Page 20 of Flame's Fight

“Ghost went home?” I ask him.

He nods as he studies me. “You back with Flame?”

I shake my head and wipe the tears from my face. “He’s better off without me.” I admit.

“He loves you.”

“I love him, too. Which is why we can’t be together. You’ll understand later today. I promise.”

I walk outside and get in my car. I need to get home, shower, and change. Before I blow up my life, I need to get my affairs in order.

I don’t know if it was the sleep or the hot water of my shower, but my brain finally kicks into gear and gives me an idea. I don’t know if it will work, but it’s the only chance I have to salvage what’s left of my life. After I dress, I grab my phone and see that Flame’s left two voicemails and half a dozen texts. I can’t handle them right now.

I eat lunch and make a shopping list. There are a few items that I need if I’m going to pull this off. Checking my watch, I see I have three hours. I consider calling my dad, preparing him for my betrayal, but I can’t do it. If I succeed, he never needs to know. Not until I’ve made things right. However, whether I succeed or fail this afternoon, I’m telling Flame the truth and I’ll deal with the fallout. I wash my dirty dishes and straighten my home before leaving. I hope I’ll be back here one day, but I know it’s a possibility that I won’t. With a heavy heart, I get into my car. I have some shopping to do before I return to the hospital.

Before I leave my car, I stuff my packages in my bag. I turn when I hear someone call out my name, groaning when I see Tony heading toward me. My nerves are on edge. I don’t have the energy to deal with him.

“You’re here early today.” He says, smiling. “Do you have time to get lunch before you start?”

“I’m sorry, I just ate.” I tell him, feeling a little guilty when his smile droops. “We could get a coffee later, or maybe dinner?” I offer.

He smiles. “I’d like that.”

As he walks with me, he chats about the changes he’s made to his department. I listen with half an ear as my mind moves up to the second floor and my upcoming confrontation. When he mentions Tally, I turn my attention back to him.

“I spoke with her and she apologized. Explained the situation with her father and why his arrival upset her so much. I didn’t realize they had problems.” He explains. “I told her I’d forget about everything that happened.”

“That’s good.” I tell him. “Tally is an amazing doctor. You won’t be sorry.”

“I’m glad you’re happy.” Tony says, smiling at me. “She’s lucky to have you as a friend. I’m happy to count you as a friend, too.”

I squeeze his arm and grin. “Me, too.” I tell him, even though I know we likely won’t be friends for much longer.

When I reach the nurse’s station, Gina comes over to me. But before she can say anything, my phone dings. Radiology needs me to pickup Patient Jones and return him to room 215. My palms sweat as I respond. Well, fuck. Seems like my confrontation is going to be sooner than I planned. I duck into the nearest bathroom and paste the microphone to my chest and the recorder in my bra. Deion’s guard dog may or may not check my phone to see if I’m recording the conversation, but I don’t think he’d expect me to wear a wire.

When I reach Radiology, I chat with the receptionist until she tells me Deion’s ready to move. As I push Deion through the hospital, his guard dog follows behind like an obedient puppy. I consider feeling Deion out with small talk. I still don’t know if he’s aware of the blackmail.

“I hear you might get out today.” I mention. “Depending on the results of your x-rays.”

“Yeah. About fucking time.” He says as we enter the elevator. A doctor and another nurse enter with us, which interrupts our talk.

We exit on the second floor; I see Axel is now guarding Flame. As I push Deion into his room, I smile at Axel. I have a panic button and I know if I scream, Axel will charge in to help me. It’s nice to have backup. I hook Deion back up to the machines while the men chat about Deion’s plans, specifically his plans with Tanya. Once I’m done, I turn to leave and see the guard dog blocking the exit.

“You have the stuff?” Deion asks me. I guess I have my answer.

“What stuff?” I ask him, needing one of them to make the threat again, so I have it on the recording. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The pills, cunt.” Guard dog speaks up. “Get us the pills or your father gets a phone call and learns the truth about his precious daughter.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I bluff. “My father knows everything about me.” I bluff. “Besides, I’ve got you on record trying to force me to steal drugs for you.” I tell them, shifting my shirt to show the recorder as I also raise the panic button. “If you come near me, I press this, and security will take you down.”

“You fucking bitch. Don’t play games with us. You’ll lose.” Deion snarls. “You either get us those drugs or your daddy arresting your skinny ass will be the least of your problems. If you don’t bring us the pills, we’ll fuck you up. I’ll let my men fuck every one of your holes until you bleed to death, and then we’ll dump your body on your daddy’s doorstep.”

“You just made the biggest fucking mistake of your life.” The guard dog growls as he moves toward me.

“Not as big of a mistake as you have.” I hear a voice behind me. I turn to see Tanya step out of the bathroom. Her dark brown eyes flashing as she looks from Deion to his man and back again. “I thought you were different, but you’re not. You are filth, just like the man who bought me. Come on, Brooke.” She says, ignoring Deion as he tries to scramble out of the bed. The guard tries to stop us, but he’s no match for two pissed off women. Tanya punches him in the throat while I knee him in the balls. We push him to the side as we run out into the hall and right into a wide-eyed Axel.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: FLAME

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