Page 22 of Flame's Fight

“For what reason?” Ranch asks.

“According to Vance, he only wanted to know where they were and if they were safe. He’s known for over a month now where they were living and did nothing with the information. As far as we can tell.” Scar continues.

“What made him come here now?” I ask.

“His wife and son disappeared. Along with Standish and his son.” Dante reminds me with a chuckle. “Vance believes, like most people, that the four of them left the country. He learned about the human trafficking when the FBI swarmed the Chamber’s Medical Group.”

“Are they shutting him down?” Reaper asks.

“Not yet. According to Vance, they’ve only found evidence that Vivian and Colin were involved. Vance took a lie detector test just to help prove that he wasn’t involved.” Dante says. “He swore to Tally and Caitlin that he did not know they were involved in something that horrible. He’s livid that they may have used CMG to move women.”

“Do we know for certain that they moved women through there?” I ask.

“No. At least not that they’re telling Vance. The FBI removed Vivian’s files and they’ve searched through Vance’s, but they didn’t take any of his files. He believes they were looking for specific information. Either about specific patients or specific types of medical treatments. He isn’t certain which. Most of his patients are extremely wealthy and powerful, so it’s possible they didn’t take the files because of potential consequences. However, he believes they may have been looking at Vivian and Colin’s work with the underprivileged. They offered services to those who couldn’t afford the work of plastic surgeons to repair scars, burns, etc. He said it was Vivian’s pet project and he let her handle it.”

“That’s one way to find victims or bring existing victims in for modifications.” Smoke says.

“Yep.” Dante agrees.

“How’s Tally?” I ask.

“Confused. I think she wants to believe him, wants to believe that at least one of her parents is a decent person. She still doesn’t trust him, but she’s willing to give him another chance. But I think that’s primarily because Caitlin has completely forgiven him.” Dante says and chuckles.

“If anyone can forgive anybody for just about anything, it’s her.” Scar says, and the love and adoration he has for her permeates his tone.

It’s exactly how I feel about Brooke. I just need to make sure she knows there is nothing she could do to make me stop loving her. As if she’s reading my thoughts, she rushes into the room, followed by a gorgeous stranger and Axel.

“What’s going on?” I ask as I hear Dante mimic my question over the speaker.

“I don’t know.” Axel says. “These two came running out of Deion’s room like someone was chasing them. I thought it best if I brought them in here.”

“Brooke? What’s going on?” I ask her. She looks at me and I see genuine fear in her eyes. I straighten myself in the bed and notice that my left leg now tingles, but I can’t concentrate on that right now. “Brooke?”

“This is my fault. I had a plan, but I didn’t think it through. I’m in trouble.” She says, before looking at Tanya. “We’re in trouble.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BROOKE

It isn’t until after I give Flame and Axel the highlights do I realize they aren’t the only ones listening to me.

“Deion was blackmailing you?” I hear Dante ask over Flame’s phone.

I raise my eyebrows at Flame, who twirls his finger to encourage me to answer.

“Yes. He wanted me to steal drugs from the pharmacy for him. It was his bodyguard that approached me first. I wasn’t sure if Deion was aware of the plan or not. But when I told them I wouldn’t do it, they both threatened me. I have a recording of the conversation.”

“Play it.” Dante orders, so I do. I hear grumblings coming over the line, and I realize it isn’t just Dante on the phone. The entire club must be there. It’s then that I realize they must have been having Church when we barged in.

“I heard it all, too.” Tanya says.

“Who is this?” Dante asks after a pause.

“Tanya Webster. I was Deion’s girlfriend. But not any longer. I thought he was different.” She trails off and says nothing more.

“Brooke, can you reach out to hospital security? See if they can keep Deion and his bodyguard contained. I’m sending men your way. Can you both stay in Flame’s room until they arrive?”

I agree as I pull out my hospital phone to call security and tell them enough to get them to block Deion’s room.

Tanya takes a seat near the window and pulls out her phone while Axel stands near the door. I glance at Flame to see him watching me. When we lock eyes, he opens his arms, and I rush over to fall into them. Being in Flame’s arms is like coming home after a long, horrible trip. I just want to stay here and never move, but I can’t, not yet. Not if he can’t forgive me for shutting him out and not if he can’t continue to love me once he knows my secret.

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