Page 2 of Flame's Fight

“I think I smell smoke.” Officer Wagstaff says, sniffing the air. “We should break in and get her out of there as soon as possible.”

Shield grins and turns back to the door. “Mrs. Marshall, we’re coming in and we’re getting you out. We’ll take you somewhere safe. Somewhere that your husband’s friends can’t find you. How does that sound?”

“Like someone has finally answered my prayers. Please, hurry.”

Shield raises his foot and slams his boot against the door. I copy him. It’s enough to knock the door off its hinges. Before I can stop her, Caitlin rushes in and wraps her arms around the woman, when she steps back into the entryway. She’s petite with dark blonde hair and wide blue eyes in a narrow face. She fixes those eyes on the broken door. As I take in the rest of her, I realize that she’s much too thin. Her baby bump is enormous on her slight frame.

“You poor thing. Let’s get you out of here.” Caitlin says, taking charge and leading the woman out the door.

“Don’t you need to get anything?” I ask. “Clothes, your purse?”

“I want nothing from here.” She responds with so much venom that I have to fight back a smile. She sounded weak through the door, but now that she senses freedom, she’s showing her strength.

“We can get her anything she needs.” Caitlin assures us both as she helps the woman into the SUV. “My name is Caitlin. What’s yours?”

“Lenora.” She says, smiling at Caitlin. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

“You’re welcome, but the real person you need to thank is Flame’s sister, Ashlyn. She’s the one your husband tried to kidnap. She pressed charges against him today and she asked Flame to come check on you.”

“Thank you.” She says, glancing at me and the others. “I don’t mean to be rude, but we should get going. James’ friends will be here any minute.”

We follow the SUV over to Evie’s apartment building. Lenora will stay there until Caitlin can find different accommodations. For now, it’s the best place for her because no one will look for her there. We’re headed back to the clubhouse when Shield pulls over to take a call.

“That was Dante. He wants us across town to monitor Deion.” Shield tells me.

“Why?”

“Reaper thinks he has something that will convince Deion to hand Trask over to the police.” Shield explains. Deion is the leader of Reaper’s old gang, the Spades, Trask is his second in command. “But he’s afraid Deion will go ballistic and try to kill Trask himself.”

“What does Reaper have?”

“That video Reaper found. It proves Trask worked with Renee to traffic virgins. He thinks Deion will give Trask up now. We need Trask alive to clear Reaper of Wylan’s murder.”

We make it over to Killian’s apartment in time to see Deion enter the building. He doesn’t look back at us, so either he knows we’re here and doesn’t care, or he’s not as aware of his environment as the leader of a gang should be.

A few minutes after our arrival, Shield leans over his bike, holding his phone so I can hear the conversation. Reaper is talking to Deion and Killian about Trask, and we relax when Deion agrees to the plan. We stay out front so we can go with Deion to grab Trask.

“So whatever happened between you and Brooke?” Shield asks. “I haven’t seen her around the clubhouse, but her dad seemed to think you’re still together. Did she dump your ass?”

I scowl at him. “No, she didn’t dump me.” I have to stop myself from squirming. “I broke up with her.”

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Shield asks. “She was hot. Too hot for you.”

“She cheated on me. Ok?” I tell him, wanting him to just drop it. “I went over to her apartment and saw some guy coming out.”

“Who was he?”

“Hell if I know.”

“What did she say?” When I don’t answer, Shield shakes his head. “Don’t tell me you didn’t talk to her?” When I still say silent, he pushes. “You ghosted her? Man, you’re an idiot.”

I open my mouth to retort, but the sound of squealing tires grabs our attention. We turn in time to see a black SUV slide into the parking lot. Before we can move, the doors open and we’re looking at the flashing muzzles of assault rifles. Pain shoots through my back as I fly off my bike. Then everything goes black.

CHAPTER TWO: BROOKE

“Good afternoon!” Tally calls out as she joins us at the nurses’ station.

“We missed you.” Gina says as she gives our favorite doctor a hug, shifting so I can give her one, too.

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