Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

34. Bell

34

BELL

“ G ood job on those posters, girly.”

I looked up at Gio and tried to smile. “Thanks, G.”

I’d spent the morning revamping the reception area to keep busy. I’d added some boxing and fitness photos to the wall.

“They look great.” He scratched the back of his neck. “You doing okay? Beau told me about Karina. Poor girl.”

Pain—raw and cutting—hit me.

“I’m not okay yet,” I whispered.

He nodded. “But you will be. You’re strong. And Beau will help you.”

Tears pricked my eyes, and I nodded. Gio was another connection. Another reminder that I wasn’t alone.

“Thanks, Gio.”

He gripped my shoulder. “Karina was a good girl. She wouldn’t want you doing something stupid like blaming yourself.”

“I know.”

With a nod, he headed toward the boxing rings.

I headed back to Beau’s office. I spotted my bodyguard, Lincoln, sitting on a bench nearby. He had shaggy blond-brown hair and looked like he should be on a surfboard catching a wave. When our gazes met, he gave me a chin lift. I waved back.

In the office, I sat in Beau’s creaky chair and opened the laptop. I was setting up a new bill payment system online. That way we could avoid Beau having piles of invoices on his desk. In the short time I’d been at Hard Burn, I’d learned that the man hated doing any sort of paperwork.

I tapped my finger on the desk. I liked this. I liked helping with the business side of the gym. I could see the attraction of running your own business. It was what I’d been studying at college.

If Beau was right, and we stopped Carr, I could go back to college. I could finish my degree.

And what about you and Beau?

I worried my bottom lip. I wasn’t sure, but I knew we had something. Something special.

I was falling for the man.

Once we didn’t have Carr hanging over our heads, I’d talk to him.

Beau was currently at Reath’s security office. I knew they were discussing how to find Carr. I’d wanted to go, but Beau had been firm that I had to stay at the gym. To be honest, right now, I didn’t want to think about Carr.

I got busy, and thirty minutes later, Beau returned. His face was so serious that it made my chest lock.

“I’m out of here,” Lincoln called out. “Bye, Bell.”

“Bye.” My gaze stayed on Beau. “Thanks, Lincoln.” I rose from the desk chair. “Hey.”

He closed the door, and the look on his face made it hard to breathe. A part of me was afraid he was going to send me away. Tell me he was done dealing with all this trouble.

“We’re looking for Carr,” he said. “The New Orleans PD, Reath’s team, Colt.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

“He’s good at hiding.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Beau—”

He closed the distance between us and gripped my arms. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

I leaned into him, and let his warmth seep into my cold skin. “It doesn’t feel like that.”

He smoothed a hand up my back. “I know he’ll come at you again.”

I looked up and saw his jaw working.

“We already knew that.” I smoothed my hand over his beard.

“You are not alone,” Beau growled. “Promise me, we work together. We bring Carr down together.”

I nodded and felt warmth unfurl in my chest.

“Good.” He pulled me up on my toes and planted a deep kiss on my lips. “Now, I think I have a client to train.”

“You do. And I’ll finish with this mess.” I waved at his untidy desk.

He glanced at the paperwork and laptop. “It’s all yours.”

I laughed as he headed out.

The rest of the day was uneventful. A part of me kept thinking Carr would do something, and it left me feeling edgy and unsettled.

“You’re safe in here with Beau,” I murmured to myself.

The gym was busy now. All the machines and rings were full. I saw that Beau was doing an intense training session with one of his regular clients.

I grabbed a box of gear from the storage cupboard and headed to the ladies change room. I’d ordered a few things to brighten the space. I had some nice hand soap and shampoo, and a few things to make the space more feminine and welcoming.

The change room was empty, except for a few workout bags resting out on the benches. I carried my box in, set it on the counter by the sinks, and got to work nailing some posters up. They showed women of various sizes in workout gear—boxing, lifting weights, stretching.

I set the hammer down and studied my handiwork. Nice . I straightened one frame and grinned. They looked perfect.

Next, I refilled the hand wash, and spritzed some air freshener that smelled like flowers. Very nice.

I headed into the showers with the new shower gel and shampoo that didn’t smell like something a man would use. I filled up one dispenser when I heard a noise out in the main change room.

“Hello? I won’t be a minute. I’m almost finished in here.” I finished topping up the rest of the dispensers and walked out. “You can use the showers now.”

