Page 1 of Flame's Fight

CHAPTER ONE: FLAME

“Hey, man.” I answer when Reaper calls. He’s in Vegas with my sister, Ashlyn. “Did you make sure Ashlyn had fun? And no, I don’t want to know the details.” The last thing I want to hear about is how my best friend popped my sister’s cherry. I shudder at the thought. He takes pity on me and just assures me she had a great day before jumping to the reason he called.

“You heard what happened here in Vegas? With her coach?” I grunt, so he continues. “Ashlyn is worried about the guy’s wife. I don’t know if she’s involved in the kidnapping, but from the way he talked about her, I don’t think she knew. Ashlyn’s afraid she’s another victim and wants someone to check on her.”

I groan at his request. There are so many ways this could go sideways, but I understand Ashlyn’s concern. This asshole tried to kidnap her with help from two other followers of the reverend. The Shadow Borns, an ally to our club, questioned the men and their screwed up philosophy about women makes it easy to believe that this woman needs help. But will she take it from an MC? As I consider Reaper’s request, Shield steps in. As a cop, Shield can open doors that might otherwise stay shut for an MC member.

“Let me talk to Shield, see if he can go with me to talk to her. Maybe we can get Caitlin’s help. I know she’s working on buying another property that she can use to house victims until Crossroads is ready.”

Shield raises his eyebrow at me in question, but waits until I end the call with Reaper. I explain Reaper’s request, surprised when Shield nods in agreement. “We need to run it by Grimm, but that’s not a bad idea. I’ve been working with Smoke on trying to locate the elusive reverend and his band of fuck-ups with no luck.”

“Don’t they have some sort of church?” I ask.

He shrugs. “You would think, but the only listing we found was some old storefront in a strip mall. I questioned the other store owners and they say hardly anyone ever goes there, and when they do, it’s one or two only and with no set time. No one I spoke with has seen the reverend.”

I nod. “You think the wife might have information?”

“Don’t know. Doubt it. But it’s worth talking to her, especially if she needs help. Let’s go see Grimm.”

About half an hour later, Shield and I are on our way to Coach Matthews’ house. Cole and Izzy are following behind us in an SUV. Caitlin is riding with them. When we pull up, I’m surprised to see Officer Wagstaff waiting for us.

“I thought it might help to have a uniform around in case she feels threatened by our kuttes.” Shield explains as we walk toward the officer in question. I like Officer Wagstaff. He’s one of the few cops who doesn’t look at us like he’s picturing us behind bars. However, he still makes me nervous. Not because he’s a cop, but because I used to date his daughter, Brooke.

“Shield, Flame.” Wagstaff says, offering us his hand before he acknowledges Caitlin, Izzy, and Cole.

“Have you spoken with Mrs. Matthews yet?” Shield asks.

Wagstaff shakes his head. “I was waiting for you, but the neighbor came out to talk to me.” He nods at the house next door to Matthews. “She wanted to know, and I quote, if ‘Matthews finally killed his wife.’ I called the station to see if we have any records of 911 calls or visits to the house. They’re pulling everything they have.”

“Fuck.” Shield says, glancing at the house.

“Yeah.”

Shield and I walk up the path with Wagstaff, while the others stay behind. “You and Brooke haven’t come over for dinner in a while.” He says to me. “I know Brooke has been working too much. Can’t you get that girl to take a day off?”

I’m not sure how to answer his question. My days of asking Brooke anything are long over. They ended when she cheated on me. “I doubt she’d listen to anything I say.” I tell him, truthfully.

He grunts before ringing the doorbell. We’re met with silence. “Maybe she isn’t home.” I suggest.

The cop shakes his head. “The neighbor says that she no longer leaves the house, unless it is with her husband. She used to work, but according to her former employer, she quit after she became pregnant.” He rings the bell and knocks again. “Mrs. Marshall, this is the police. Can you please open the door? It’s about your husband.”

We wait for a few minutes until we finally hear a voice on the other side of the door.

“I can’t open the door.” She says. “I don’t have the key. Only James has one.”

The three of us share a horrified look.

“Mrs. Marshall, I’m Detective Black. Is there any way for you to open a window or another door? Maybe the backdoor? It is very important that we speak to you.”

“I can’t get out.” She replies, her voice cracking. “If I open a window, the alarm will go off and his friends will come. I’m sorry.”

“Mrs. Marshall, are you saying that you’re trapped in there?” Shield asks.

Her response is heartbreaking. “I am.”

“What’s going on?” Caitlin asks as she joins us. I figure Shield is about to tell her to get back, but he surprises me by explaining the situation to her. “We have to get her out of there.” Caitlin states.

Shield looks at Wagstaff. “How do you want to play this? You could call the precinct and get permission? However, if they say no, I’m still going in.”

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