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Beau strolled down the elegant curved mahogany staircase. He stepped onto the hardwood floors and caressed the newel post at the end of the steps. Shaped like the head of a horse, the bit pulled taut in its mouth, he admired the pain carved into the creature’s bulging eyes.
He headed along the hallway, tugging his book bag over his shoulder, the occasional moan of the floor echoing around him. He glanced at a massive gold painting of New Orleans he liked, bought by some dead relative a century ago. Family portraits of other deceased members of the Devereaux clan littered the white wainscoting covered walls. He passed the tall cypress door to his father’s office, not bothering to check inside. His old man was an early riser and probably on his way to the brewery.
At the end of the hall, he turned down a slender corridor to the kitchen and the entrance to the five-car garage. He enjoyed the quiet in the morning after his father went to work and before his mother crawled out of bed. It made him feel like it was all his, for a little while anyway.
In the kitchen, Beau went around the beaten copper-covered breakfast bar to the refrigerator.
His father appeared, holding a coffee mug.
Beau froze, almost afraid to move when he spotted him.
Gage Devereaux rested his hip against the black granite countertop. Tilting his head slightly, he inspected his son. In his usual attire—a long-sleeved shirt and slacks—he came across more like a casual businessman than a ruthless capitalist. Except for their height and physical prowess, Beau felt he had nothing in common with his father.
He attempted to relax by shifting his book bag on his shoulder. “Didn’t expect to find you still home.”
Gage set his mug on the counter. “I wanted to speak to you before you left for school.”
The hint of condescension in his father’s voice tightened his chest—it usually signaled a lecture.
“I got a call from Ms. Greenbriar yesterday afternoon. She said you visited her office after a run-in you had with Carol Foster’s boy.”
Beau’s fingers twitched, the way they did when his aggravation got the better of him. Great. The idiot woman had called his father. The last thing he needed was Gage Devereaux up his ass.
“Derek is dating Dawn’s sister, so I often see him at school.” He tempered the irritation in his voice, not wanting to annoy his father. “I was talking to Leslie when Derek walked up. I accidentally caught him with my elbow when I turned around. I apologized and everything is fine.”
He waited, analyzing every move his father made, searching his hard eyes for an inkling of his mindset.
“I’ve spoken to you before about this.” Gage came around the breakfast bar. “This family is in a precarious position with everyone in town. I don’t want your actions threatening our business or our good name.” He gripped Beau’s shoulder. “What have I always told you? What is our rule?”
Beau cringed as the words he’d spent a lifetime dreading screamed through his head. He faced his father, standing at attention. “Self-control in all things. Never let anyone see who you really are.”
Gage leaned closer. “No matter what anyone says, no matter what they do, you walk away. This includes your girlfriend. Do you understand?”
Beau stiffened at the low, menacing tone in his father’s voice. “Yes, sir.”
Gage lifted the left side of his mouth ever so slightly. “Go to school.”
Beau stood by the breakfast bar, not moving a muscle as his father headed to the garage. The door clicked shut and a trickle of sweat ran down his temple. His jaw muscles cramped from clenching, his heart rate slowed, and he glanced at his fists. His father’s warning spinning in his head, Beau slammed his hand down on the copper bar.
Anger like molten lead ran through him. Beau sucked in deep breaths to calm himself—something he remembered from a long-ago therapy session. Then he relaxed his hand on the bar, checking the dent he’d left in the copper. He wiped the smudge away, stepped back, and raised his head.
I am the master of control.
* * *
Low clouds fat with rain hugged the sky above the student parking lot. Beau turned at the chain-link fence surrounding the lot and eased his silver BMW onto the blacktop. His father’s words in his head, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he pulled into his usual spot beneath a shady oak.
Students milled around, chatting and laughing. A few guys tossed a football over the tops of cars. It was a relaxed and playful atmosphere, just what he needed to dispel the last remnants of his father’s warning.
