Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

When I looked back, I saw a man emerge from the warehouse, waving at a couple heading in his direction. They hugged, then set off down the street.

It wasn’t him. I scanned the warehouse and saw no more shadows.

I blew out a breath, forcing myself to relax. I was seeing boogeymen everywhere.

“It wasn’t Carr, Bell,” I murmured to myself. “You’re fine.”

Still, as I headed toward Hard Burn, I walked a little faster than usual.

10

BEAU

Iblocked the fist coming my way, and hammered a jab into my opponent’s arm.

He grunted.

I bounced back, enjoying the sweat on my skin and my warm, loose muscles. There was nothing like a good fight to clear the head.

Boxing had given me that so many times. It had saved me.

After my time as a mercenary, and my rotten childhood, shit had built up. I could’ve chosen drugs, booze, and sex to drown in, but instead, I’d chosen to climb into the ring.

To train, learn to assess my opponents, then learn the strategy of the fight.

It had kept me sane.

And my brothers had kept me grounded.

“Damn, Beauden, you hit like a freight train.”

Across from me, Dante rubbed his shoulder.

I raised a brow. “You’re not giving up, are you?”

My brother’s jaw tightened. “Fuck, no.”

He came at me in a flurry of punches. We moved across the ring, and I fell into the fight. I was barely aware of Colton and Kavner fighting in the next ring beside us. Or Reath running onthe treadmill in the main gym area. My brothers and I worked out together a few times a week.

But I noticed the second Bell walked into the gym.

She was wearing black leggings and a black Hard Burn polo shirt that Gio had given her. Her black hair was up in a high ponytail.

She looked so damn young.

While I was distracted, Dante punched me in the side of the head.

The asshole grinned at me. “The first rule you taught me was not to get distracted in the ring.”

“Fuck you.” I rubbed my jaw. “And I’d be careful, because you don’t want me to mess up that face of yours. Mila wouldn’t be happy.”

“She loves me however I come.”

Dante said that with a touch of awe. Like he couldn’t quite believe how much his girlfriend adored him.

I felt…something. No one had ever felt that way about me. Certainly not my parents. I’d been a burden to them, and then later, a potential paycheck.

I slapped my gloves together. I tried not to think of the people who’d birthed me. Neither of them deserved the time or energy.