Claim - Page 84

“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 arenotleaving me.”

“It’s toprotectyou. 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’sto 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’renotleaving.” 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.”

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