Chapter Eight
On the day of the secret party Beast was nowhere to be seen, but Hope had already figured he had work to do as he’d told her he wouldn’t be around. Staring out of her bedroom window, she watched as Dwayne welcomed his guests. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a shirt, but she didn’t feel like joining the others.
She missed Beast.
Their time together was fleeting at most, but she relished the rare moments they shared together. He’d gone to take care of some business, and she’d spent a lot of time researching the internet on anything to do with Beast Carson. There was a great deal of information about him. He’d told her he wouldn’t hide the truth, and she knew most of the rumors about them were indeed true.
He killed people.
His businesses were not always legal.
She didn’t know how she felt about that.
Dwayne looked up toward her bedroom, and did that hand wave signal thing that told her to come down.
Seeing no point in staying camped out in her bedroom, she made her way toward the party, being sure to lock the door that she left through. Beast had told her that he didn’t mind Dwayne having parties so long as they stayed out of the main house.
He didn’t want any brat seeing something that couldn’t be unseen. Again, she didn’t know exactly what that meant, so she stood at the edge of the party, feeling uneasy.
Beast didn’t know about this party, or at least, she didn’t think he did.
“It’s about time you came out and had a little fun. Have you ever been to a party before with actual human beings?” Dwayne asked, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“Did you ask your uncle about this?”
“Please, Beast won’t mind. He never does. You’ve got to learn to live a little. Besides, we both know he’s got a thing for you.” He winked at her, and she just stared at him. Neither of them spoke about the fact she was screwing his uncle. Most of the time she didn’t give Dwayne much of a thought unless she was tutoring him. It wasn’t because she was being rude, but neither of them had anything in common. Like now, she didn’t want to upset Beast. “If he’s mad I’ll just push you in front of him. It’ll take away all of his killer instincts and I’ll be safe.”
She didn’t like that. “Don’t, Dwayne.”
“Don’t what? Come on, Miss Prissy. Lighten up. I know you two are screwing. I’ve known for some time now, and you don’t think I caught you both eye-fucking each other. Just have some fun. Beast’s not home, and you know what? Good. It means I get to make you have a good time.” He grabbed a cup of beer, handing it to her. “Now, take a sip and loosen up. This is a party. You’re safe here.”
She took a sip of the beer and wrinkled her nose. It was cheap, nasty, and horrible. The music filled the air, and she took a seat beside the pool, staring at the scantily clad girls. Some of them she didn’t even remember their names, but they were screaming for Dwayne to join them.
They removed their bikinis, throwing the wet fabric toward him. Within seconds his shirt was off, and he dived into the pool.
She chuckled and looked away as he began to kiss one girl, then the other, before going for the third girl.
“Leave it to Dwayne to have all the fun.”
Hope turned to see one of Dwayne’s friends, Micah, take a seat. “He seems to know how to throw a party.”
“I’ve not seen you around here before.”
“First party,” she said, taking another sip. She missed Beast, his warmth and his passion, but she didn’t say anything.
“You’re the girl that has moved in here, right? The one the uncle controls.”
She frowned. “No, I just live here.”
“Haven’t you heard what Dwayne’s uncle is all about? He loves to take young women, virgins, and show them a thing or two. Rumor has it that like a real beast, he eats them up, and buries them in a secret plot he has on the land.”
She stared at him and burst out laughing. “Yeah, I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Of course he doesn’t eat them. He just kills them.”
“No young girl has disappeared,” she said. “It’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, but what about in towns and cities, huh? They go missing all the time.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve got to head back inside.”
There was no way she was sitting and listening to horror stories about the man she was falling in love with.
Yeah, the deadly words that ended all magical flings. She didn’t mean anything to Beast, she was aware of that.
He didn’t want to keep her. They had a few moments of madness. That was all she could think of what their actual relationship was about.
Entering the main kitchen, she was about to close the door when Micah charged inside.
“Hey, you’re not allowed to be here.”
“And you are?” Micah pulled the door from her grip and she glared at him, moving away and stepping around the counter, putting some distance between them. She preferred when the party was outside, so she could stay inside.
“This is my home.”
“Yeah, and I’ve heard how you earn that. Beast is very … protective of you. I’ve heard Dwayne tell me all about it.” Micah stood, and she didn’t like the evil glint that came into his gaze. “No one’s home. Beast is usually home to take care of the parties, but you and I both know this is not one of those occasions.”
He advanced toward her, and she took a step back, wanting to put as much distance between the two of them as was physically possible. When he moved around the island within the kitchen, she took his spot on the opposite side.
