Page 58 of Falling for the Beast

“Probably.” She felt like crawling into the earth and burying herself.

After they got inside, Thaddeus showed her how to press the puzzle to the backing and secure the frame. “Now it’s ready to hang,” he said, stepping away from her.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice catching.

“No problem.” He took another step back. “Drive safely. It’s a little slick out.”

Panic arose in her, and she blurted, “There’s another reason I came tonight.”

He looked startled, and he blinked at her. “What is it?”

Now she was stuck. Didn’t matter if he rejected her, she had to say it now. “I was thinking…maybe if you hired me back—I mean I don’t want you to fire Sarah—but if you needed me back, I could maybe go with you when you go out at night.” She couldn’t read the expression on his face, so she kept going. “I know it sounds weird, but if I went with you, I could help you help other people, and then I wouldn’t worry so much about you, and it wouldn’t be such a strain between us, and I could make sure you got home safely, and—”

“Belle,” he said, cutting her off. He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I—”

Thaddeus stopped and cocked his head. “Someone’s coming.”

Chapter 26

Aloud crash sounded in theliving room, and Thaddeus whipped around, shielding her. “Stay here!” he hissed, his voice low.

Fear tore through her and she nodded to him. He rushed into the other room. Aribelle held her breath until she heard Thaddeus speak.

“Gavin? What are you doing here?”

Terror replaced her fear and she gasped. She couldn’t leave Thaddeus alone to face him. Gavin was psycho. She ran into the other room.

Gavin stood by the window, glass strewn about on the floor. His face filled with blind rage. “I knew you’d come here,” he screamed, pointing at Aribelle.

“Have you been following me?” The words sounded small in the room.

An evil grin slid onto his face. “You’re not that hard to track. And Walmart? Really? That’s so beneath you.”

Thaddeus stepped closer to her. “Gavin. I’m calling the police. You need to leave.” His voice sounded calm, but Aribelle could see the way his muscles tensed.

“Go ahead!” he shouted. “The police need to know what you really are.”

Despite what he said, Aribelle knew Thaddeus wouldn’t call the police. He was too afraid of being found out.

“Who do you think they’ll arrest?” Thaddeus asked. “Me, the homeowner, or you, the man who busted a window and climbed inside?”

Gavin made a face and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at them. “Fine. Don’t call. I don’t mind dealing with this by myself.”

Aribelle always thought she would scream if someone pointed a gun at her, but she was too terrified to take the necessary breath. She clenched her teeth together and tried not to let him see her knees shaking.

“Put the gun down,” Thaddeus said, a slight growl to his words.

Gavin motioned to Thaddeus with the gun. “Why don’t you show her what you really are? Come on, tough guy. Show her.”

“Gavin, you need help. Put down the gun and we can help you,” Aribelle said, her heart in her throat.

Gavin squinted, his face turning red. “I don’t want help. The only thing I want is for him to transform into the beast he is.”

Thaddeus advanced slowly toward Gavin, his hands out to his sides in a protective way. “Give me the gun.” He reached toward Gavin.

“No!” Gavin raised the gun to shoot at Thaddeus’s head. Thaddeus pounced and grabbed at the gun. A gunshot sounded and the glass from the ceiling light exploded. The room went dark.

Aribelle dropped to the floor, frozen, unable to move a muscle as she heard noises of the men struggling, her eyes adjusting to the dark. Then rough hands grabbed her and pulled her hair, forcing her to stand up. “Don’t move, or she’s dead.” Gavin pressed the warm barrel of the gun to her head.

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