Page 16 of Flame's Fight

“I need to get back to my rounds.” Brooke says. “Technically, you shouldn’t have this many visitors.” She reminds us. “I’ll be back by here in a couple hours. Can you try not getting me in trouble?”

“I’m here to relieve Axel.” Ghost tells her before turning to Axel. “You can head back to the clubhouse whenever you’re ready.”

“We’re heading off, too.” Reaper says as he lifts Ashlyn up from their chair they were sharing. “I’ll come back tomorrow after Church. Dante said he’d fill us in on their meeting then. Want us to patch you in?”

“That would be great.” I tell Reaper, although I keep my eyes on Brooke. I see her glance back at me and then look away. It was only for a second, but I know I see what I hoped to see. The same look of yearning that she had before I screwed us up.

With everyone gone, I try to sleep, but my mind keeps replaying the day. One thing about being stuck in a hospital bed is that you’re alone with your thoughts, with no way of running away from them. No matter how much you want to.

Ashlyn was right when she pointed out that I lost my fire, my drive. I’ve been coasting. I know some of that is fear. Fear that I’ll screw up and end up branded again, but that’s not fair to Dante. He isn’t callous and he would never brand a member for a simple mistake. But fear was only part of the reason I’ve been coasting. Losing Brooke was a blow. I’ve been riding in neutral instead of adding throttle. Being here, with her so close, I have to get her to talk to me. To fix what went wrong and get us back on track.

CHAPTER TEN: BROOKE

Leaving Flame’s room, I make my way through the ward and check on my patients. It’s coming on ten so many are sleeping, or at least trying to sleep. Most of them are alone. We don’t keep strict visiting hours, but most people leave their loved ones at the hospital and go home to their loved ones there. Standard practice for the Demon Dawgs is that no member or family member stays at the hospital without a guard. This was a practice I approve of. I knew they hadn’t caught the guy who shot Flame yet, and I know I’d worry myself sick about him if Axel or Ghost weren’t with him. I give a finger wave to Ghost, who is now sitting outside Flame’s room, alert and watching the corridor.

Unfortunately, Flame isn’t the only victim of that bastard in the hospital. I enter Deion’s room, one of his men is there with him. He’s sitting in the corner, playing on his cell phone. If he’s there to guard his leader, he’s doing a poor job of it. Ignoring him, I move to my patient and run through my checklist before entering updates on the computer. I turn to leave when the guard dog speaks.

“I remember where I recognize you from.” He says.

I consider ignoring him and walking out the door, but he hasn’t really done anything to deserve my rudeness, so I turn to look at him.

“I’m sorry. Were you speaking to me?” I ask, keeping my voice professional.

“Yep.” He says, standing to move toward me. “I knew I recognized you earlier. I couldn’t figure out from where, but as I was going through some footage, I remembered.” He gives me a grin that chills my skin.

“Footage?” I ask. I’m nervous but not concerned. I can’t imagine what footage he could have.

“We offer security for some stores around town where thieves and shoplifters have hit.” He says, his grin widening when I gulp. “One of those stores is a beauty shop. They have a pesky problem of people walking off with their merchandise. They paid us to put in some cameras to try to catch them. While I’m here guarding Deion, I’ve been studying the video. Imagine my surprise when I see you enter the store.”

I want to run, but I can’t move. All I can do is pray that he didn’t see me do anything but enter the store. I can tell by the look in his eyes though that he saw more and what’s worse, I’m sure he sees the guilt in my own eyes.

“You have light fingers for a nurse. I thought nurses got paid well. Why would you need to steal makeup?” He studies my face. “You hardly wear any.”

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. What the hell do I do? My worse nightmare is coming true. Well, not my worse. My worse is being caught by security and them calling my father. Right now I’m just caught.

“What would your daddy the cop say if he knew his little girl liked to steal from stores?” He asks me.

“I paid for it.” I protest, lying through my teeth.

He laughs. “No, you didn’t. I checked. And also, this isn’t the only video I have. It isn’t the only store we monitor. I have you on other recordings.”

I close my eyes and want to sink into the ground and disappear. I want to run out of the hospital and hide in my apartment. My deepest, darkest secret is out. My shame is complete. “What are you going to do?” I finally ask him.

“Well, that depends on you.” He says as his eyes narrow as they roam my body. My fear ratchets up another notch. There is no way I’m letting him touch me. Even if he threatens to post the videos on YouTube. I’d rather take my chances in prison. The thought of prison has my stomach roiling and my body shaking.

“I’m not having sex with you.” I tell him.

He laughs. “Why the fuck would I want a scrawny, pasty girl like you? I prefer my women dark, tasty and hot. Fucking you would be like fucking an ice cube. No thanks.”

That’s a tremendous relief, even if it is a little insulting. “So, what do you want?”

“Pills.” He says simply.

I frown. “What pills?”

“I’ll make a list. Use those light fingers to lift the pills I need and I’ll bury the footage. Just as long as you keep filling my orders.” He says.

“Where am I supposed to get pills?” But my head clears before I finish the question. Oh shit, no.

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