Claim - Page 83

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.