Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Megan's face stayed steady as she nodded. "He's the boss down in the slums. His guys have given me some trouble before, but honestly, he's not that bad."

That checked out-Megan had been living around here for years.

Clara just smiled a little and crouched down next to Beck.

He was tied up at the wrists and ankles, straining against the ropes when he saw her. Anger flashed across his face. “Clara, aren't you scared I'll come after you for this?"

Clara didn't even blink. Smack. Smack.

Her hand landed twice, hard and fast, right across his face.

Beck looked stunned, blood starting to drip from his split lip.

Megan jumped in shock, blurting out, "Clara, you "

But Clara's expression didn't change. She grabbed a broken beer bottle from the trash on the floor and, without warning, smashed it over Beck's head.

Glass shattered. Beck's blood mixed with the beer running down his hair.

Eli just stood off to the side, silent, barely frowning.

Clara gripped the jagged half of the bottle. Her voice was perfectly calm. "If I hadn't gotten away last night, who knows what would've happened to me? But now, you're the one tied up. So, let's make this simple-tell me who sent you."

Beck clamped his jaw shut and glared up at her. Even with a bottle smashed over his head, he didn't make a sound.

Clara already knew he wasn't going to crack easily.

She stood up and walked out into the hallway.

Eli followed, hands shoved in his pockets. "Want me to step in?"

"Could you even get him to talk?"

Eli leaned back against the wall, looking relaxed but his tone was sharp. "Guys like him? Even if I beat it out of him, who's to say he'd tell the truth? Didn't you see his eyes? He's not afraid of dying."

Someone who's not scared of death-what could actually get to him?

If they wanted answers, they'd have to find his weak spot.

But what kind of weakness would a guy tough enough to run the slums actually have?

Eli snapped his fingers, a little smile tugging at his lips. "I've been

around. Supposedly, there's a

woman he's crazy about BEQnoveldrama

knows what she looks like, though."

A guy like that-if he cares about someone, he'll go all in, no matter what. Clara's eyebrows arched just a little. She turned and walked back into the room. That's when she noticed Megan, standing off to the side, quiet as a mouse. "Megan?"

Megan turned, face pale as a sheet, clearly rattled from everything that just happened.

“Clara, maybe I... should just go home?"

Clara thought she was just scared by the scene. She nodded. "Sure, go ahead. If anyone comes up, just holler."

Megan quickly looked down and hurried out, but as she passed Clara, she stumbled over something and nearly fell.

Clara caught her, voice soft. "Careful."

Megan shivered, letting out a shaky breath. “I'm okay. Just... a little freaked out."

She didn't say anything else—just left in a rush.

Clara turned her attention back to Beck.

He kept his eyes squeezed shut, letting blood drip down his face. He wasn't the smartest guy, but after years around Megan, he'd learned how to keep her safe.

He really did care about Megan. He'd do anything for her. Now, he was terrified Clara would see right through him, so after getting hit with that bottle, he just shut his eyes tight like if he couldn't see her, she couldn't read him.

Guys like him were always the hardest to break.