Page 73 of Bolt's Flame
“Keep your ears to the ground,” Devil said, his eyes sweeping over the table. “We don’t move until we know more, but I want every man ready, like always.”
The meeting broke up, but as the others filed out, I stayed behind for a moment, my mind spinning with everything we’d just learned. The idea of Drago coming after Fiona made my blood run cold, filling me with dread. I had told her it was all over and now it looks as if I fucking lied.
I SAT INthe common room looking aroundand gave a contented sigh; it was starting to feel like home. I never thought I’d be able to say that, but the sense of safety it brought was something I clung to. The voices, the laughter, the men with all their unique personalities meant there was never a dull moment.
Bolt walked in, and I knew something was wrong. His face was hard, his eyes focused but distant, and the way he moved—the tension in his shoulders—told me whatever was coming next wasn’t good.
“Hey,” I said softly as he sat down next to me. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t answer right away. Just stared at the floor for a long moment, like he was trying to figure out how to say what he needed to say.
“I don’t wanna scare you, but we may have a problem,” he finally said, and I could tell he was worried.
My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”
“Drago,” Bolt said, and seeing my confused expression, explained, “President of Dragon Fire. We think he might have been working with James.”
“James is gone, though. So... what does that mean?”
Bolt’s hand covered mine, his grip firm. “It means Drago might be picking up where James left off. We don’t know for sure yet, but there’s been chatter. And if he’s comin’ after you, then you need to be ready.”
Coming after me? After everything I’d been through, after thinking it was finally over... it wasn’t. There was still danger out there. Still someone who wanted to hurt me. And this time, it wasn’t just about James.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why would Drago care about me? Why would he want to keep going if James is gone?”
“Because it’s not just about you,” Bolt said quietly. “It’s about control. Drago’s been after our territory for months, and somehow, we think James was helpin’ him, giving him an opening. You’re just part of it. A piece of the game.”
My chest tightened, fear twisting inside me like a knot. I thought I’d escaped this. I thought I was free. But now... now it felt like the walls were closing in all over again.
“Fiona,” Bolt said softly, his voice pulling me back from the edge of panic. “Don’t panic, we may be wrong. But in the meantime, just keep your eyes open and don’t go anywhere alone.”
I looked into his eyes, and I could see this worried him and I didn’t want that, so I replied, “I won’t, and I know you’ll protect me.”
“You got that right,” he said, pulling me to my feet. “Let’s go for a ride to the beach and get you out of here for a bit.”
That’s why I loved Bolt so much. He always knew what I needed and was more than willing to give it to me.
CHAPTER FORTY
THE SUN WASjust beginning to set as Brendaand I headed back from the store, the trunk of her old car filled with groceries for me and Josie. It had been a quiet day, almost peaceful, and I was finally starting to feel like I could breathe again. Things with Bolt were perfect and I was wearing his property cut, making us official. The club was keeping an eye out for trouble, but it had been almost a month and nothing.
The thing with James and Drago must have been wrong.
But then the car sputtered.
I glanced at Brenda, who was muttering something under her breath as she gripped the wheel tighter. “What’s going on?”
“Hell if I know,” she grumbled, her foot pressing on the gas, but the car just lurched forward with a sickening cough. “Damnthing’s been actin’ up all week. Knew I should’ve had Gearhead take a look at it.”
The engine sputtered again, and then, just like that, it died. Brenda swore under her breath, drifting us over to the side of the road. We weren’t too far from the clubhouse, maybe fifteen minutes, but out here, in the middle of nowhere, fifteen minutes felt like hours.
“Well, ain’t this just peachy,” Brenda muttered, unbuckling her seatbelt and pushing the door open. “Let’s see what’s going on under the hood.”
I followed her out, my nerves starting to prickle. Something didn’t feel right. The road was too quiet, too empty. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that we weren’t alone.
Brenda popped the hood and leaned over, her head practically buried in the engine as she poked around. “Well, shit,” she muttered. “This thing’s toast. I’ll have to call the boys to come get us.”
I nodded, my eyes scanning the empty road. “Yeah... good idea.”