Page 8 of Flame's Fight

I frown and consider my options. I could lie and tell him she’s not working today. Or I could take him to the cafeteria or the lobby so I can find Tally and give her a chance to bail. I could also call Dante and tell him that his future father-in-law is here.

“Dr. Chambers?” Tony asks, coming up to shake his hand. “Are you looking for your daughter? I just saw her. Right this way.” Tony says, leading the man to ER. Well fuck.

I rush along behind them, not sure what I can do to help. How do you stop a train wreck?

CHAPTER FIVE: FLAME

“Officer Wagstaffe. What can I do for you?” I ask him. I’m expecting him to berate me for my rudeness to his daughter, but he simply scowls at me before greeting my mother. They exchange pleasantries while I wait to see why he’s here.

“I heard you were awake. I’m glad to see it’s true. We were all worried about you after the shooting.” He says, giving me a polite smile. “I need to interview you about the shooting.”

I go through the details that I remember while he takes notes. My mom sobs when I describe the pain and blacking out.

“I’m sorry.” She sniffles. “That’s just hard to hear.”

Wagstaffe gives her a genuine smile. “No apologies. Completely understandable. No one like to see their child hurting.” He turns a less than friendly gaze toward me. “Is that all you remember?” When I nod, he closes his notebook and puts it in his shirt pocket. “It meshes with Detective Black’s version. Thank you.” When he leaves, I turn back to my mother to see her watching me.

“Want to explain what happened between you and Brooke?” She asks.

I sigh, because no, I don’t want to explain, but it looks like I have no choice. “We just broke up. Our personalities didn’t mesh, and we were both getting frustrated.” I tell her. Which is partially true. I thought we were happy and working together to build something. Until I saw a man leaving her apartment early one morning. She and I had been fighting more than usual. We’re both stubborn and she was resistant to being kept in the dark about club business. I knew the other Old Ladies struggled with it, too. I just assumed we’d work out a compromise, like the other guys did with their women, but she didn’t give us a chance.

“Then you work it out.” My mom says. “You need compromise or it won’t work.”

I open my mouth to answer, but there’s a tap on the door before Gina enters. This place is busier than a mall after Thanksgiving.

“Hi, Flame, Mrs. Barnes. How are you both doing?” She asks as she moves to the spot where Brooke stood just a few minutes before. I feel her peeling back the tape holding the bandage in place.

“We’re fine, Gina. Thank you. Brooke didn’t finish dressing Flame’s wound.” She says, narrowing her eyes at me.

Gina snorts. “I know. She came and asked me to do it for her. It’s not a problem. She took my patient, so I think I got the better end of the deal.”

“Why? What’s wrong with the other patient?” I ask, worried that I sent Brooke off into the path of an asshole. A bigger asshole than me, that is.

“He’s actually pretty nice. I think you know him. Deion Jones? I don’t mind him so much, but some of his friends creep me out.” Gina says.

Well, fuck. Brooke is nursing Deion Jones. I’m not sure how I feel about that. “Are they dangerous?”

“Not yet. They just watch you. You know, like they’re wondering how to get you alone in a dark alley?” Gina says.

“That sounds dangerous. Do you think you should have security walk you to your car at night?” My mom asks as I’m considering asking Dante to provide additional men to protect the nurses from Deion’s men.

“My boyfriend works security here, and he makes sure none of the female staff walk to their cars without protection. He’s been covering Deion’s floor, monitoring his visitors.” Gina explains as she finishes up my dressing. “There you go. The wound looks good. You’re healing nicely.”

“I just wish I’d regain some feeling in my legs.” I complain.

“It will come. You can’t give up hope.” Gina says. We turn when someone knocks on the open door.

I spot a guy wearing the uniform of a security guard, and my blood turns cold. He’s the man I saw leaving Brooke’s apartment. So the fucker works here. That explains how they met. I want to get up and pound him, but I’m stuck in this bed, unable to move my legs. So I can’t kick his ass.

“Hi Curt, what’s up?” Gina asks.

“I’m walking Dr. Green and Dr. Barton to their cars. I’ll be back right back. Then we can go grab some dinner.”

“Ok, see ya soon.” Gina says, giving him a wave. He smiles at her and my mother before leaving.

“You and Brooke’s new boyfriend are friends?” I ask Gina.

She frowns and gives me a questioning look. “You mean Curt?” When I nod, she laughs. “I think learning they are dating would come as a surprise to them both.” She says with a chuckle. “Curt’s my boyfriend. Why would you think he’s dating Brooke? She is not his type, and he is certainly not hers. They get along pretty well, although they argue like brother and sister.”

---