Page 31 of Chasing the Flame (The Sacred Flames Of Ruin #1)

The restaurant is in full swing when we reach Earl’s Diner. It’s nestled just outside Liberty, right off the highway among a grove of oak and pine trees. The bell chimes overhead as we enter the building, and my eyes immediately search for a sign of my friend.

I find it two tables down, a sage green vase resting on the table holds a single black dahlia.

The booth is empty, and I nudge Jettson in the shoulder, jerking my head toward the table.

“Sit anywhere you like, my name’s Dot. I’ll be with you shortly.

” A plump older woman with silver hair smiles at us, waving an arm toward the tables.

I smile back at her and approach the table with the dahlia flower, trying to ignore how my stomach twists as I slide into the booth.

There’s a menu already on the table, and my stomach growls at the mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen. I don’t care what anyone says, these little diners usually have the best food. “Might as well grab a bite while we’re here,” I murmur, glancing over the menu.

Jettson grunts, his gaze scanning the room every few seconds.

I try to relax and look over the menu, but with Jettson so wound up, it’s hard to focus.

The bell chimes again, and Jettson instantly stiffens.

His posture is rigid, his hands gripping the edge of the booth tightly.

A woman saunters toward us, a devilish glint in her hazel eyes.

I observe her appearance as she slides into the seat across from us.

She has raven-colored hair, her wild ringlets in complete disarray, but somehow, it works for her.

Her hazel eyes are steely, edged with something wild that makes me squirm in my seat.

Tattoos litter her right arm, beautiful but dark designs that scream danger.

She has high cheekbones and pouty lips, and she would totally be the type of girl I’d go for in my past.

My throat feels dry, but I speak anyway, needing to start this meeting. “I think you have some information for me.”

She narrows her eyes at me, tilting her head slightly before saying, “Not even a hello? Fuck, okay, I guess right down to business.”

The mysterious woman grins and winks at me. Giving her a sheepish smile, I say, “I’m sorry, I suppose that was rude. But, I guess you could say you’ve piqued my interest.”

“I’d imagine anyone would be curious after finding out their husband is cheating on them. But… it looks like you’re keeping some secrets of your own.” Her words are not malicious—just idle curiosity, as her calculated gaze slips to Jettson.

He frowns at her, “How’d you even know—”

“ How I know isn’t important,” She starts, her tone dropping low with a hint of a twang, as she ignores Jettson’s glare.

“What’s important is I cut the feed and stuck it on an endless loop of Averie.

It looks like she’s alone in the house and doing her normal day-to-day.

So don’t worry—I'm good at keeping secrets.” She cackles, the sound jarring and a bit out of place considering.

“The look on your faces! Priceless. Yes, to answer the question burning in Averie’s eyes…

there are pin cameras all over your house. ”

I suck in a breath, my gaze instantly finding Jettson’s. What we did, in plain fucking sight? “ Jesus Christ ,” I mutter, returning my gaze to the mysterious woman before me. “What do you want? Why are you telling me this?”

“Like I told you, I’m invested in your survival,” she shrugs. “Taking down your husband, the rapists, and murderers he’s harboring? Well, you could say I consider it the cherry on top.”

“Excuse me, what?!” Jettson exclaims, eyeing her warily.

She narrows her steel-tipped eyes at him, her eyes darkening. “Don’t even try to pretend, Jettson Noxwood. You knew this was happening. You had the power to do something.” She tuts, twirling her straw as she stares him down.

Jettson’s gaze is glacial, his jaw clenched. He grits out, “You don’t know the full story. Or you haven’t dug deep enough yet.”

“Oh, you mean the night you killed several members, their sons, and nearly set the whole building on fire.” She huffs, rubbing her nails against her tank top like she’s bored.

“Yeah, sweetie, I know all about that. Just like I know you were shipped off to a military college by your dad and recruited from there.”

The two are staring each other down, and the tension in the room is so thick I can almost taste it.

I feel I’m walking a tightrope that’s about to snap.

Jettson looks like he’s about to strangle her, and I know if I don’t do something to intervene, I’m going to leave with more questions instead of the answers I seek.

“Look, I feel like we’re getting off topic here. Why did you get in touch with me? What do you want me to do?” My voice is soft and lilting as I try to diffuse the situation. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. I’m growing more antsy with every passing second.

This woman seems a bit unhinged, and I’m more than ready to get this meeting over with.

“I don’t want you to do anything. I’m warning you,” she says, her brow furrowing.

“You seem nice, and from what I’ve seen from hacking into your camera feed your husband is a fucking prick.

Get out, and don’t look back. You’re not safe there. ”

Anger rushes through me, the ringing in my ear getting louder every passing second. “Yeah, see, here’s where I have the issue. You say you’re trying to warn me, but why are you hacking into my camera feed in the first place?”

She shrugs, glancing out the window, and says, “I guess you could say it was your husband I was digging into. At first, anyway.” She turns back to us, her eyes darkening with every word.