There was no one there.

I frowned. Weird . I went over to stack some fresh towels on the shelves.

Another sound echoed through the space. It sounded like the scrape of a boot on the floor.

I spun. I didn’t see anybody.

“Hello?” My heart started pumping. “Who’s there?”

Moving quickly, I dashed for my box, and snatched up the hammer. I gripped it tight.

I wasn’t going to run.

I was going to stand my ground.

I walked toward the lockers. There was no sign of anyone. I turned slowly. The change room was empty except for me.

But someone had been here. I was sure of it.

That’s when I saw a locker door was ajar.

My locker.

Swallowing, I walked slowly toward it. I saw my gear was inside and nothing looked like it was missing.

I lowered the hammer.

That’s when I saw the note sticking out from under a shirt.

Sound roared in my ears. The others had all burned up in the fire. Slowly, I picked up the piece of paper.

My lips pressed into a flat line. I pulled in a deep breath and read it.

The boxer is dead if you don’t do what I want. It won’t be a slow or easy death.

You can save him, if you come alone and don’t tell anyone.

There was an address scrawled on the bottom.

It was Carr’s writing.

Beau . He’d threatened Beau.

I raced out of the change room and back into the gym. I paused and saw Beau was still in one of the rings. I pressed a hand to my chest, over my racing heart. I watched him as he and the man he was training traded punches. I loved that primal, masculine beauty of his. I loved watching him spar.

I couldn’t imagine a world without Beauden Fury in it.

He’d survived so much and deserved a beautiful life.

I looked at the note again.

I knew what I had to do.

I crumpled the paper in my palm.

My hands clenched on the steering wheel of Beau’s Mustang.

I was really nervous. It had been a long time since I’d driven, plus it was in a dark area that I didn’t know.

My heart was pounding, and my hands were sweaty. I felt like I’d been driving for hours.

I was finally going to confront Chandler Carr.

I was heading to an address outside of New Orleans. I’d left the city lights behind a long time ago, and now there were dark trees all around me. It was remote out here, and I couldn’t see any houses.

I swallowed. Beau would be so worried.

My hands flexed. I had to stick to the plan.

This ended tonight.

I leaned over and checked my cellphone. I had the map app open, and I could see I was getting close.

Hunching over the wheel, I searched for the turn to my destination. There . I barely spotted the overgrown driveway. I turned, the tires crunching on gravel. There were no lights anywhere. I dragged in a few deep breaths, nerves alive in my stomach.

Tonight, I was going to face the nightmare who’d stolen Allie and Karina from me. Who’d hunted me for over a year.

A cabin came into view.

I slowed and stared at the house. It was made of old, weathered wood, with a sagging front porch. There were no lights on, and bushes had grown up around it, giving it a wild, abandoned feel.

Of course, Carr wanted to make this as scary as possible.

I pulled the car to a stop. Thank God I hadn’t crashed or scratched Beau’s baby. I turned off the engine and sat there in the darkness, staring at the dilapidated cabin.

Fear was a big, hard ball in my throat. But I felt steady. I had to do this.

I checked my watch. Almost time.

I reached up and gripped the chain around my neck, my fingers closing over the boxing gloves pendant. Since I’d met him, Beau had given me so much: trust, desire, confidence.

And the skills to fight.

I love you, Beau.

I checked my watch again, watching the minute hand tick. Time for me to end this.

Pushing open the door, I stepped out. I reached for the flashlight I’d brought with me and flicked it on. Carefully, I followed the beam of light, shoes crunching as I walked toward the cabin. The bushes shivered in the light breeze, cutting through my jeans and T-shirt, like they knew something bad was coming.

I stepped onto the rickety porch, boards creaking under my shoes. I pulled open a torn screen door, and saw the wooden front door was ajar.

My chest hitched. Carr was here, somewhere.

I nudged the door wider and shone the flashlight around. The front room was empty, the floorboards covered in a layer of dust and old leaves. There was torn, old wallpaper on the walls.

Then the beam of light reflected off something and I tensed. I blew out a breath. It was just a grimy, old mirror on the wall.

Suddenly, a masculine laugh echoed through the house.

I stiffened. Carr. Taunting me. My jaw tightened and it took everything I had to step inside.

You can do this, Bell.

“I’m here, Carr.” And I’m not afraid of you.

There was no sign of him. As I walked, the floorboards creaked under me. I moved my arm, waving the flashlight around.

