Beast
“Declan James McCarthy,” she scolded, in her thick Yonkers accent sharp enough to cut glass.
“Christmas is coming up, and your sister says you haven’t given her the date that you’ll be in town yet.
Are you coming on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
I’m cooking whether you show up or not, but I need to know when to thaw the damn ham. ”
“Ma,” he said, lowering his voice when he caught Belle watching him with those warm brown eyes of hers, “I’m not sure this is the best time. Got some things I’m dealing with.”
“Oh, here we go,” she huffed. “The mysterious trucker life again. Are you hiding a girlfriend? Is that what this is?”
“Just tell Kelly you’re coming,” his mother pressed. “Christmas Eve. I already told the neighbors you’d be there, and you know how nosey Nancy gets.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ma. I’m with someone right now.” Belle’s eyes widened in surprise, and he had to admit that saying that out loud to his mother surprised him, too.
“Aha!” his mother shouted into the other end of the call. “So you are seeing someone! Put her on the phone,” his mother ordered.
“Ma, absolutely not.”
“Fine, then tell her I said hello, and she should come home with you so we can meet her.” Beast froze.
Taking Belle home with him would solve his dilemma.
He’d be able to keep his promise to his family, show up for Christmas, and keep Belle safe.
Hell, maybe taking her out of Huntsville might give Shane time to move on to find another hobby besides stalking Belle.
Belle blinked. “Me?”
He mouthed, “Don’t panic.”
And she mouthed back, “I’m absolutely panicking.”
His mother kept going. “She obviously has good taste if she’s with you, and the invitation is extended. We’ve got room. Does she eat pork?”
“Ma—” Beast knew that his mother could be a handful when she wanted her way, but this was even over the top for her.
“Christmas Eve, Declan. Don’t make me send your sisters after you,” his mother threatened. The line went dead before he could get another word in. Beast stared at his phone as though it betrayed him. Slowly, he turned to Belle.
“Your mom sounds very determined,” Belle offered gently.
Beast let out a long breath. “That’s one word for her.
” He stepped closer, his voice gentling even though the situation was anything but simple.
It felt as though things between them had been moving at warp speed since he drove into town and stopped at Savage Hell.
He didn’t want to scare Belle away, but he worried that his mother just had.
“Look, she didn’t mean to put you on the spot. You don’t have to come home with me. I know things are—complicated for you right now.”
Belle worried her bottom lip. “Beast, I can’t stay here alone. Shane knows this address. And you can’t miss Christmas with your family.”
“I know.” Beast’s voice went low, almost a growl. “And you’re not staying here alone. I meant what I said.” He paused. “It’s only Christmas. I can just go home next year, but I’m not leaving you alone.”
She blinked. “Beast, you don’t have to.”
“It’s not about having to,” he cut in softly.
“It’s about what I want, and I want to stay here with you, Belle.
I want to spend Christmas with you.” He might have been using the excuse of not wanting to leave her unprotected, but honestly, the thought of having to leave Belle at all had him tied up in knots.
Belle lowered her gaze, breathing out slowly. “I haven’t spent Christmas with anyone in a long time.”
“Spend it with me,” he said. “We’ll figure out the rest as we go.”
She hesitated for only one breath, then nodded. “Only if you agree that we spend Christmas in New York, with your family. If your truck is the issue, then we can take my car, but I won’t let you miss out on Christmas with your family because you feel the need to stay here and babysit me.”
“I’m not fucking babysitting you, Belle.
I’m here with you because I want to be.” He reached for her, and she let him pull her into his lap.
“Damnit, tell me that you feel this thing between us, too, honey. Tell me that I’m not alone in this pull between the two of us, Belle.
” Maybe he was asking her for too much with such an admission, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted them to be on the same page.
She nodded her head, and he let out the breath that he didn’t know he had been holding.
“I feel it too,” she whispered. Beast’s chest loosened at the same time something tightened—something deeper, protective, and maybe a little bit dangerous.
Belle cuddled into him as his cell phone rang, and he growled.
He checked the caller ID, hoping like hell that his mother wasn’t calling back for another round of scolding him.
“It’s Savage,” he said. Beast answered the incoming call from Savage.
“You two good?” Savage asked, skipping the formalities of even a hello.
“For now,” Beast said. “We’re heading to Yonkers as soon as my truck is fixed. My mother wants me there for Christmas, and I’m bringing Belle along with me.”
Savage didn’t seem to even blink at the news. “Smart. Get her out of town. Give Shane nothing to latch onto, and maybe he’ll move on.”
Beast exhaled in relief. “Didn’t think you’d be cool with it.”
“I’ll call our club up in Yonkers and get their Prez, Hurricane, on standby,” Savage said. “He’ll have your back up there, no questions asked. Just promise me that you’ll keep Belle safe, man.”