Her heart pounded, and she knew the threat that he posed.
“You know, a lot of women are asking for it. You just got to rub them the right way to get what you want. No one will believe you. You’re a no one. A freak who watched her parents get killed. Me, I’m someone important.”
She just stared at him. “Leave.”
“Nah, you don’t get to boss me around, baby. In here, I’m the one that calls the shots. You should have stayed out there. I’d have picked someone else.”
“You’re disgusting.” She wondered how many other women he’d preyed on, forced into a corner, and it scared her.
He was the secret no one spoke about, and yet she’d seen girls around high school who people whispered about.
“Beast will kill you.”
“He’s not even here.”
She moved toward the door, and as he made a lunge for her, she ran off. She only made it to the dining room as he shoved her to the ground.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, she tried to fight him, but Micah was incredibly strong. He had both of her hands pinned above her head, and with his free one, he began to touch her up.
“I know you’re not a virgin anymore. There’s no way a man like Beast can leave you alone.”
“Get off me.” She tried to wriggle free, but his grip on her tightened.
“You know, people will never believe that a fat bitch like you could be raped by a guy like me. They’ll look at you as if you’re a fucking liar. It’s the perfect cover. Let’s face it. I’m the handsome guy. The one every girl wants. I can take what I want, and no one will say anything.”
He shoved his hands down her jeans, and she screamed, thrashing beneath him.
She’d never been so terrified in her life.
All of a sudden, she saw a pair of shoes, Beast’s shoes, come into view, and the weight at her back lifted. Quickly scurrying away, she caught sight of Beast holding Micah around the neck.
“So, you prey on innocent girls to get away with taking what doesn’t belong to you.”
He wasn’t allowing Micah to talk. In fact, he was choking Micah. In that moment, she didn’t care. He’d intended to hurt her, to rape her.
Beast didn’t even look her way, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Hope, you may go to my room. I’ll be up very shortly. I’m going to take care of this piece of scum, and then deal with my nephew.”
She got to her feet, and was about to pass him when Beast caught her arm, stopping her.
Slowly, she looked at him, feeling the shame wash over her.
“This is not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Do not let him break you.”
She nodded without saying a word, and left.
****
To say Beast was pissed, put it mildly. Caleb stood beside him as he held Micah by the throat. He’d known his nephew intended to have a party, and even thought it was funny that Hope kept Dwayne’s secret. What he didn’t intend was for it to go on for so long. He had business within the city, a deal that he had to be part of, and so he’d been home a few minutes later, and entering his home, he’d heard what this sick little shit was going to do. What he’d already done.
Rapists, abusers of any kind, sickened him. Staring at Micah, he saw a coward, a piece of shit. Releasing him, he shoved him toward Caleb. “Keep him company, and call that little shit’s father, and our guy at the police department. I want to have a little chat with him.”
Leaving his home, he stepped out into the fray of the party and came to a stop. What he saw … angered him.
Kids were snorting up coke on one of his coffee tables, and he saw Dwayne fucking one girl as he licked and sucked at another.
It was time to call it off.
“Anyone who is not Dwayne fucking Carson, get the fuck off my property or I will have you all arrested, and I see a lot of evidence that your little daddies won’t be able to save you from.”
Within minutes they were scrambling to get away. Dwayne had stood up, and even with a hard dick, he stared at him as if he had a right to.
Beast’s rage … was not something to be trifled with right now. He was pissed. More than pissed, he was fucking ready to kill, and right now, he wanted to hurt his nephew. That little shit had brought a rapist into his home, and because Dwayne had been too busy getting his own dick wet, it had put Hope in danger.
He’d heard the terrified scream. The fear. That scream would stay with him forever. Just another to add to his list of many crimes when it came to that girl.
When they were alone together, he stared across the yard, and Dwayne didn’t say a word.
“I was aware of this party ever since you began organizing it.”
“Hope—”
“Hope told me nothing.” He cut him off before any blaming could begin. “You’re not even aware of what I just had to stop, are you?”
“What?”
“Your good ‘friend’ Micah, Dwayne. You know anything about him? Know of his many secrets?”
Dwayne shook his head.
“So there’s never been a few tales of how he’s raped girls. Taken them without their permission. You know what rape means.”
“Micah doesn’t have to force a girl.”
Beast’s hands fisted at his sides, and for the first time, he wanted to hurt his nephew. Being soft on him hadn’t helped him in the least. It had made him foolish.
“I just walked in on Micah trying to rape Hope.” He tilted his head to the side and let that piece of information sink in. “Believe me, Dwayne, she wasn’t begging for it. She was screaming for help.”