Beau spied Leslie and Dawn’s white Honda pulling into the lot and grinned. Leslie was driving, as usual.
Dawn was out of the car as soon as it stopped. He waited until he saw her heading to the steps of the main entrance before he opened his door.
Leslie took her time getting her books from the back of her car, and he studied her movements, intrigued how she kept pushing a stray hair behind her ear.
She’s nervous. Could it be I’m getting to her?
Beau enjoyed seeing her this way. It made him feel as if he had some mastery over her, giving him hope for more in the future. He stayed in the shade, clenching his fists as Leslie clutched the bag to her chest. Her head down, she walked toward the side entrance to the school.
Here was his chance.
He jogged across the green quad as a clap of thunder shook the air. Leslie stopped at the door, searching her book bag for something, giving him enough time to reach her.
She had left her hair down, just caressing her slim shoulders, and her light blue blouse set off the paleness of her skin.
She raised her head from her book bag and veered left, heading back to the parking lot, and ran smack into him.
He gripped her arm to keep her from falling over, enjoying the opportunity to touch her soft skin.
“Whoa, hey there.” He kept his voice deep and seductive. “Just the girl I’ve been waiting for.”
Her full, unpainted lips turned down. Beau pulled her close against his chest.
Leslie jerked her arm, trying to break free. He dug his fingers into her tender flesh.
He loved the fight in her. It made him feel alive.
“What’s wrong, darlin’?”
“You’re scum, Beau. You know that?”
As a few students rounded the corner, Beau let go of her arm and stepped back. A group of sophomore girls passed by, and he made sure to give them a dazzling smile. They giggled and quickly slipped in the side entrance.
Leslie pushed past him, heading toward the door, but he placed his hand on the side of the building, blocking her.
He leaned in, taking in the sweet smell of her. “What’s wrong, Leslie?”
She arched away from him. “Leave me alone.”
“Why? What have I done?” He feasted his eyes on her figure, lingering on her breasts. “I would never think of harming anyone close to my girl. You know that.”
Leslie glared at him, her blue eyes on fire. But before she could respond, Dawn ran up and got between them.
“Back off, Leslie.”
Her low growl surprised Beau. Where had she been hiding that? Beau slipped his arm around Dawn’s waist, eager to let her know she was his.
“I think you need to set your sister straight, baby. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’s mad at me about something.”
Leslie shook her finger at him. “Stay away from Derek, Beau.”
He flashed a brilliant smile; the one he used to get out of trouble, especially with female teachers. “I think you need to check your facts, counselor. I don’t give a rat’s ass about your geek boyfriend.”
Dawn curled into his chest, her strong perfume stinging his eyes.
“See?” She did everything but stick her tongue out at Leslie. “He doesn’t give a rat’s hiney about Derek. So just drop it.”
Beau hated the childish approach Dawn used with her sister, but it proved to him he had nothing to worry about when it came to her loyalties. That was good. The bigger the divide between them, the closer he could get to Leslie.
Beau took Dawn’s book bag from her shoulder. “We on for the river Friday night? It’s only gonna be a great party if you’re there.”
“The river is lame.” Leslie tossed her bag over her shoulder. “All everybody does there is drink and screw around.”
Her condemnation of the river stoked Beau’s hostility. His nails dug into the strap of Dawn’s bag. How dare she bash the one place he had total freedom?
“I think you have the wrong idea about what goes on at the river. We just hang out and have fun. There’s no parents to annoy us, no rules to follow. We can do what we want without anyone telling us we’re too loud or too wild.” He rolled his neck, relieving the tension created by Leslie’s presence. “I think you would enjoy yourself.”
She shook her head. “No thanks.”
Dawn smirked at her. “Leslie’s creeped out by The Abbey. She never wants to go to the river because of it. Doesn’t even like me talking about the place.”
Leslie, with her wide stance and tightly pressed lips, reminded Beau of an Amazon warrior. Dawn had obviously hit a nerve, and he could guess why.
He sensed an opportunity. His heart sped up at the prospect of adding to her fears.