“I got an anonymous tip about a sex trafficking ring in Louisiana. I tracked them down, hunted them one by one until I got to their leader. When I got to the bastard, he was holed up in a hidden fortress on the outskirts of a bayou… he sang like a canary, too.” Her gaze is wistful, and the expression sends a chill skittering down my spine.

“Ya see, he had a connection to a mysterious group. You may have heard of them?”

I’m on the edge of my seat, hanging on every word she’s saying. Jettson’s hand finds mine under the table, lacing our fingers together. The reassurance grounds me, bringing my anxiety back down to a manageable level.

“What was it called, oh yes, the Blackthorne Covenant,” she says, pulling up a menu and looking over it. “You see, I’ve taken a special interest in Luke.”

“Oh?” I manage, my mouth drier than the Sahara.

She grins at me, “Luke’s been a very naughty boy. His father, Donald, isn’t much better. Oh, the plans I have for that man!”

She looks positively gleeful, like she’s talking about Sunday brunch or taking a stroll by the lake. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re telling me any of this. And I hate to break it to you, but I know my husband is a monster. ”

Her gaze softens a fraction at my admission, but only for a second. Then, she waves in Dot’s direction and surprises the fuck out of me by ordering a full spread. She sighs happily as Dot walks away, “I couldn’t decide, so I ordered all three.”

“Right,” Jettson says, giving me a look that all but screams wrap this up.

She gives him an exasperated look, then turns her attention back to me. “I suppose it goes without saying, but your husband supplied my perp with his women.”

Time seems to stop. It feels like the wind has been knocked out of me. My chest aches, and the room is starting to spin. Jettson squeezes my palm, and I feel a rush of energy entering my body. It floods my veins and soothes the hurt in my chest.

Taking a steadying breath, I examine everything she’s told me. I am not surprised, though I feel like I should be. I knew Luke was a monster. Any idiot would be able to see that with the way I’ve been treated. My voice shakes, but I ask anyway, “Do you know what he has planned for me?”

She bites her lower lip, the action betraying her nerves.

My gut churns as nausea settles in the depths of my stomach.

This is the first time she’s genuinely seemed anxious, and I don’t like how it makes me feel.

“I don’t know the particulars, and I haven’t gotten all the information back yet…

but. It’s not good, and I advise running while you have the chance. ”

Jettson grunts, nodding at her before saying, “I think I have the information you’re looking for. I can get you access to it.”

The woman blinks, looking surprised. “Thank you,” she says, eyeing Jettson warily.

Before the conversation can continue, Dot reappears with her order. There are pancakes, scrambled eggs, a big pile of crispy bacon, waffles, a cheeseburger with fries, and a BLT with chips. My mouth waters, and I’m suddenly regretting my life choices. “Here ya go, hon’, Do you need anything else?”

“No, Dot, this is more than enough. I’ll probably need some boxes unless my friends here decide to help me out.” She chuckles, waving a hand in our direction.

She leans in, pinching her cheek and says, “You’re such a sweet girl, Dahlia. And one of my best customers.”

Dahlia ...

That must be why she said to look for the flower when we arrived. Maybe she’s even a regular. Curiosity burns inside me, and I’m itching to know more about this strange woman.

“And you’re just looking for a big tip, don’t think I don’t see right through you.” Dahlia chuckles, swatting at Dot playfully.

“Fine. You caught me.” Dot huffs and rolls her eyes. “You bitch, you never let me have any fun.”

Dahlia cackles, throwing the middle finger up at the older woman as she walks back to the kitchen. Jettson and I glance at one another, both of us silently communicating. It’s time to go.

“Well, I do have one more question, Dahlia,” I say, gulping when she narrows her eyes at me. “Since you’re so good, uhm… at what you do. Do you think you could look into something for me?”

I can see the wheels turning in her mind.

She’s contemplating refusing, but there’s a curiosity about what I could need her help with.

I feel it inside her, a small kindling that must be stoked.

“I don’t know anything about my mom’s parents or her side of the family.

I tried a family tree website but haven’t had much luck.

I was wondering if you could dig into her for me. ”

She takes a bite of the pancakes, then stabs at her bacon and shoves it in her mouth. She chews methodically, watching the traffic go by out of the window. “I suppose I could look into her for you,” she says finally.

Dahlia turns back to me, her gaze scrutinizing as she glances between us. “Text me her details, and I’ll see what I can find. Do you have a place to stay? I wasn’t kidding when I said you should leave.”

“She can stay with me,” Jettson says, his voice confident and sure. He gently squeezes my hand under the table in reassurance, and I let loose of the breath I was holding.

“Good, I’ll expect that info by the end of the week,” she says to Jettson, then turns her attention toward me. “Get out, Averie, and don’t look back. I’ll be in touch.”

With that, she leaves a hundred-dollar bill on the table and slips out of the booth, humming the entire way out of the diner. Leaving me wondering just what the fuck I’ve gotten us into.