Page 42 of Old Flame

Ahead of us, Rome’s bike veered to the left lane, along with twoother bikes. We all went to the right lane to turn again. I watched them as they waited at the red light with their left blinkers flashing. They all had women on the back. The one on Rome’s leaned in, and it looked like she kissed his neck or ear—I wasn’t sure which.

I snapped my head back around to watch where we were going. It was easier. Anxiety began to creep up at the knowledge that Rome wasn’t going to be at this compound place that Pepper had told me we would be safe at. I’d thought he would be. Why that had given me comfort I didn’t know. It wasn’t like he’d even asked about me. He wasn’t the one who had saved me, and he was there. I just hadn’t seen him among all that happened until we were leaving.

This man who had told me to get on his bike—who I would admit was a touch frightening—had cared about my situation. He’d killed a man to get me free, and then he’d carried me out of there when I struggled to walk. The stranger seemed to be more reliable than the man I’d once loved.

Sighing, I tried not to get deep in my emotions. But I missed Eamon. I missed our calm, predictable life. The one where I had known what each day would bring. I knew he’d be home every evening. And I knew I was loved and cherished. I knew I had a family and a home in him. He had been my safe place.

Navigating life without that was hard. Much harder than I could have imagined. Especially considering my circumstances now. Oh, to be sitting in our living room, eating takeout from our favorite Chinese place and watching one of our binge shows on Netflix. Something I had taken for granted. Something I’d thought would always be. Until it wasn’t.

The bikes slowed and then came to a stop in front of tall metal fencing that reminded me of a prison. I’d never been to a prison, not even when my father had been put in one, but I had seen enough of them on television. The gate began to slide open,and the bikes rumbled, then pulled inside and down a narrow road lined with palm trees until we reached a massive two-story building. It was long and rectangular. Part brick, the other concrete.

Lick parked the bike in a line with the others, then cut the engine.

After he climbed off, he held a hand out to me. “Don’t want you falling,” was all he said.

I placed my hand in his and was thankful once I swung my leg over and stood. My legs wobbled slightly, and his other hand went to my waist and held me firmly.

“Give it a minute,” he told me. “Your legs will steady up. Or I can carry you again.”

He smirked at the last part, and I felt my face flush. Was he flirting?

“The heels aren’t much help,” I mused, thinking if I had known I was going to be almost abducted and seen my boss with a bullet in his head, I might have worn better shoes.

Pepper came up beside me. “God, that was brutal. Why can’t one of them have had a car for us to ride in?” she said with a grimace. “Let’s go get you cleaned up.”

I glanced down at my dress and the blood on it, which had dried. I’d forgotten about that. Nodding, I let her lead me to the door that was being held open by a younger guy. He wore a black leather jacket, but not the vest. I’d noticed a few others like that.

“Thank you,” I told him as we passed.

A small smile tugged at his lips, but he looked at the ground.

“Yeah, thanks, Bullet,” Pepper called back over her shoulder.

He didn’t respond or look at her either.

She glanced at me. “Bullet is a prospect. He has to hold the door open for everyone, and he can’t interact with female visitors.”

“Prospect?” I asked, following her into the dark building withblack walls.

As we made our way farther into it, it appeared to be nothing but walls on either side of us.

“That’s someone who was brought in by a member. He has to earn his dues, and then the counsel can vote to patch him in.”

Oh. It sounded like a fraternity, but I didn’t say that. I figured that would be considered an insult.

Some men ahead of us kept going and pushed open a red door. One yelled out something about lasagna to Nina before disappearing into the other room. Pepper stopped at a flight of stairs, and I followed her up.

At the top, the walls weren’t black, but navy, making it not as dark and gloomy. However, the floor was a wood that had been stained black. There was a long, wide hallway with sconces lining the walls for limited lighting.

Pepper turned left and went two doors down, then opened the door. Inside was a large room with a queen-size bed that had a tall white wooden headboard. The quilt on the bed was white with flowers on it in different patterns. The walls were lilac instead of the dark colors I’d seen so far. There was a dresser with a television hanging on the wall above it and a closed door. On the other side of the room was an open door that led into what I assumed was a bathroom since I could see the edge of a tub from where I stood.

“I use this room when I have to stay here. For all intents and purposes, it is mine. Liam’s daughter slept in here once years ago, and I believe Dolly did, too, but not for long. Anyway, it’s clean. No club sluts have been fucked on the bed.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Club sluts?” I asked.

She scrunched her nose. “Yeah. Them, and the strippers. The strippers rank a little higher since they actually work for The Judgment at their clubs, but the club sluts are literally women who hang around for the men’s use. Most walk around innothing but heels and a thong. I don’t care that they are all checked for STDs every two weeks; any man who sticks his penis in those used-up cunts needs to bleach themselves.” She shuddered, then pointed toward the open door.

“Bathroom is stocked. And I have plenty of extra clothes in the closet and undies in the dresser. Go get yourself a good, long, hot shower. I will lay you out something comfortable to wear, then go get us some food from the kitchen and bring it up here. When adrenaline is high, like it is after that shit at the bar, there will be live-action porn running rampant down there. The last thing I want to do is see Fox’s white ass pounding into some female bent over the pool table again. I still can’t get that image out of my head.”

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