Page 25 of Flame

I smile wide at her before she helps me change and get everything together. I place Theo in his car seat, then leave, taking my baby home. I wish Zayne was there, but he's not. Instead, I walk into a quiet apartment, and my tears fall again before I gently place a sleeping Theo in his bassinet next to my bed. I take a seat, wiping my tears. I pick up my phone as more silent tears fall down my face, seeing the picture of Zayne.

How can I love him so much and hurt so badly? Wiping my tears again, I quickly call Leah, hoping she'll answer.

She answers straight away, shock lacing her voice.

"Hello?"

I smile, "Hi Leah."

"Star?"

I clear my throat. "Yeah, it's me. I uh, know this call is out of the blue, but I had a frantic call from Gunner."

"Look, Star, I don't know what Gunner has said, but I don't want to talk about anything; I just want to go to sleep."

I sigh; she doesn't know, "and neither did I; I was raped Leah behind the bar eight months ago."

I swallow hard.

"A traitor to the Devils targeted me after the club killed his cousin for dealing drugs at Untamed Girls. Flame is the one who did the deed, and as I was technically his girl in everyone's eyes except his, I became the target one night. It was our friend's date, and Ginger sauntered over to Flame. He decided being with her was the better deal and left me alone. When I went to cry in the bathroom, Hairy grabbed me from behind. He tore through me without a care in the world in front of the camera…anally.”

She lets out a sob: "Star."

"I know. I decided I couldn't stay around the club anymore, around Flame, so I gave him my virginity, then left, ran really, and haven't looked back. I know what you feel, Leah. I know."

I can hear the anger in her voice, and I don't blame her. "No, Star, you don't. That'man' tore through my dry walls with two of his fingers and a razor in between them, taking my innocence, destroying my chances of having a healthy pregnancy, and ensuring I could die as well as my baby, all because Cara wanted Gunner, a man I had just met.

She didn't care about that detail; she just wanted me out of the way, and instead of letting me slink off into the night, they both decided to let me suffer, forcing meto stay and work all while she shoved her activities in my face with a man I became hopelessly in love with, a man who loved me back but decided to listen to crap, just like you did a woman I thought was becoming a friend, just like the club did who I thought was becoming family before you all decided to inform me you'd all never see me that way because I was basically a slut, a patch chaser when I'd never even had sex before. You all turned against me because of their lies, and he wasn't even a patched brother then. No one asked me; no one was willing to listen! I tried to tell you, and you told me you don't speak to liars, so I don't know why Gunner got you to call me, and I don't care why. I want nothing to do with the club or you or Gunner; now I'm sorry for what you went through. I really am, but at least you'll still have your family at your back if you decide to return. I have no one but the baby I didn't even know was possible to conceive."

I sigh, "Leah, please. I don't want you to shut down like I did. The brothers messed up, and so did I. I just want to help you earn your forgiveness like everyone else because you are family, Leah, and you always have been."

She lets out a sob: "There is no helping me, Star."

"Yes, there is, and I'm going to bring you back up again like I have for myself. I'm going to text you every day and call as much as I can. You won't feel alone or lost as I did; I won't allow that, and I know Gunner completely fluffed up big time, but he loves you, Leah; he just wants a chance for forgiveness, for you to have a relationship like you both should have had five years ago."

She sniffles, and my heart breaks for her. "I don't trust him."

I smile a little, rocking the bassinet gently.

"I know Lee-Lee, I know and trust is probably the hardest thing to get back, I should know. I don't think I can ever forgive Flameor the club, to be honest, but if you still love him, if you are miserable and miss him crazily, then let him try to earn it back."

She sighs, "You don't love Flame anymore?"

I'm silent for a moment because I won't lie to her. "I'll always love Flame; he's my one and always has been for as long as I can remember, but how do you let someone like him earn your trust back after everything he's done? He knew my feelings, and I knew him, just like Gunner and you. He decided to spend nights with other women, including my own sister, who had been stealing from me, just like Gunner did to you. It destroyed me, but he left me to his enemies, the same enemies that are still at large. I was raped because of him because of the club and their dealings. Gunner didn't mean for this to happen to you, Leah, and I know Flame didn't expect mine to happen, but he chose to walk away with Ginger, thinking his club was invincible. Gunner misread a situation that ended in disaster, and he's now paying for that because your pain is his pain. He cried, Leah, on the phone to me. He cried and fell apart for the pain he put you through."

She sighs, "My assault was always going to happen."

"What do you mean?" I ask, not wanting her to know what Gunner already told me. I can't have her pull completely away from him.

She sniffles, "My foster dad sold my virginity to 'him' a few years before it happened; he liked what he saw even when I was underage, despite my never meeting him before; he heard the rumors that I wanted to wait until marriage. He wanted me, and when he saw Gunner and I make a connection the first time we looked into each other's eyes, he wanted what he thought was his and decided to take it before I gave it to Gunner, which I would most likely have done before marriage."

I gasp, hating hearing it again, and I can't help the anger lacing my voice. "Please tell me the fucker is dead."

She snorts, knowing I hate cursing. "My foster dad isn't. Gunner killed 'him' though."

I hum, "I think you need to make Gunner grovel, make him work back the trust, then knee him hard between his legs if he messes up again." She laughs. "I know it's easier said than done, but I just don't want to see you give up something that could be epic, and you two, Leah, will be epic if you let the sparks take hold."

"Are you going to take your own advice?"

Source: www.allfreenovel.com