Page 47 of Bolt's Flame

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration mounting. “Like I’ve been saying, something’s not right. I don’t remember shitafter those pills. And Jenny being there? That wasn’t supposed to happen. It’s no secret I made Fiona mine. Why the fuck would I do that?”

Chain’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his gaze. “You really think she set you up? That’s some brave shit if she did.”

I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that it didn’t make sense, and I wasn’t about to let it slide. “I’m sayin’ that I wouldn’t end up in bed with Jenny on my own. Not with Fiona here. Not when things are the way they are.”

Devil studied me for a moment, his expression showing something—anger—before he masked it. “You’re convinced she somehow slipped you something? Drugged you to run Fiona off?”

“Maybe,” I muttered, my teeth grinding together. “Or maybe someone else did. I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

Chain rubbed his chin, considering. “You’re sayin’ you really blacked out and didn’t fuck around on her?”

“Yeah! I wouldn’t fuck around on Fiona!” The words came out forcefully because I knew it was true. “I took the pills, and then... nothin’. Next thing I know, Fiona’s standing there, looking at me like I just ripped her heart out. Plus, a man knows if he’s fucked a woman, I would have had her smell on me... on my sheets. Youknowwhat I’m sayin’?”

Devil nodded slowly, his eyes still locked on mine. “I believe you and I’ll have Rune look at the bottle of pills. But if you’re right about this...”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t have to. If I was right, then this wasn’t just some misunderstanding. This was a crime against the club, a breach of trust—a betrayal—and we hold our own trial.

“I need to talk to Fiona,” I said, my voice tired, as I looked around the common room. “I need to try and work this out.”

“You need to give her space,” Chain cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument. “She’s hurtin’, Bolt. And right now, you showin’ up in front of her is just going to make things worse, not just with her, but with Horse. He’s on a leash, but it’s a thin one.”

I clenched my fists, so fucking frustrated that I couldn’t even defend myself. Every instinct in me screamed to go to her, to make her listen, to tell her that whatever she saw wasn’t the truth. But they were right. Showing up now would only push her further away if I couldn’t explain what happened.

“Fine,” I muttered, the word like ash in my mouth. “But I’m not lettin’ this go.”

Devil nodded. “I’m not asking you to. Because if there’s someone trying to screw with our club, we need to know about it. And we need to shut it down.”

“If she’s a snake in whore’s clothing, we’ll find out,” Chain assured me. “But you know the by-laws better than anyone. You gotta prove it or else you’re just some drunk asshole who fucked around on his girl and got caught.”

“I plan on it,” I growled as I turned on my heel, my mind racing as I headed for the door. I wasn’t going to sit back and wait for Devil to go poking around. Club business with Dragon Fire would come first, as it should, and my problem will take a backseat.

I would prove it to Fiona and when I did, I was going to make damn sure everyone knew it.

As I stepped outside, trying to clear my head. I made my way around the side of the clubhouse, my thoughts still tangled in a mess of what-ifs and anger. And that’s when I saw them.

Fiona and Josie.

They were walking down the gravel path that led around the back of the clubhouse, her hand resting on his arm, their heads close together as they talked. They looked... comfortable. Waytoo comfortable. And for a split second, something inside me snapped.

I stopped in my tracks, my chest tightening with anger and jealousy as I watched them. It didn’t matter that I knew Josie was just a friend, someone who’d been there for Fiona when she needed support. It didn’t matter that they were probably just talking. All I could see was her hand on his arm, the way she looked up at him with those eyes and that smile that used to be for me.

That should be me.

The thought tore through me like a hot sword, sharp and cutting, leaving a raw, open wound in its wake. I didn’t have a right to feel this way, not after what she thought she saw. Not after the way I’d failed to explain myself—couldn’texplain myself. But it was there, a dark, seething jealousy that burned through every logical thought.

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to march over there and pull her away from him. My feet started to do just that before a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“Don’t do it,” Mystic said from behind me. “It’ll only make the dirty river muddier.”

Fuck! I turned away, my jaw clenched so tight it ached, my hands shaking with the effort to keep from doing something stupid. “I’m taking a ride in the wind,” I snarled, heading for my Harley.

I needed to find out what had happened. I needed to fix this mess before I went fucking crazy and did something I couldn’t come back from.

But right now? All I had was the hollow ache of loss and the sick feeling in my gut that told me I was watching the woman I cared—loved— about slip through my fingers.

And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

THE BAR WASa hole-in-the-wall kind of place,the kind where people went to forget. The kind where no one asked questions, and no one gave a damn about who you were or what you wanted. That suited me just fine. I was there for one reason, and one reason only—to figure out how the hell I was going to get Fiona back.

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