Claim - Page 86

Leave New Orleans.

Leave me.

My muscles tightened. Carr had to be stopped, once and for all. “I won’t let him touch one fucking hair on her head.”

“We know.” Dante rose and clamped a hand on my arm. “When our women were in trouble, you helped keep them safe, and we’ll do the same for Bell. We know how important it is. How important she is.”

I wanted to say that it was temporary, and to not read too much into it, but right now, I couldn’t.

Right now, all I could focus on was keeping her safe. And holding her close as she grieved again.

“When she heard about Karina, she fell apart.” My mouth flattened. “She wanted to run again.”

“That’s not going to dissuade Carr,” Simon said. “He’ll keep hunting her.”

“And we’re going to stop him.” I met all their gazes. “He’s going to feel the full force of the Fury brothers.”

My brothers all nodded.

“And you have my support,” Simon said. “I’m not going to let a serial killer run loose in our city.” Then he slid his hands intothe pockets of his trousers. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but it’s likely that the best way to find Carr is through Bell.”

I stiffened. “Use her as bait? Hell, no.”

Simon held up a hand. “That’s not what I meant. But we need to prepare her for when he approaches her again. If we can, we can use her to get Carr out in the open. So we can finally stop him, and get Bell safe.”

Get Bell safe.

That was what I wanted most of all.

I nodded. “I’ll talk with her.” I already knew she’d fight. She had some decent skills from our training now. She’d do anything to stop Carr.

“We need to be ready,” Reath said. “This motherfucker isn’t going to go down easily.”

I made a fist. “His downfall will be that he’ll try to taunt and torment Bell. He can’t help himself. He gets off on it. We need to use that against him.”

And I needed to prepare her for anything. I’d do everything I could to make sure she wasn’t helpless.

Reath nodded. “Let’s take this asshole down.”

My brothers all nodded.

Watch out, Carr. The Fury brothers are coming for you.

34

BELL

“Good 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.