Page 1 of Fallen Flame

Chapter One

Oliver

Seven in the morning was too damn early for the clubhouse to be alive.

That was one of the few things Arlo and I actually agreed on.

The common area was quiet except for the low hum of the refrigerator behind the bar and the old coffeemaker that had probably been around longer than I had.

I wrapped both hands around my mug and took a long drink of black coffee.

Still hot and still tasted like someone had filtered it through an old boot. Exactly what I needed.

Thorn stood behind the bar, wiping down glasses that were already clean. He looked way too awake for this hour.

Arlo, on the other hand, looked like he’d rolled out of bed five minutes ago. His blond hair stuck up in every direction, and he hadn’t bothered shaving. He yawned so hard I thought his jaw might unhinge.

Then he looked over at me. “So,” he said.

I immediately sighed. “No.”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was.”

I shook my head and took another sip of coffee. “No.”

Arlo grinned. “You can’t stop me.”

“I can leave.”

“You won’t.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Thorn chuckled quietly as he set another glass on the shelf.

Arlo leaned farther onto the bar. “Tell me again.”

Thorn snorted. “I know he already told you, but I want to hear it since you are so stunned.”

Arlo held up a hand. “I need to hear it one more time to confirm that my brother is an idiot, and Thorn needs to also confirm it.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’ve already confirmed it.”

“I just want to make sure I didn’t imagine it.”

“You didn’t.”

He stared at me. “So...”

I stared right back. “So.”

“You walked Lark to her room.”

“Yep.”