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

Of course, Levin hadto say something to Dubois. “If you need inspiration for your manifesto,” he said, very hush-hush, “I have plenty of ideas and experience.”


“Thank you,” Dubois said, filling Levin’s bowl to the rim. “I’ve heard great things about you. Your ideas interest me.”


The compliment had Levin blushing with self-importance, and he walked away with his back thrown up straight, casting a few happy glances over his shoulder at Dubois.


Joe decided he didn’t want any of Dubois’s stinking soup. Head high, he walked by, not looking at him.


“No soup, Vega?” Dubois asked, in a small voice. He never called him Joeanymore.


“No thank you. It looks nasty.” Joe dared a quick look at Dubois’s face. But Dubois wasn’t looking at him. His eyes were cast down sadly.


Against good reason, Joe turned and walked back to Dubois’s post. He couldn’t stand to see him sad. “Gimme some goddamn soup,” he said, with his heart in his mouth.


“Yes?’’ Dubois’s whole countenance changed. “Sure?’’


Chapter 27