Page 57 of Bolt's Flame

As I moved to the door, I caught Devil’s eye. He gave me a nod, a silent message that said everything words didn’t need to. This was personal for me, and I was going to make damn sure James understood that.

I pushed the door open, stepping out into the hallway. There was a lot to do, and not much time to do it. And with any luck, we’d have the bastard cornered before he even knew what hit him.

THE CLUBHOUSE WASquiet since most of themembers were in the back room for their meeting, and the few that were left out here gave me space, as if sensing I needed to be alone and I was grateful for that. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, for questions, for anything other than the silence that let me sort through the mess inside my head.

I found myself wandering toward the kitchen, seeking the comfort of familiar surroundings. A kitchen had always been my sanctuary, a place where I could lose myself in the rhythm of baking, where I didn’t have to think or feel. But even here, I couldn’t escape the chaos in my mind.

James.

The very thought of him sent a chill through me, a visceral fear that I couldn’t shake. I thought I’d started putting him behind me, thought I’d escaped his grasp. But now, with him back in my life, it was like every wound he’d ever inflicted had been ripped open again, bleeding fresh.

And then there was Bolt.

My feelings for him were a confusing mix of anger, betrayal, and something else I didn’t want to recognize—love. I wanted tohate him for what I’d seen, for the way he’d broken my trust. But every time I looked into his eyes, I saw a different story, one that made me question everything.

How could I be so drawn to him when every logical part of me screamed to stay away?

I sank down onto one of the stools at the kitchen island, staring blankly at the counter. I didn’t know what to believe anymore. James’s words haunted me, the way he’d looked at me with that possessive, dangerous glint in his eye. He wasn’t going to stop, not until he had me back under his control. And the thought of that, of going back to that life, terrified me more than anything.

I knew the club would protect me. I knew they were good people who took care of their own and let’s be honest here, Dad will kill him before he lets that happen. But a small, nagging part of me couldn’t shake the fear that James would find a way to get to me, that he’d slip through their fingers and drag me back to that dark place I’d fought so hard to escape.

The door creaked open, and I glanced up to see Brenda standing there, her sharp eyes taking in my hunched shoulders, my clenched hands. She walked over to me, and as always, her presence was solid and comforting in a way that made the tightness in my chest ease just a fraction.

“You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders,” she said, her voice soft but probing.

I gave her a weak smile, my fingers tracing patterns on the countertop. “It feels like it.”

She pulled up a stool beside me, settling in like she had all the time in the world. “You want to talk about it?”

I hesitated, the words tangled up inside me. I didn’t know where to start, didn’t know how to explain the jumble of emotions tearing me apart. But Brenda had this way of makingyou feel like you could say anything, like she’d seen it all and wouldn’t judge you for a damn thing.

“I’m just... scared,” I admitted finally, my voice barely a whisper. “Scared of what James might do. Scared that... that I’m never going to be free of him.”

She nodded, her eyes softening with understanding. “It’s okay to be scared, Fiona. You’ve been through hell, and it’s only natural to feel that way. But you’re not alone in this. You’ve got us, and we’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

I swallowed hard, her words like a balm to the raw wound inside me. “I know and I know you guys are trying to protect me, and I appreciate it. Truly I do. But it’s hard to shake the feeling that he’s always going to be out there, waiting.”

“He’s what I like to call a perverted chicken,” Brenda said bluntly, her eyes flashing with anger. “He gets off on making you afraid and of the power he’s holdin’ over you. But you’re stronger than you think, Fiona. You’ve already taken the hardest step by leavin’ him. Now it’s about taking back control of your life.”

I nodded, biting down on my lip. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that I could be strong, that I could stand up to James and not let him ruin my life anymore. But the fear was still there, whispering in the back of my mind, telling me that he was never going to let me go.

“And what about Bolt?” Brenda asked, her tone gentle but direct. “Where does he fit into all this?”

The mention of his name sent a jolt through me, and I wasn’t sure how to answer. “I don’t know,” I said honestly, shaking my head. “I’m so angry at him, but at the same time, I... I don’t know how to feel. My heart wants him, but after everything that’s happened...”

“You love him,” she said simply, not a question but a statement of fact.

I looked down, my fingers twisting together. “Yeah. I do.”

Brenda let out a sigh, reaching over to place a hand on mine. “Sometimes, carin’ about someone means giving them the chance to prove themselves. I’m gonna be completely honest with you, Fiona. I don’t think he did shit with Jenny.”

Her words surprised me, and I replied, “Why would you think that? I told you I saw the used condom.”

Brenda snorted before saying, “Fiona, over the years I’ve seen a thousand tricks a sweet butt will use to start shit, and fillin’ up a condom with a mixture of mayo and water is first grade level—common as hell. The drugging doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. I heard it happened in the Pennsylvania chapter a few years ago.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “And all for a patch?”

“Well, in this case, I think it’s more than that. I think Jenny fancies herself in love with Bolt,” she explained, leaning back with a sigh. “She figures she gets rid of you, and things will go back to the way they were.” Brenda gave me a long, searching look. “And you, honey, are giving her exactly what she wants.”

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