“Carr!”

He was a coward. I realized now that he always waited until he could surprise his victim. Isolate her, lull her, then attack.

I sure as hell wouldn’t be lulled.

I spotted something on the floor.

Keeping my flashlight beam on it, I walked over. It was a photo. I picked it up and bit my lip.

It showed a smiling Karina leaving Hard Burn.

“I’m so sorry, Karina,” I whispered, my heart squeezing.

I continued into another empty room. There was just more dust, and a huge cobweb covering one wall.

There was also another photo on the floor, and I steeled myself.

This one was of Allie.

She was smiling right at the camera. Her red hair was thick and shiny.

Emotion flooded me.

“I miss you so much, Al.” I slipped the photos into my pocket. Carr couldn’t have them. I wouldn’t leave them here.

The beam of the flashlight hit another photo, and my heart kicked in my chest. This one was of me and Beau.

I was in his arms, smiling up at him, and I realized how I felt about him was stamped all over my face. It was from the party at the distillery.

Beau’s eyes had been gouged out of the photo.

Heat rushed through me. You won’t get to hurt him, asshole.

Or me.

“Just come out, Carr. I know you like to grandstand, but quite frankly, I’m sick of it.”

Creak .

I spun, but saw nothing.

“You really are a coward, aren’t you?”

“The little rabbit isn’t running anymore.”

I turned and saw a dark silhouette detach from one of the walls.

Lifting the flashlight, I aimed it right at his face.

How could such a slim, unassuming man be so evil?

“Did fucking that big thug make you feel strong?” Carr said.

I stayed silent.

The serial killer stepped closer. “He’s not here to help you now.”

Because I could damn well help myself. “I look forward to when they give you the death penalty,” I said. “I’ll come to watch. Allie and Karina will be watching too.”

Carr laughed. “They’ll never catch me.” He lifted his arm. He was holding a knife. The long blade shone in the light.

My gut clenched. Stay calm. Stick to the plan.

“I’m going to watch you die, little Bell. We’re going to have so much fun.”

The fear came. It spread, tangling around my throat, but I controlled it. I heard Beau’s deep voice in my head. Assess for weaknesses, use your advantages.

I pulled in a slow breath. “I don’t plan to die tonight.”

The man who’d hunted me for so long smiled. “We’ll see.” He charged at me. Fast.

My adrenaline spiked. He slashed out with the knife, but my training kicked in. I dodged, then landed a perfect punch to his face.

He grunted and stepped back. My knuckles hurt like hell, but I kept my gaze on him. I stepped forward and rammed an uppercut into his stomach.

He was soft.

Realization rocketed through me. He wasn’t strong, and he didn’t know how to fight. He just overwhelmed women who were less strong than him.

Carr made an angry sound and swung again. I blocked him and rammed two punches into his face. His nose crunched, and blood poured down his mouth and chin. He let out a screech.

I danced back, keeping my weight balanced.

“What’s wrong, Carr? You don’t like it when you take on someone stronger than you?”

He roared and ran at me.

I whirled. The knife nicked my side, but I spun again, moving in behind him. I landed punches to his kidneys. Then I kicked him.

He ran headfirst into the wall.

“You’re not so scary now,” I taunted.

He spun, an enraged look contorting his face. “You won’t be so confident when I slide this blade between your ribs.” He held the knife up and ran at me.

I darted to the side, and kept moving. I had him. I could take him down.

Then my shoe hit an uneven floorboard, and I tripped.

Shit . I fell flat on my back.

A slow smile curled Carr’s lips. He advanced.

Shit. Shit. Shit .

He slashed down with the knife, just as I lifted both feet and kicked at him.

“You’ll die here tonight,” he roared. His arm came down again.

I kicked him again, trying to knock the knife away.

“I’ll rape you, I’ll slit you open. Your blood will cover the walls and floor.”

“Fuck you, Carr. Tonight, you don’t win. You’re going down.”

He laughed. “Do you really think you can stop me?”

“No. Not alone.”

He hesitated, a frown forming.

Then the front and back doors burst open.

A fierce-looking Beau charged through the front door, Reath and Kavner right behind him. Dante and Colt came in through the back.

They all had guns trained on Carr.

The serial killer’s face went slack with shock.

“It’s better when you have a team.” I rose and looked at Beau. “When you aren’t alone.”