Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

BELL

Ibustled around my small room, getting ready for my first shift at Hard Burn.

The room was tiny, but it did the job. There was a single bed, and an adjoining bathroom the size of a postage stamp. The elegant, old mansion was on the edge of the Garden District. Someone had split the big home up into multiple rooms that were now rented out individually. The lady who ran it was tough but fair. She only rented to women.

The best thing about it was that I could catch the streetcar into the French Quarter and the Warehouse District. It was easy for me to get to Hard Burn.

I fingered the embroidered boxing glove logo on my polo shirt. A part of me still couldn’t believe that Beau was Beauden Fury.

And he’d given me a job and promised to teach me to fight.

I drew in a breath, determination filling me. With Beau’s help, I could fight off Carr. I’d finally have a chance.

After tightening my ponytail, I snatched up my backpack and headed out. I locked my door and headed down the hall. The old floorboards creaked under foot. The main staircase was graceful,with a smooth, carved handrail. The entire house made me think of a stately old lady.

A blonde woman was jogging up the stairs.

“Oh, hey, Bell.” She smiled at me.

“Hi, Maggie. Did you just get off shift?”

“Sure did.” Maggie huffed out a breath. “It was acrazynight at the hospital.”

Maggie was a nurse whose room was three doors down from mine. I’d met her the first day I’d moved in, and her bubbly personality reminded me of Allie.

“Hope you sleep well.”

“I will if Natalie in the room beside mine doesn’t have her music blaring. Again.” The blonde’s gaze dropped to my shirt. “You get a new job?”

I nodded. “At a gym.”

“That isn’t just any gym. It’s one that’s owned by one of the Fury brothers. I heard the waitlist to train there is huge.” Maggie waggled her eyebrows. “Is Beauden Fury as gorgeous as they say? Big, muscled, covered in ink?”

My belly spasmed. I really didn’t like Maggie drooling over Beau. “He’s the boss, but yes, he’s all those things.”

Maggie let out a gusty sigh. “He must have all kinds of beautiful women lined up, but a girl can dream. Catch you later, Bell.”

I headed down the stairs and through the entry. Did Beau have a line of women? I worried my bottom lip, my stomach doing an unhappy flip. Gio had initially thought I was a groupie.

With a shake of my head, I shoved those thoughts away. Outside, the day was sunny with a few clouds dotting the sky. The weather was definitely cooling off, but I didn’t need my jacket.

It was a quick walk to the streetcar stop and one arrived a few minutes later. I paid for my fare, then found a seat, and smiled. The streetcars were another part of the New Orleans charm.

For a second, I could almost imagine I was just a normal woman, heading off to work, with nothing to worry about.

But I wasn’t. I stared out at the sidewalk as it rushed past.

I’d learn to fight, but I wouldn’t abuse Beau’s decent nature. He wanted to help me, but there was no way I’d drag him into my mess. I had to stay alone. I couldn’t let myself forget that.

Finally, the streetcar neared my stop. It was only a short few blocks away from Hard Burn.

After thanking the driver, I hopped off. When I looked up, I saw the shadow of a man in the doorway of a warehouse nearby.

He was watching me.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose.No. My pulse skittered. Carr couldn’t have found me already.

I stood there, feet frozen to the concrete. I couldn’t see the man’s face. He was hidden in the shadows. Some people passed in front of me, blocking my view.