Claim - Page 90

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.