Page 18 of Jezebel’s Liberation (Hellfire Hackers #1)

B ang!

I jolt awake at the slamming sound. Stretching, I realize I’m sandwiched between two hot-as-sin men.

A slow smile spreads across my face as I recall our conversation from the night before.

We didn’t agree on anything, and I even tried to walk away from them, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not intrigued by having them both.

Before I can contemplate too much, boots stomping up my staircases remind me of what woke me up.

Someone’s in my home who shouldn’t be.

“Jez is going to kick your ass,” Malice says with a hint of amusement, his voice loud enough to drown out the spike of fear and morph it into annoyance.

“If she didn’t want me showing up unannounced, one of them would’ve answered their goddamn phone,” Soul responds which sets my teeth on edge. What doesn’t he get about me needing space? “And where the fuck is Demon? His ass should’ve been on us as soon as we ripped through the door.”

Demon and Phantom’s eyes pop open at the same time that my bedroom door bounces off the wall. Three hulking men push their way through the door, making me thankful that I slept in a t-shirt that covers my ass.

Soul, Malice, and Grim’s gazes go from me to the men in my bed and back to me again. I crawl over Demon and get to my feet, forgetting my stitches as they pull tight when I stand.

“Shit,” I hiss.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Soul roars.

“Fifty bucks, Prez,” Grim signs.

“Not the fucking time, Grim,” Malice says as he narrows his eyes at me.

“What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?” I demand with my hands on my hips, Demon and Phantom flanking me on either side. As soon as I crawled over Demon, both of them sprang into action.

I guess both of them have my back.

Usually I’d sign, but I’m too pissed. Grim can read my lips if he wants to know what's going on, and judging by the smirk on his face, he has a pretty good idea. This isn’t the first time Grim’s shown up at my house to find me in a compromising position.

Unlike the other two dickheads standing in front of me and judging what they see, Grim’s not fazed one bit.

He crosses his arms and leans against the wall to watch the show.

Soul and Malice step forward, grabbing my arms to pull me out of my room. I’m about to kick both their asses when Demon rips me from their grasp, pushing me behind him. Phantom is at my back, and he wraps his arms around my waist, holding me in place.

“Keep your fucking hands off my woman,” Demon sneers.

Soul pushes Demon back. “Your woman? I told you she was off fucking limits !”

“I’m right here, and can speak for myself,” I huff.

Soul looks from Demon to Phantom, who hasn’t released me. “You might want to rethink that, brother. Seems to me like Jez is spreading her le?—”

I break free from Phantom and charge at my twin.

Crack!

Soul doesn’t have time to protect himself from my slap, and his mouth drops as he cups his cheek.

“You do not want to finish that sentence. Twin or not, I’ll bury you,” I seethe. “Get the fuck outta here.”

Phantom tugs both me and Demon away, taking a protective stance in front of us. “You heard her.”

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but she’s one of ours.” Malice’s eyes narrow at Phantom. “We’re not fucking leaving until we talk.”

“Fuck you, Malice!” I try to step around Phantom. “Yes, you ar?—”

Grim pushes off the wall and gets in between us and them. He looks over his shoulder at me and winks, and I reel back, wondering what the heck he’s up to. Grim’s hands start moving rapidly.

“Time to go,” he signs.

I should’ve known Grim would have my back and get these assholes out of here.

Soul scoffs. “I’m not leaving until I talk to my sister and kick this fucker outta my club for disobeying a direct order.”

Grim’s face turns murderous. “Your club? Last time I checked, it’s our club. You might be President, but you don’t dictate who loses their patch without a vote.”

“Fine,” Soul grumbles. “But I’m still not leaving without talking to my twin.”

“We’ll meet you downstairs in ten minutes,” Phantom announces.

“The hell we will,” I sass.

“You heard him,” Demon confirms.

Grim pushes Soul and Malice out of my room and shuts the door behind him. I’m fuming as I pull on a pair of loose-fitting shorts, while Demon and Phantom grab their t-shirts and yank them over their heads.

“I can’t believe you told them we’d still talk to them,” I complain as I yank open the door.

“Babe,” Phantom says softly. “We need to show a united front. They were gonna find out sooner or later. Better to rip the band-aid off now.”

He’s right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the way the events of the morning are unfolding. What is with everyone breaking into my house whenever they feel like it?

I’m installing a steel door with biometric screening. I’ll lock this place down like Fort Knox, then we’ll see who can break in.

I chuckle evilly as we enter the living room, thinking about all the ways I could screw with their lives. My plans take a backseat when I see the three of them silently communicating. They drop their hands when they spot us, ending their private conversation.

“You wanted to talk. Talk,” I command.

Soul drops onto one of my sofas while Malice and Grim take up seats on my recliners. I sit opposite my brother on another couch, with Demon beside me and Phantom on his other side.

“I’ve given you a week, Jez. I want to know what the hell you were doing in Phoenix and how you ended up at our doorstep beat to shit,” Soul demands.

I square my jaw. “You do not get to break into my house and demand answers.”

“Jez,” Malice interjects. “We have a right to know what you’re getting yourself involved in.”

Demon tenses beside me. I turn my head to tell him I got this when I see Phantom place his hand on Demon’s thigh. Surprisingly, Demon doesn’t protest, and Malice’s brows hit his hairline for a split-second before he glowers.

My gaze returns to Malice. “You have a right? Do I have a right to know everything that goes on behind church doors?”

Soul fidgets. “That’s not the same.”

