Claim - Page 45

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.”

18

BEAU

“Where are we going?”

“Out for lunch.”

Bell fiddled with her Hard Burn polo shirt. “Okay. I’m not really dressed to go out, though.”

“This place doesn’t require dressing up.” I took her hand. I wanted to get her away. Out of the city, where there would be no fear that Chandler Carr would pop up and attack her. I led her to the back of the gym.

The first thing I’d done after Bell started work this morning—her belly full of breakfast— was look up Carr. My jaw tightened. What I’d read had made my skin crawl. He was a predator, through and through. He didn’t just like to kill, he liked to torture and torment his victims.

Well, he might like to prey on helpless, young women, but now, he’d have to take on someone bigger and tougher.

“Bell.” I gripped her shoulder.

She looked up at me, and damn, I saw the trust on her face. I knew she’d been alone, with no one to lean on, for a year.

“I called my brother, Reath. He owns a security company.”

She stiffened.

“I told him about Carr.”

She pressed a palm to her cheek. “God, your brothers must hate that I brought this right to your doorstep.”

“Hey.” I turned her to face me. “They won’t stand for an asshole like Carr murdering innocent women or terrorizing you. Reath’s looking into him.”

“Okay.”

“We also have a friend in the New Orleans police department. He’s going to do some digging. Simon’s a detective, and he isn’t real keen on a serial killer operating on his turf.”

She nodded, her face uncertain. She didn’t get that she was no longer alone in dealing with Carr. Now, she had the full force of the Fury Brothers on her side.

“Come on.” I pushed open the door to my garage. Right now, I wanted her to forget for a while. Right now, there was no Carr. No fear or anxiety. I wanted Bell calm and relaxed.

“Oh, nice cars.” She eyed my restored muscle car parked next to my black Rivian. She gently ran her fingers over the red hood of the car. “This is so cool.”

“She’s a 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang. I did all the work myself. Well, my brothers helped a little.”

“It’s great, Beau. It suits you.” She smiled. “Are we going in this?”

“Nope.” I skirted the car. “We’re going on this.” My Triumph Bonneville.

“Oh, I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”

There were some helmets hanging on the wall, and I grabbed one and handed it to her.

“That pink one’s cute.” She pointed to a small, pink helmet on the wall.

“For Daisy, my niece.” I set the helmet on Bell’s head and tightened the straps.

“One of your brothers has a daughter?” She tilted her head. “None of them looked like the typical dad.”