“Are you talking about the ghost?”
Dawn snickered, grating on his nerves. “What ghost?”
Beau kept his attention focused on Leslie while he spoke, eager to take in her terrified expression. “The lady in white. She wears a white-hooded cloak and haunts The Abbey grounds. Some say she appears when something bad is going to happen, but others think she’s the lost love of a priest who lived at the seminary. You have to be careful in The Abbey. She’s also said to take revenge on those who cause harm.”
Thunder rolled across the sky and both girls flinched. He couldn’t have asked for better timing, but their frightened reactions fascinated him. If only he could recreate the fear in their faces—what a turn on.
Dawn was the first to break the spell, slapping his arm and giggling. “Beau. Cut it out.” She took his hand and pulled him toward the door. “Let’s get to class.”
He let Dawn lead him away, but not before glancing back at the reason for all his misery.
* * *
Leslie stared as her sister and Beau walked away, holding hands. She hated seeing Dawn manipulated by the sadistic shit. But how he acted one way with her and another with her sister disturbed her even more. Why couldn’t Dawn see it?
Lightning raked across the sky, and she headed inside, spooked by the weather and Beau’s eerie story. Leslie had watched his expression as he told the tale about the ghost. He’d almost seemed to enjoy her fear. But why?
Inside, students casually strolled through the gray locker-filled hallway, chatting and checking their phones. Leslie’s cell buzzed in her back pocket. She grabbed it as she shifted her bag.
A text appeared on the screen.
Running late. Love.
A warm blanket of emotion wrapped around her and chased away the anxiety Beau had caused. Since dating Derek, Beau’s choking effect on her had lessened. Knowing she had Derek to talk to, hold, and share her concerns with helped tremendously.
Once past the chemistry lab, the students in the hall thinned. Before she went to her first-period class, she sent off a quick text to Derek.
She wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings when someone grabbed her from behind. Heart pounding, Leslie dropped her phone, and images of Beau made her cock her arm back to confront him with a quick punch to the throat. She spun around, ready to face him, when Derek smiled at her.
She almost crashed to her knees. Leslie sucked in a few deep breaths, overcome with the realization of what her encounters with Beau had done to her.
I’m losing it.
“Hey!” He held up his hands, eyeing her tight fist. “What is it?”
Leslie unclasped her hand. “I thought you were someone else.”
He retrieved her phone from the floor. “Who else would be grabbing you in the middle of the hallway?”
Leslie took her phone, debating what to say. She didn’t want to tell Derek how shaken she was. It would only make him go after Beau, and that was the last thing she wanted.
“I ran into Beau this morning.” She touched the bruise on his cheek, glad it had not turned black and ugly. “It’s looking better.”
“Never mind about that.” Derek took her hand. “What happened with Beau?”
The tension in his voice made up her mind. She couldn’t share her fears with him or anyone. She had to keep Derek safe and not break her sister’s heart, no matter how much it killed her to let Beau get away with his bullying.
“Nothing happened. He just pulled his usual crap. I can handle it.”
“That guy has some sick obsession with you.”
She waved off Derek’s concerns. “He’s dating my sister, so how could he have an obsession with me?”
Derek took her elbow and urged her along the hall. “Who knows? Maybe he hates that you’re smart, independent, and the complete opposite of Dawn.”
“Or he just has a sick fantasy of doing twins.” She tucked her head against his chest. “Isn’t that what all you guys want?”
“Guess again.” He stopped outside her English classroom door. “I have you, and I would rather jump off a bridge than spend ten minutes with your sister.” He kissed her cheek just as the first bell rang.
A frenzy of activity erupted as the shouts of students, bang of lockers, and the squeak of tennis shoes signaled the last-minute chaos before class.
Derek smiled at her before joining the mad rush for first-period.
He disappeared behind a sea of students, but the peace he brought to her, and the happiness he rallied in her heart, eased her apprehensions about Beau Devereaux.
