Page 23 of Beautiful Beasts

Harley has saved my life, and now she is saving both of us without even knowing it.

“Dinner will be ready soon, Bella,” I whisper as we look out the window at the storm raging outside.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

It pains me to know that she feels like she has to thank me for providing her with basic needs, but after what she has survived, she is grateful for everything.

Bella shouldn’t be the way she is right now, sweet, kind, and still fucking pure, but she is, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I put the rest of the plates into the dishwasher. Everyone was quiet at dinner, and I don’t think any of us knew what to say. I have never brought a woman home before, at least not in the way that I have with Bella. The staff and my family don’t know what to make of this situation yet, and I don’t blame them. I can’t fully explain it in words, even if they asked me what the fuck is going on.

I could only tell them that she wasn’t going anywhere. I won’t fucking let her, and the way Harley was watching her at dinner, I can tell he won’t let her go either.

I close the dishwasher and head back into the dining room. I gave the staff the rest of the night off. They made dinner, and it was my responsibility to clean up. It has been that way every year on my mother’s birthday and any other time we have dinner together.

We used to do it all the time when I was a boy, then as I grew up, the darkness took me over, and I pushed everyone away, everyone that was trying to save me from myself. I didn’t want to be saved back then. When I thought of my mother, I allowed the darkness to take me, but now I want to be saved, and I want to change. I just don’t know if it is possible. I don’t know if I can be saved from myself.

I stop in the doorway and cross my arms over my chest as I watch Harley take Bella’s hand and start to dance with her. I have never seen him like this. He is the hardest, most violent person I have ever known in my life, and right now, he is soft and kind. She is bringing out the best in both of us, which scares the fuck out of me.

Gus is leaning against the wall a few feet from me and watching Harley and Bella, too. She is laughing and swaying to the soft music. It is nice seeing her like this, carefree and unafraid. All I want is for her to be safe and happy, and right now, she is both of those things.

“You okay with this?” Gus asks, nodding towards Bella and Harley.

He thinks he knows me. He thinks I am going to freak out with what is unfolding in front of my eyes with the love of my life and my best friend, my brother, but he is wrong. I would never hurt her like that. I won’t tell her who she can love and will never control her. All the men in her life have tried to control and break her.

I want to love her.

I want to protect her.

I want to make her happy, and if that means sharing her with my brother, then so fucking be it.

“They both deserve to be happy,” I respond calmly.

I know I am even fucking surprising myself, but like I have stated, she is changing not just Harley but me as well.

“If you say so, man,” he says in a tone that makes my stomach twist.

Who the fuck does he think he is questioning me?

“I do say so. Your job is to watch over her, not to judge. Best you remember that, Gus,” I warn as calmly as possible.

One thing I can’t fucking stand is someone believing they have more power than what they fucking do. Gus is a nobody, he is fucking nothing. He is here because Harley and I allow him to be, and that can fucking change at any fucking moment.

“I haven’t forgotten,” he says confidently.

“Then do your fucking job and stop asking questions. I don’t pay you to ask questions. I pay you to fucking follow orders. If you can’t do that, I will find someone who can,” I say quietly through gritted teeth.

I push off the door frame and quietly exit the dining hall, returning to my office. I close the door behind me and slowly unbutton my shirt as I make my way across my office to look out of the large window.

Gus has no fucking right to ask questions. It is none of his fucking business what happens with Bella.

If he can’t fucking stick to his job, I will fucking replace him.

16

Bella

Third Week Together

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