“Of course, you have my word,” he said. Beast’s throat tightened. “Thank you for everything, Savage.”
“You can thank me by bringing her back safe,” Savage said. Beast ended the call and tossed his cell onto the table. Belle wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
“What was that for?” he asked. Beast watched her for a moment—her strength, her fear, her trust in him, and something inside him shifted. He wasn’t just helping her; he was choosing her. And choosing to take her home meant something.
“For just being you,” she whispered against his lips. “I knew you were a good guy when you sat up at the bar the other night. Are you sure that you want me to meet your family?” she asked.
He wasn’t sure of anything anymore except for one thing—he wanted Belle to meet his family because he wanted her to be a part of his life both now and after Christmas was over. The question was—would she feel the same way about him when the dust settled and the holiday was over?
Belle smiled—small, warm, and hopeful. And Beast swore, right then and there, he’d burn down the world before he let anything happen to her.
Monday morning, Beast woke up before the sun and found a text from Savage that Cillian had his rig, and the new tires should be ready to roll out in about two hours.
Beasts quickly sent him a thank-you text and pulled on a pair of gym shorts.
He was going to make some coffee, and then, he’d pack his things and help Belle pack her stuff.
They’d have to pick up a few things for Belle since it was cold up north, and she didn’t have many warm clothing options.
They got to Cillian’s garage just before ten in the morning. It smelled of grease and burnt oil, a familiar, comforting stink that reminded Beast of every long haul that had gone sideways—and a few that hadn’t. Savage met them at the garage and introduced them to Cillian.
“New tires are on, brakes checked, fluids topped off,” Cillian said, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. “Savage made sure this one didn’t leave until it was solid. You’re good to go.”
“I appreciate that, Savage. And I can’t thank you enough for doing this for me, Cillian,” he said. Savage was still insisting that Beast wouldn’t pay one cent of the bill. He said that it was the least he could do since his tires were slashed on Savage Hell’s property.
Beast ran a hand over the hood of his truck and nodded. “Thanks,” Beast muttered, tossing Cillian a nod.
“You got it,” Cillian said with a grin. “And hey, Merry Christmas. Don’t get in trouble on your way home.
” He bobbed his eyebrows at Belle, and she grumbled something about him being an idiot, making them all laugh.
Beast had to admit that if he was sticking around Huntsville, he could see himself joining the Royal Bastards.
He felt comfortable around the other guys, which was something new to him.
Plus, it would be nice to have brothers whom he could count on.
“Merry Christmas,” he said to Cillian and Savage. Belle hugged both men and promised to keep them updated, and they did the same to her, promising that they’d let her know what Shane was up to.
Beast climbed into the driver’s seat as Belle slid in beside him, her small bag tucked on the floor at her feet. She gave him a quick, nervous smile.
“You ready?” he asked.
Belle nodded. “I think so.”
“Good,” he said, turning the key. The engine hummed to life, smooth and strong, and Beast felt that rare surge of satisfaction when a machine cooperated. “We’ve got a long drive ahead, so buckle in. No sudden stops, no swerving for squirrels, and absolutely no backseat driving.”
“Too late,” she muttered, adjusting the heater vent.
Beast chuckled, his hand brushing hers for a moment before he gripped the wheel. “I’ll survive. We’ll make Yonkers before midnight tomorrow if nothing goes sideways.”
They hit the highway, the truck rolling down the road like it had a new purpose. Belle leaned back, knees drawn to her chest, head tilting against the seat. She glanced at him every so often, soft and quiet, and Beast felt that tug in his chest—protective, possessive, and restless.
Savage had set Hurricane up to be their backup, if they needed some, keeping an eye on Belle’s old house and Shane’s likely moves. Beast didn’t say it aloud, but that knowledge made the drive less tense. He didn’t have to glance in the rearview every few minutes—not entirely.
The miles stretched under them—frosted fields, sleepy towns, long stretches of highway, and for the first time in weeks, Beast felt something close to peace.
The road wasn’t chasing him. He wasn’t running from anything right now.
He was going toward something. Toward family, toward Belle, toward a Christmas he didn’t expect to have.
And she was right there beside him—warm and trusting.
“Beast,” she said softly after a while. “Thanks for all of this. For bringing me along with you. For making me feel safe.”
He kept his eyes on the road, but his jaw tightened.
“You’re worth it, and I’d do it all again.
” Belle leaned a little closer, brushing her shoulder against his.
He didn’t move away. Not even a little. He loved the need she seemed to have to constantly be touching him. He felt the same way about her.
The road unwound beneath them, darkening as the sun set, the truck steady and true. And Beast drove with one hand on the wheel, and the other holding onto Belle like he never wanted to let her go.
Yonkers was waiting. His mother, the holidays, Belle in the passenger seat—everything ahead of him felt heavier, more important, and somehow exactly right.