The Great North, Quebec, 1934. Joe Vega, the Beast, has been locked up in Linhart Prison for three years. The brutish guards harass him because of his size, but Joe remains cool. Until Christophe Dubois, the disowned son of an affluent politician, is led into Joe's cell. From the moment Joe sees him, he suspects the ginger-head is trouble. Christophe is bold, curious, and feisty, and Joe can't resist the temptation of climbing into the man's bunk for long. However, the beautiful spoiled Christophe is a furnace to which both guards and convicts want to warm their hands, and Joe must fight to keep Christophe safe. Linhart Prison may be a cruel place, but when the two men are released from its walls, they find an even tougher world out there. Is the flame burning between Joe and Chris enough to keep them together?

Linhart's Beautiful Beast

Dubois walked over to his usual spot, by the bars. “Like farm animals being hosed down for the country fair.”


“Hey, I don’t know if you noticed it on your way here, but this ain’t exactly the Savoy.”


Dubois shot him a cold look. “Strange how you always come to this place’s defense whenever I voice a complaint.” He turned his nose up at Joe and looked away, at the hall.


Dubois was right. And Joe hated the baths anyway. “You don’t have to worry about the steam room,” Joe said. “Victor made sure no one messes with you in here, so you can enjoy your bath tomorrow, as opposed to the rest of us.”


“Who told you? Who told you about that?”


“So, that’s why you mock me all the time. Because you have no respect for me. Because you think Victor’s power is strong enough to keep me safe in here?” Dubois shook his head. “I’m a joke to you.”


“Yeah, you are.” But Joe couldn’t look Dubois in the eye. He wasn’t a joke to him.


Chapter 16