I kept picturing the notes Carr had written, and Bell’s face as she’d talked about her murdered friend.

Tonight, I was stopping him. Once and for all.

“You can’t outrun us, Carr,” I yelled. “You picked the wrong fucking city.”

The man glanced back, and I saw him pump his arms faster. He sprinted past a building and back out onto the next street. This one was busier, with a grassed median down the middle.

Carr didn’t pause, he raced across the street.

I wasn’t letting him get away.

I went to step off the curb.

Arms gripped mine from behind and yanked me back. I stumbled and watched as a delivery truck whizzed past in front of me.

“Shit, Beau,” Reath said.

He and Colt were gripping my arms. “Thanks.” Then I scanned the other side of the street. There was no sign of Carr. “Fuck!”

We crossed over and split into pairs. Reath and I jogged to the end of the block, while Colt and Dante did the same in the other direction.

“I don’t see him,” Reath muttered.

We walked back and met the other two. Dante shook his head.

We’d lost him.

Anger writhing inside me, I shoved my hands on my hips and stared into the darkness. The fucker was close, probably watching us.

If I’d caught him, this would have been over.

Colt clapped a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll get him. Not tonight, but we’ll get him.”

“And we’ll help you keep Bell safe,” Reath said.

I nodded. I knew I could trust my brothers.

This isn’t over, Carr.