I frown. “How is it not the same?”

“Plausible deniability for one thing,” Malice points out.

“You’re a dumbass. I’m the one who gives you the information you need to do what you do,” I remind him.

“Let’s get one thing straight right now, since you and my brother can’t pull your heads out of your asses…

What the fuck do you think I was doing for those four years with Grim while you two were on the other side of the globe…

Painting my fucking nails?” Sarcasm oozes from my words.

“No, I was in the fucking thick of it, standing right next to Grim, helping him as an equal partner.”

Everyone’s mouths drop open in shock, and their heads swivel to Grim, who shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“I told you she’s tough,” Grim signs. “You think I’d let her do anything without training? We’ve been telling you for years that Jez can handle herself. You two have been too stupid to put it together. Didn’t realize we’d need to spell it out for you.”

“How the fuck could you put her in danger?” Soul bellows. “She could’ve been ki?—”

“I didn’t put her in danger,” Grim interrupts. “You did, Prez.”

“I’ve been protecting her!” Soul erupts.

Grim shakes his head. “You think you have, but by stifling what Jez is capable of, you put her in this predicament. She didn’t think she could come to us for help because you sidelined her.

Ever since we formed the MC, you’ve put her in a gilded cage, not by our sides like she was with me.

If you had her back instead of barking orders, she wouldn’t have been in the position to take matters into her own hands. ”

This right here is why Grim is my best friend. He understands me. Soul used to, before burning down our church, but then he and Malice left. I was left picking up the pieces.

I nod in agreement. “He’s right, Soul. You heard and saw what you wanted instead of looking at what was right in front of you.

I’m your twin, not a baby. You want me to respect your authority as President of Saints Purgatory, but you don’t give me the same consideration for helping create this MC.

Grim knew I needed vengeance just as much as the three of you,” I continue.

“Instead of pretending I’m a weak little woman, he helped me harness my inner badass.

I have handled and will continue to handle any shit that comes my way. ”

“So, we can blame Grim for all this?” Malice jokes.

“No,” I answer honestly. “I would’ve figured out a way to do it by myself, but I didn’t have to because Grim was as broken as I was when you two left. He was smart enough to give me the education I needed to not get hurt.”

“You were hurt, Jezebel,” Soul admonishes. “Twice.”

“How many of your men have been hurt doing what they do?” I ask hotly.

“It’s different, you’re my sister.”

“The only difference is that I don’t have a pole swinging between my legs. Demon is Malice’s younger brother, yet you welcomed him with open arms to prospect for the club, and now he’s a patched member.”

Soul opens his mouth to protest, but I hold up my hand and continue.

“Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean that shit isn’t going to come for me.

I know how to protect myself, but that doesn’t mean that someone can’t get the jump on me.

Like it or not, doing what we do, there’s always a level of danger.

Look what happened with Violet. I’m not untouchable just because you think sitting behind a computer protects me.

You’ve managed to hurt me more than all the cuts and bruises I’ve ever had with your misogyny. ”

Silence fills the room. Demon laces his fingers through mine in silent support.

“Dammit,” Soul mutters, hanging his head in defeat.

“I’m so fucking sorry Jez. Sorry for hurting you with what I said the day you came to the clubhouse, in your bedroom, for everything.

My heart stopped when I saw you broken and bleeding again.

I was scared and pissed because I had no idea you were in danger.

I thought I was going to lose you. Can’t you understand that? ”

“I do,” I say with a sigh. “But, Soul, you drew the line in the sand when you kept pushing me away from club business. You don’t get to pick and choose anymore what I know or don’t know.

I’m done being at the club’s beck and call.

Lock and Fort can handle the intel for you moving forward. It’ll be a clean break for all of us.”

“That’s not what I want. I want to know you’re safe and that you’re not going to get yourself killed.” Soul stands and walks over to me, pulling me to my feet. “I want you to come home and be with your family. I love you, Jez,” he says softly.

“I love you, too.” Unshed tears burn my eyes. “I’ll still come to the clubhouse to see everyone, but in a familial capacity, not as your hacker. I’ve had one foot inside the club and one out for too long. It’s time for me to live my own life.”

“I can't shut down my protective instincts, Jez," Soul confesses. “I'll try not to interfere with your life, but you’d better call me if you need help going forward."

I release the breath I didn't realize I was holding. He's trying to compromise in his alpha-dominating way, and knowing how hard that is for him, I appreciate it.

"Fine, if I need help with something that my team and I can't handle, I'll let you know."

Never hurts to have extra backup. After reevaluating my encounter with McCormick, I really could’ve used it.

“But know that my acceptance doesn’t mean I have to like any of this,” he says, a hint of frustration remaining in his tone.

I roll my eyes. “Wouldn’t expect anything different.”

Soul pulls me in for a hug and kisses the top of my head.

“We have church Friday night,” he says as he lets me go. “Come and hang out with everyone. I’d like you to be there. All of you.”

Even though I want my independence, I should come clean about Hellfire Hackers. It affects more than just me, though. I need to discuss it with my team and gauge their thoughts on the matter. I lock eyes with Phantom, and he seems to understand my internal struggle and slightly nods.

“We’ll be there.”

Grim and Malice stand to leave. While he remains at my side on the couch, Demon also leans closer to Phantom. I’m guessing the shift is subconscious, but it’s a move that doesn’t go unnoticed.

Malice sneers in their direction. “You like dick now, little brother?”

Demon leaps up, his eyes dark with anger. “Would that be so bad?”