He couldn’t resist reaching out, tucking some hair behind her ear. She didn’t pull away from his touch, and she glanced over at him.
The yearning in her gaze was clear.
Beast wondered how many people had taken the time to touch, to take care of her. The information on her aunt wasn’t exactly flattering. He didn’t for a second imagine life was easy for Hope.
“You’re not alone,” he said. “There are always people who can help.”
She laughed. “I know. What happened to me wasn’t as bad as what some people go through. It wasn’t the best, but … it could have been a lot worse.” She gritted her teeth. He saw the telltale sign of her jaw clenching.
“You can talk to me,” he said, offering his support even before he knew why he was doing it. He didn’t owe this woman—girl, he had to remember that—he didn’t owe her anything.
“I really don’t need to talk about it, but thank you. I really appreciate it.” She tucked some hair behind her ear.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Dwayne said.
“I’d like you to tell your girlfriend you’ll deal with her when you’re not studying, as otherwise I’ll take your phone.”
“Beast,” Dwayne said.
“No, your education comes first. Miss Miller could be anywhere else in the world. She doesn’t need to be helping your lazy ass. Give her the respect she’s due.”
He got up and walked away, not glancing back.
Heading to his office, he grabbed his jacket, looking outside once more to see them both studying. His nephew looked pissed off, but he didn’t care.
Leaving his office, he stopped at the doorway, seeing Levi standing there. “Make sure Hope Miller gets home safely. I don’t want to see a bulletin about her being lost or dead.”
“Yes, sir.”
Beast climbed behind the wheel of his car, taking off into the city.
The few occasions he’d spoken to Hope, he’d found himself drawn to her. The darkness in her gaze, the need, no one else saw it, but he did. Hope Miller craved attention. Her family was dead, and that left her alone. Not for the first time, he wondered how long she’d been wanting attention, touch.
She wasn’t acting out for it, nor was she showing any outward signs of needing it, but he saw it.
The way she leaned against him, begging for his touch with her gaze. At the same time, she pulled away, not wanting what he could give.
She was pushing and pulling with equal measure.
Eighteen years old.
She’s a high school student.
She’s already had something fucked-up go on in her life.
Even as he tried to list every single reason that he had to stay away, he was once again drawn to her gaze. She wasn’t afraid of him. He also believed she didn’t have a clue of what he was capable of. What he could do.
He wasn’t a good man.
He hurt people.
Anyone who betrayed him found themselves a gruesome death.
Beast had never taken shit from anyone.
“The key, son, is fear. Make everyone afraid of you, and it will keep them in line. Anyone tries to take that power away from you, show the world why they should fear you.”
He’d watched his father torture men and women, anyone who thought they could have a life without him.
Each lesson had created the person he was today. His own mother had told his father she’d named her son aptly, because that was exactly what he was going to turn into, a beast.
Parking up outside of Sarah’s apartment block, he made his way inside, nodding at the man on the main desk. It wasn’t the first time he’d been here, and he knew it wasn’t going to be his last either.
Sarah was a first-class slut. She took anyone’s money, and so long as they paid her high fee, she’d make every single man’s dream come true.
He’s seen her in action. Fucking an entire line of fifteen men and loving every second of it.
As he knocked on her door, she opened it with a smile on her lips.
“Hey, Beast,” she said.
He shook his head, opening the door the rest of the way. She loved it when he took charge. Closing the door behind him, he wrapped his fingers around her neck, pushing her against the wall.
“You don’t say my name. You don’t say fucking anything. I don’t even want you to look at me right now.”
She instantly closed her eyes. Her nipples were rock-hard points, begging for his attention, her body already on display with the sheer dress she wore. She loved the attention and the shock value she gave. He’d watched her walk down a street, seeing men and women turn to look at her.
Tearing the dress from her body, he cupped one of her breasts. They were a little small for him, but for now they would do.
Moving her from the wall, he pushed her down so that her ass was pointed up. He didn’t want to stare at her. Grabbing a condom from his pocket, he tore into the wrapper, rolling it down his cock. Once he was protected, he didn’t touch her nasty pussy. He never did. Sarah was just a tool to be used, and if he didn’t fucking need her right now, he wouldn’t be here.