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out. He snuffed out the spent stick in an ashtray, slid off the bed and padded to the bathroom. He wasn’t angry. After all, she’d given him sex every night since they left New York. He assumed her trip to the secret village must’ve tired her out.
    After one more glance at her sleeping on the bed, he sighed and closed the bathroom door.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    Hatch did his best to subdue his growly frame of mind. Flame showed no signs of wanting sex upon waking. Instead she was anxious to get back on the road. Since her visit to the sisterhood, her aura had changed and he couldn’t discern how, only that she seemed more confident and even more naturally seductive. He wondered exactly what had taken place. Does she have another man in the wings? He fought off the petulant mood seeking to settle over him.
    During their rest stop on the last leg to LA, they sat in the back booth of a small all night diner. Two waitresses were running the midnight shift. Other than a couple drifters, he and Flame had the place to themselves.
    “Nice jacket,” a server said upon approach, then glanced at Flame’s daggers before eying her skeptically as she took their order. “Word on the biker loop is that a woman with unusual daggers fought off three men to protect a perfect stranger.”
    “Really...” Flame remarked with no emotion.
    “They say she’s pretty badass and wears a jacket like yours,” the woman added.
    Hatch looked down while stirring his coffee. “Hmm, sure would like to meet her.”
    Flame laughed. “Maybe you will, love...maybe you will.”
    The waitress smiled knowingly and walked away. Fifteen minutes later, she returned with their food and refilled the coffee cups. “Your meal is on the house.”
    Flame nodded her thanks. Then she tackled the stack of pancakes.
    Hatch watched her for a moment. “Hungry, babe?”
    “Mm-hmm,” she muttered, scanning the diner with her eyes.
    She amazed him with her constant, intuitive awareness. They made small talk while enjoying their meal. Flame began to relax and engage in conversation a bit more. She expressed her excitement over spending time with his friends and visiting the Pacific Ocean. Hatch learned something new about her each day. He didn’t know she’d never seen the West Coast or that it was the only part of America she hadn’t visited yet, which explained much of her enthusiasm regarding their trip. He felt somewhat relieved that the bulk of her excitement did not revolve around Raef.
    “What do you know of Ian’s biker group?” she asked. “I’ve been riding for years but never joined a group. What’s the name of his pack?”
    “They call themselves Citizen Soldiers and are pretty low profile.” Hatch gave a casual shrug. “I don’t know really know much about them except that they ride at night, so you should fit right in. Ian has been with them for years and Cooper O’Tool heads the organization. Oh, and that Von character used to run with them, but he left to lead his own gang. Those Black Pythons he rides with are a seedy pack of miscreants.”
    “Speak of the devil…” Flame’s gaze shifted toward the diner entrance.
    Hatch briefly stole a look to see what caught her attention. In walked Von Calder accompanied by several of his cronies.
    Von swaggered over. “Well how nice. My two favorite people…Hatch Elliot and Flame…what’s your last name again?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.
    “Don’t have one.” She shot him a fiery look. “You have a lot of balls coming over here after the shit you pulled.”
    “Hey…” He threw his hands up in feigned defense. “That was your ex’s doing. If you recall, I got your fine ass out of that mess.”
    “Whatever.” She looked down at her plate while nervously toying with her fork.
    Hatch observed with narrowed eyes, wondering why this renegade had such a potent effect on her.
    “What brings you two out here on the open road all by yourselves? Shouldn’t you be in