Beast #2
Beast’s jaw clenched. He didn’t even look at her. He couldn’t. “I guess your ex is more serious about getting you back than we thought he would be,” Savage said flatly.
“He’s insane. And he’s obsessed with me. What’s to stop him from going after anyone close to me, anyone I care about?”
Beast squeezed her hand, letting his fingers press hard against hers. “You’re not going to be alone, Belle. Not for a second.”
Savage’s voice cut in again. “I’ve got guys on standby.
Hurricane’s already on it—he’ll keep an eye on your parents’ place while you figure out where to lay low and wait.
Don’t take risks, Beast. This guy was twisted enough to follow you halfway up the country.
There’s no telling what he’ll do to get Belle back. ”
Beast growled low in his chest. “We won’t take any risks. I’ve got her with me. We’re not leaving each other—unless we know it’s safe.”
Belle’s breath caught in a soft sigh. “I—I just don’t want to put anyone in danger because of me.”
“You’re not,” Beast said firmly, eyes flicking to her. “My parents will understand, and no one else is coming over for a few days still. You’re coming with me. Where I go, you go. We’ll handle Shane. He’s not touching you.”
Savage’s tone softened just slightly, though it was still sharp. “I’ll keep eyes on him. You guys just do what I say, and don’t give him a chance to get too close to either of you. You know he’s patient, but he’s sloppy when he thinks he’s got you cornered.”
Beast grunted. “Understood. Thanks, Savage.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Savage said with a growl. “Just get Belle somewhere safe, and call me if you see anything strange. Don’t take chances.”
Beast ended the call and stared at the clock on his nightstand for a long moment, his muscles coiled like springs. Belle’s hand was still in his, and he turned toward her, voice low, rough.
“We’ll figure this out,” he tried to reassure her.
Her eyes were wide, shimmering in the dim morning light. “You can’t be sure of that, Beast.” Beast pulled her closer against his body, just enough to let her press into him. His heart felt like it was going to beat right out of his chest.
“I’m sure enough,” he murmured. “Because I’m not letting anyone hurt you. Not him, not anyone. You stick with me, and we’ll fix this before it gets worse.”
Belle nodded against him, resting her head on his chest, as her warmth grounded him.
And as they lay there together, Beast felt that familiar, dangerous pull—the need to protect her, to hold her, to keep her close no matter what.
Shane had made a move. Beast was ready to counter it, and there was no way that he’d lose.
The drive from his parents’ house to Hurricane’s place was quiet, the kind of silence that made Beast’s jaw tighten without him even realizing it.
Belle sat beside him, shoulders hunched slightly, eyes fixed out the window, and he knew she was thinking the same thing he was—Shane had followed them this far, and Savage hadn’t even had to spell out how dangerous that could be.
Beast adjusted his grip on the wheel, trying to stay calm, trying not to let his anger get out of control.
“Do you think he knows where your parents live?” Belle asked softly, almost afraid to break the quiet.
Beast’s hand tightened on the wheel. “It doesn’t matter if he does.
My parents know what’s going on, and they agree that we’re not waiting to find out what he wants.
We’re taking the fight to him.” He stole a quick glance at her, seeing the worry written across her face.
“Which is why I’m not letting him anywhere near you. ”
She nodded, shoulders rising and falling. “I just, I don’t want them to get caught up in this. God, they must hate me.”
Beast gritted his teeth. “They don’t hate you, sweetheart. I won’t let anything touch them either.”
The ride ended at Hurricane’s House—a small, neat little bar with enough security cameras to make an FBI agent blush.
Hurricane himself walked out of the front door to meet them, looking slightly amused and slightly annoyed at having visitors show up unannounced.
He was just as Savage described him to be.
“You must be Beast,” he said, holding the door for them. “Who’s this?”
“This is Belle,” Beast said simply, letting her step inside first. “We need to talk. Her ex followed us from Huntsville. Savage warned me he might be tailing us here.”
Hurricane’s expression darkened immediately. “Son of a—” He ran his hand over his beard and sighed. “What can I do to help?”
Beast nodded. “We need a few of your guys over at my parents’ house in case he shows up there. And we can’t let him touch Belle.”
Hurricane crossed his arms, pacing a little. “All right, we’ll set everything up. I can put guys around your parents’ house, a couple of us at a time, on patrol. Nobody gets past us.”
Belle shifted beside him, clearly nervous. Beast rested a hand lightly on her back, letting her lean into him for comfort. He didn’t say anything—he didn’t need to. She already knew she was safe with him, and that was enough for now.
“I’ll handle the house on the inside,” Beast said, thinking aloud.
“If you can assign some of the club to guard my parents’ place while we’re here.
I don’t want them getting involved in whatever Shane is planning.
My sisters and their families will be showing up in just a few days. Will that be a problem?”
Hurricane shrugged. “Not as long as they don’t mind a few bikers hanging around, keeping them safe. If they have kids, they’ll need to lay low inside the house.”
Beast glanced at Belle again. She looked like she was holding her breath.
“Hey,” he murmured, “we’ve got this.” From the look on her face, he wasn’t sure that she believed him.
“My sisters and their families will follow the rules, Hurricane. I can promise you that.” Belle’s lips pressed into a small, grateful smile.
That smile alone made his chest tighten.
He hated how much he wanted to keep her close, wanted to shield her from every little thing in the world.
He felt as though he was failing miserably.
“All right,” Hurricane said, breaking the moment between him and Belle. “I’ll make the calls. We’ll have coverage at your parents’ house ASAP. Shane won’t even know which way to look first if he finds their house.”
Beast let out a low, satisfied growl. “Good. Because if he comes after Belle—” He didn’t finish the thought. He didn’t need to, because from the look in Hurricane’s eyes, he understood.
He looked back at Belle. “How do you feel about this? About staying with my parents and me for now?”
She swallowed, nodding slowly. “Safe. With you—yeah, I feel safe.”
He grunted softly. “Good. That’s how it’s going to stay. No exceptions.”
They said goodbye, exchanging numbers with Hurricane, and got back on the road to his parents’ place.
For the rest of the ride back to Yonkers, Beast drove with one eye on the road and the other on her, every sense on full alert.
He didn’t care what his parents thought about Belle living under their roof.
They insisted that the two of them stay and not go to a safehouse, but his parents needed to realize that Belle came first—always.
Shane was going to regret following them to New York.