Dwayne went pale, all blood draining from his face. “Is she … is … she okay?”
“I’ll deal with her, just like I deal with everything else.” He glanced around the pool. The use of drugs and sex was obvious. “You know I saved you from my brother all those years ago because I found you with bruises. He wasn’t doing anything differently to how we were raised. A boy that can take a few slaps can also punch, and from there, you begin to grow a monster. My brother was using our father’s methods. We’d all agreed it wouldn’t be the same for our children, but seeing how you abuse my trust, I know I was wrong. I’m not going to start beating you, but the playtime you had, the complete freedom to do what you want, ends tonight. This was your last party. Putting my woman at risk is the final straw. If you even think to put the blame of this on her, you’ll deal with me. Do you understand?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.” He turned on his heel, about to make his way inside.
“Is Micah still alive?”
“For now. He won’t be around for much longer, but not because I put a bullet in his brain. He’s going away, and last time I checked he was eighteen. Let’s see how he likes being someone’s bitch for a change.” He was going to make sure that little shit went to prison, and got a taste of what he did to others.
When he got back inside the house, Micah was sitting in a chair with his father and a local police officer in the room.
By the time he finished explaining the situation, Micah was being led in handcuffs and a deal was struck with his father. Plain and simple. Micah’s father was a businessman, and Beast knew how to make shit happen. He wanted Micah in prison, and he did a deal with the father to make sure that happened. If it was anyone else, he’d have killed the little shit, but he didn’t want Hope to feel any of that guilt.
Moving into his office, he poured two glasses of scotch, handing one to Caleb, who took it without a word. They stood in the office watching as Dwayne cleaned away the mess. It was the least he could do.
Beast had to go up to see Hope, but he couldn’t see her until he had a drink. Taking another large swig, he watched his nephew.
“We could send him away until your temper is back in check.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my temper, brother. He needs to learn to be responsible, and having parties where he can’t protect others, that’s something he’s going to learn.” He finished off his whiskey. “I want you to start tomorrow morning, training him. We’ll hone his skills, and teach him what he’s missing.”
He walked toward the office door. “Hope, she’s different for you, isn’t she?”
Glancing back toward Caleb, he stared at his younger brother, not saying anything.
“You’re different around her. You’ve not gone to see Sarah, and I know there’s no other woman in your life.”
Again, he just stared at Caleb, waiting for his brother to finish what was being said.
“Do you love her?”
“My feelings for Hope are not your concern.”
“They are, Beast. You and I both know they are because I’m part of this family, just like you. I know what you want, and I know what you’re capable of. I’ll protect her at all costs, you know that. You’re my brother.”
“You tried to warn her away.”
“For her own good. Do you really think that anything good could come from her being with you, being here?”
He gritted his teeth. His mother had lived a life that he wouldn’t allow a dog to have. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t give Hope up. Every night that he watched her sleep he was convinced that it would be the last. Only, the morning would come, and she’d smile at him, and he’d find himself lost once more.
“I’m going to go see her.”
This time he did leave, and made his way toward his room. There was no sign of her in his room or his bathroom, so he went to hers where he found her in the bath. Bubbles covered most of her body, and she looked tired. The moment he entered the room, she looked up at him.
“I wasn’t asking for it. I didn’t beg or anything.”
“I know you didn’t.” He removed his clothes and joined her in the bath, pulling her into his arms. At first, she tensed up and wouldn’t allow him to hold her. Beast didn’t give up. He pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. “You don’t have to think about him anymore.”
She began to cry, and her arms moved around him, holding him close. It was a good thing Micah was now in police custody, as otherwise he’d kill the little shit with his bare hands.
“How many girls do you think he’s done that to? He was so confident. He knew nothing and no one was going to harm him. How? Why? He shouldn’t … he can’t get away with that.”
“I’ve already got it handled. He’s not going to get away with anything, baby. I promise you. I’ve got things in place to make sure he won’t ever touch or hurt another woman again.”
She nodded and clung to him.
Closing his eyes, he kissed her head. “Next time, tell me that Dwayne’s going to have a party.”
“I’m so sorry. He begged me not to, and this is his home.”
“It’s yours as well.”
“I didn’t think that would happen. I thought I’d be safe.”
“I don’t want you to be afraid inside your own home.” He pushed some hair off her face and smiled down at her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know you won’t.” She pressed her lips to his. “I trust you.”
Just like that, guilt once again gripped him.
He saw the love shining in her eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He just held her close.