Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

Beau was silent, not asking questions about why I was starting by talking about my best friend.

“We went to college together.” Pain sliced through me. “We left Dallas, that’s where I’m originally from, and went to college at Baylor.”

Beau tangled our fingers together. I realized my hand was shaking.

That small touch grounded me. I released a shaky breath. “We had so much fun those first years. I was studying business, and Allie wanted to be a nurse. She wanted to help people.”

Misery wrapped around my insides, and I stared at the floor.

“Take your time,” Beau said.

It was best to just get it all out. Taking my time made no difference to the grief and pain. “Allie had a date with a new guy she’d met at the campus coffee shop. Said he was so attentive and handsome.” I rubbed my chest, a painful ache growing. “I was excited to have the night to myself. We shared an apartment. I ran a bubble bath, poured a glass of wine, put my earbuds in with my favorite playlist.” I bit my lip. “I didn’t hear anything. Nothing.”

His fingers tightened on mine. “What happened?”

“Chandler William Carr happened.” God, I hated that name so much.

Beau frowned. He’d probably heard the name and was trying to place it.

“Rapist and murderer. They call him the College Killer.” Grief gripped me. “He raped and murdered Allie while I was in the next room taking a bath.”

“Fuck.”

“I didn’t hear a thing, and she must have called for help,” I whispered.

“It wasn’t your fault, Bell.” Beau’s voice was a deep rumble. “He’sthe killer.”

“I didn’t hear a single thing while my best friend was hurt, dying. Do you know what that feels like?”

“No, angel, I don’t.” His grip stayed tight and firm on my hand.

“I came out of the bathroom and saw him leaving. He walked out of her room with a smile on his face, blood all over his hands. He erased Allie like she was nothing.” My face twisted. “He’s a monster.”

“Why is he free?” Beau growled.

“I gave a statement to the police, and there was a manhunt. But he’d already disappeared. Allie was his fourth killing of a female college student across the South. His first in Texas.” I dragged in a breath. “He’s a college student from Georgia, raised by a good, well-off family who just happens to have a sick need to kill innocent women.”

“I’m sorry, Bell. Sorry you lost your friend, that you had to go through that.”

“My world turned into a nightmare. My best friend was dead, slaughtered.” I paused. “Then it got worse.”

Beau cursed under his breath, then pulled me back into his arms. I leaned into his strength.

“I couldn’t stay in the apartment. I got my own place, but every day I grieved for Allie. It was hard to focus on my studies.” I stopped, the old memories eating at me. “Then the notes started coming. He was watching me, and he knew where I lived. I’d see a glimpse of a shadow on the street after class. I’d find a note shoved under my door or under the wiper on my car. He was taunting me.” I heaved in some air.

Beau’s big hand rubbed up and down my back. “Take another breath. Remember, you’re safe.”

For the moment, I was, but as soon as I stepped back out onto the street, that was another story.

Carr had found me again. Despair swamped me. He never stopped.

“Carr attacked me when I was coming home from class one night. I tried to fight him, but I didn’t really know how. Thankfully, I screamed loud enough for the neighbors to hear. He ran off.” I sucked in air, trying to stay calm. “I was terrified. The police did what they could, but they couldn’t track him down. I started training in self-defense.”

“Good,” Beau said.

“Then I got a nasty note, with a photo of my mother attached. Her eyes had been gouged out of the paper. The next day, a dead cat turned up on my doorstep, with its eyes gouged out.” I looked up and met his gaze. I could feel the anger pumping from him. “I ran. To protect my mom, and myself.”

“And you’ve been running ever since.”