Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

32. Bell

32

BELL

“ G irly, you need to slow down, or you’ll burn out.”

I looked up at Gio. My fingers tightened on the cleaning cloth in my hand. I’d been cleaning every nook and cranny of Hard Burn. I felt Beau’s gaze on me, and looked past Gio. He was in one of the rings training a client, but I’d felt him watching me all morning.

I blew out a breath. “I’m good, Gio, I promise.”

The older man looked worried, but nodded. “I’m going to order us all subs for lunch.” He pointed a finger at me. “And you’ll eat it all.” He stomped off.

I sat down on one of the benches and sighed. I was tired. After the party at the distillery, and the run-in with Carr, I hadn’t been able to sleep.

Beau had held me tight, but all I’d seen in my mind was that shredded glove.

It was a threat.

Against Beau.

If he got hurt…

I swallowed. I couldn’t let that happen. Beauden Fury meant too much to me.

I froze. I was falling in love with him. My heart sped up. Of course I was. I’d never met a guy like him before. One so real, so protective. He’d overcome so much to become the man he was. I’d never wanted a man the way I wanted Beau.

I looked up and he was watching me again. I managed a smile.

Last night, I’d thought about leaving. But the idea of leaving Beau hurt so much. I mean, I wasn’t sure where this thing between us was headed, but it felt good. Right.

And Beau was right—it was time to stop running. Here, with Beau and his brothers, I had the best chance ever of stopping Carr.

I stood up. Time to get back to work. As I grabbed my cloth and spray, I wondered where Karina was today. She usually liked to get her workout in by now.

I went through the gym equipment, cleaning stuff I knew I’d already cleaned, but the work kept my mind off everything. I heard a cellphone ring and watched Beau say something to his client, then pull out his phone. He usually didn’t answer calls when he was training, but after last night, he was keeping his phone close. He pressed it to his ear.

A moment later, his big body froze. That stillness made me queasy. I kept watching as he cursed and raked a hand through his hair.

Something was wrong.

I walked closer, my stomach filling with knots.

“Yeah. Fuck. Who found her?” He paused. “Goddammit. Yeah, I will. Thanks, Simon.”

Beau’s detective friend. My throat went dry. I took another step and Beau swiveled, his gray gaze on me.

I watched the storm clouds fill his eyes.

“What happened?” I asked.

He sighed, nodded to his client, then slipped out of the ring. “Let’s go to my office—”

“No, Beau. Just tell me. It’s something to do with Carr.”

Another sigh. “Yeah.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Tell me.”

Beau’s face twisted, and I knew

“He killed again,” I whispered.

“Angel.” He gripped my arms. “I’m sorry.”

Some poor woman was dead. Some poor woman had died, alone and terrified.

Because Carr couldn’t get to me.

“Bell.” He tipped my face up with his fingertips. “It was Karina.”

Shock slammed into me like lightning. I shook my head. “No.”

I couldn’t compute.

“Her mom found her at her apartment.”

I stepped back, the cloth and spray bottle falling from my hands. “No.”

A woman I knew. A young woman I’d befriended. A nice woman who was so full of life. I tasted bile in my mouth and felt sick.

Carr had targeted Karina because of me. He must’ve seen us talking.

Oh, God.

I whirled and raced for Beau’s apartment.

“Bell!”

I ignored Beau, ran up the stairs, and into his place. I didn’t pause. I ran up to his bedroom, and straight into the bathroom.

I dropped to my knees in front of the toilet, and vomited up my breakfast.

Karina . Sweet, funny Karina who brought me cookies and smoothies. Raped, tortured, killed. My fault. All my fault.

I knelt there, and heaved again.

“Bell.”

Beau’s arms moved around me, his big body pressing against my back. I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t feel any worse.

“She’s dead?” I whispered.

“Yes, angel. I’m sorry.”

Emotion welled inside me. I pushed to my feet, and then at the sink, rinsed my mouth out. Then I swept past Beau.

I had to go.

I found the nice bag Mila had gotten for me when she’d done the shopping, and started pulling out some of the clothes she’d bought for me. I shoved them into the bag.

Big hands caught mine.

“No,” he said.

“I have to leave.”

“ No ,” he said again. He swung me around to face him. “You are not leaving me.”

“It’s to protect you. And your brothers. And Mila and Macy and—” my voice broke. “Beau, I couldn’t bear if he hurt you, or your family.” Tears filled my eyes, spilling down my cheeks. “I can’t bear knowing that Karina is dead because of me.”

“She’s dead because of Carr. He’s to blame. You’re a victim.”

That didn’t matter. Right now, all I could feel was misery and pain.

“Angel?”

Then I was in Beau’s arms. I gripped him tight, like he was an anchor that would keep me in place. I felt like this nightmare would finally sweep me away and drag me under.

“You’re not leaving.” Beau’s tone was rigid and unbending. “We’re stopping him, and I will protect you. I told you, I’m bigger and meaner than Chandler Carr.”

I clung to him.

Then he pulled back, his face filled with determination. “And you’re stronger than him, too. You want to stop him?”

I nodded. I wanted nothing more than to stop Carr.

“The only way to do that is if we do it together. I learned that when I met my brothers, that you can do so much more when you aren’t alone. When you have people to depend on and who have your back.”

My fingers dug into his arms. “You can’t get hurt.”

“I won’t. And nor will you. Bell, I promise to have your back.”

I nodded. “Together.”