Page 170 of Controlled Burn

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Talia's jaw tightened, eyes like flint. "I know. Brooks is the dangerous one."

"Then we isolate him. On the next fire call, we separate the teams. Watch who he follows. Who he avoids."

Talia nodded, her throat tight, heart a war drum in her chest. "He hasn't made a move yet. But I can feel it coming."

McKenna's smile was small and wicked. "Then we make sure when he does, the entire house sees him for what he is."

Later That Night

Talia lay in her bunk, the blue glow of her phone casting shadows over her skin.

She typed:

Dean. You were right. I am the fire.

She stared at it, thumb hovering.

Deleted.

Tried again:

Dean. You said I'd burn everything down. I think you were right.

She pressed delete.

Typed slowly, heart cracking open in the silence:

Dean. You said I'd burn everything down. Some days, I think I did. Sometimes, I feel like I just watched it happen. Either way... You were right. I am the fire.

For one aching second, she almost typed Maddox’s name instead. Her finger hovered. Then pulled back. Not him. Not anymore.

She hit send.

Rolled onto her back, eyes fixed on the dark ceiling above.

Not safe.

Not yet.

But ready.

She was done with containment.

Now, she was the spark.

And Brooks?

He wouldn't see the burn coming.

Dean

The message lit up his screen just past midnight.

He read it once. Then again.

Her words sliced through the fog like oxygen on flame.

He wanted to answer—wanted to drive there, drag her into his arms, kiss her until neither of them could speak.

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