Up In Flames (Club Chrome 3)

“Who says it’s your dream?” Ashley teased, bumping Angel with her shoulder like she used to when they were younger. “I’m not judging you, silly. My time with Pyro was worth it. Now it’s your turn.”

Angel balked. “My turn? Let me catch you up on current events: I betrayed him. I don’t think he’s going to forgive me for that anytime soon and I’d rather not be reminded of what I did every time I look at him. No thanks.”

“You did what you had to to protect Mila. I would’ve done the same,” Ashley said. “Don’t you think if I could’ve protected my baby, I would’ve by any means necessary?”

Angel nodded, wincing with the old familiar heartache of loss. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to save your baby.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You were a kid.”

Angel nodded, still miserable. She exhaled a long breath. “So, what is this? What’s happening right now?”

“You’re in surgery. The knife lacerated your kidney. It’s touch and go, kid. That’s the truth. I thought it might be a good idea to come and hold your hand while you decide what’s right for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes we’re given a choice. Sometimes not. You’re standing on the line. If you go one way, you’ll come with me; if you go the other way, you’ll stay. Your choice.”

Angel snorted. “As if it’s that easy.” When Ashley simply stared at her expectantly, Angel swallowed with the realization that maybe the choice was hers to make. Live and deal with the consequences of her actions or die and leave with Ashley. Hardly seemed fair. “I miss you,” she told her sister. “I miss you everyday.”

Ashley nodded, her gaze soft. “I’m always beside you.”

“I’ve made a mess out of my life. Maybe it’s better if I cut out early, you know?”

“If you do that, you’ll never have the opportunity to fix things.”

“Are they fixable?”

“Everything is fixable.”

Angel digested her sister’s wisdom — or maybe it was her own wisdom and her fucked up brain was just giving the script to the memory of her sister — and realized, maybe it was selfish but she wanted to live. “My daughter needs me,” she said, nodding. “Even if Pyro never forgives me, I have to make it for her.”

“Sounds reasonable.”

She risked a look at her sister. “I’ve been a bad mother up until this point. But things are going to change,” she promised. “I was lost for a really long time but I’m seeing things clearly for the first time since you died. I need to make it for Mila’s sake.”

Ashley nodded, pride shining in her eyes as she linked her hand through Angel’s. “I knew you would come around,” she said. “I guess that means it’s time to say goodbye.”

“So soon? Just a few minutes more,” Angel pleaded.

Ashley shook her head and released Angel’s hand. “Just remember…it all happens for a reason. I love you, Angel-cakes.”

Tears stung Angel’s eyes as Ashley slowly started to fade. Angel kissed her fingertips in goodbye to her sister. “I love you, too, Ash.”

Then Ashley was gone.

And so was Angel.

***

Pyro had planned to stay away but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Angel was lying in the hospital bed, hooked to tubes and wires and she looked so helpless, so fragile. He fingered a lock of hair, rubbing the silky strands against his fingertips, resisting the urge to bury his face against her neck. Doctors said she was going to make it. He didn’t deserve second chances but Angel surely did. He’d do anything to ensure that Angel came out of this alive and well. She deserved a chance to make a good life with her daughter. He didn’t blame her for lying. Hell, at first, he’d been shocked but then he knew that if given the opportunity to save his son, he would’ve taken any deal. It wasn’t Angel’s fault that she’d gotten mixed up with Benton. She’d just been trying to make the right choice for the first time in her life. She’d had no idea Benton had been far worse than any other openly bad guy out there.

He knew from experience, the wolf often came disguised as a sheep.

She stirred, frowning in her sleep and he gently smoothed the wrinkle from her forehead until she settled again. “I’m going to make this right for you, Angel,” he promised her in a low tone. “Everything is going to come up roses for you and Mila from now on.”

He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead and then let himself out before anyone noticed him.

***

Dee set Mila down to play with their daughter Ava Jade and came over to the kitchen where Bronx was nursing a beer. “Have you heard from Pyro?” she asked, anxious.

“Not since everything went down. He’s not going to come around and endanger us by showing up here. He knows there’s too much heat right now.”

“How do you know he’s okay?”

“Because it’s Pyro. He always lands on his feet.”

“What about Angel?”

He tossed his beer bottle in the recycle. “She’s in recovery. I’ve got a nurse friend keeping me updated. She’s going to make it.”

“Oh, thank God.” Her gaze drifted to Mila. “I can’t imagine what that poor baby has been through.”

He didn’t want to speculate. “There’s still a missing kid, Jazzy. Angel is going to be worried sick when she realizes the kid is likely gone.”

Dee didn’t like that answer at all. Not that Bronx blamed her; he didn’t like it either. “What about the dirty cops? Please tell me they’re not going to get off scot-free.”

“Patience, my little bloodthirsty girl,” he said with a dark smile. “The wheels are in motion. That’s where Zoe comes in. In fact, I’m waiting for the call now. That’s why I’ve been so edgy.”

“You’d think that IA would be all over this,” grumbled Dee. “Dirty cops, a human trafficking ring…it’s a report that practically writes itself.”

“Yeah,” he agreed but as black and white as it seemed, there was still a whole lot that could go wrong. His cell buzzed and picked it up. “It’s Zoe. Time to make it happen. Let’s hope Lady Luck is still smiling on us. I really don’t want to go to prison.”

“That’s not funny,” Dee said, her smile faltering. When she saw that he was kidding around, she swatted him on the arm. “You’re going to pay for that one.”

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“Promise?” He sealed his mouth to hers and squeezed her generous backside. His wife had the sweetest ass and he never tired of filling his hands with it. She gasped and then dissolved into a giggles as he turned her loose. “I love you, babe.”

“I love you, too.”

Bronx left the house and hopped on his bike for the drive across town to the District Attorney’s office where the Internal Affairs investigator was waiting.

Time to take down some dirt-bags.

He’d never been on the side of the law until now. But it felt pretty good. And besides, everyone hated fucking bad cops. Hopefully, they got what they deserved.

-16-

Pyro hoped there was strength in numbers and together they were enough to put away Crawford and his pervy buds but Pyro had long since lost faith in doing things the legal way. If it weren’t for Zoe’s connections and Jax and Hunter’s newfound legitimacy having started Gage’s Watch, he would’ve relied on street justice to put these sick fucks away just like he’d taken care of Benton. But he knew if he did that, Angel would always be looking over her shoulder — and frankly, so would he and he was tired of running.

“This place gives me the heebie-jeevies,” he muttered to Bronx as he crossed through the metal detector and into the elevator for the third floor where the district attorney was waiting.