Page 24 of Jezebel’s Liberation (Hellfire Hackers #1)

“ W hat the hell happened to you?

Four pissed off faces stare back at me from the monitors.

Diabla’s the first one to question my fading bruises, and this is why I waited so long to check in with my team via a video conference call.

Instead, I opted to use text messages to apologize for my disappearance and reassure them all that I was fine and handling some personal shit.

They’re not stupid, and I knew they didn’t buy it, but I needed time to come up with an explanation for my actions.

Signing deeply, I reply, “That’s what I’m calling about.”

“Where’s Phantom?” Diabla demands. “Is he fucking missing now, too?”

Phantom steps into the frame. “I’m right here.”

Damn it! I told him I wanted to explain things first.

“What’re you doing with Jez?” Loki asks, confused. “Do you live close by?”

“You could say that,” he teases.

I glare at him. “We’ll see about that.”

“I thought you lived somewhere on the East Coast,” Bela contemplates.

“I did,” he confirms. “Circumstances have changed.”

Diabla narrows her eyes. “Does someone want to fucking explain what the hell is going on?”

“Pull your tampon out, Diabla,” Jinx jokes.

“I’m not wearing a tampon,” Diabla seethes.

Loki chuckles. “Then explain how you’ve been on your period for the last six months.”

Diabla sits back and crosses her arms. “For your fucking information, I’ve just been in a really bad mood.”

“No shit,” Jinx deadpans. “We can tell.”

Diabla gestures toward her screen. “Seriously, look at Jez’s face. Something’s going on, and I want to know what.”

I clear my throat, getting their attention. “That’s why I’m calling you all in.”

“Whadda ya mean calling us in ?” Bela asks.

“I need you to come to Nevada,” I answer earnestly.

Loki cocks her brow. “We’ve been working together for years, but we’ve never met in person.”

“This is important,” Phantom stresses. “We need you here.”

“Who put you in charge, Phantom?” Diabla snarls. “Last time I checked, we’re a team with Jez at the helm, not you. Seems to me like you and Jez are keeping secrets.” Diabla focuses her cold gaze on me. “I told you when I joined Hellfire, I don’t do secrets and lies, Jez.”

Phantom tenses beside me. I place my hand on his arm before he can open his mouth again, and his body relaxes slightly.

“She’s got a point,” Bela says softly. “We deserve to know what’s going on before we decide to leave our homes.

We’re loyal to Hellfire and you, Jez, but you have to admit that calling us while covered in bruises and with Phantom inside your house is odd on its own.

Then you add in that you want us to pack up and come to Nevada…

it’s a lot to take in without any warning. ”

Each team member nods in agreement. Everything Bela says is true.

Over the years, we’ve worked together on some of the worst cases, but I’ve never demanded or asked for us to meet in person.

Of course, that’s because I handled a lot of the situations with brutality and death versus destroying our targets digitally, without their knowledge.

What went down with McCormick changes things. Phantom knows what I’ve been up to, so the rest of the team has a right to know, too. They can decide to stay with me or go their separate ways.

“It’s complicated.” I fidget in my seat. Phantom squeezes my shoulder in silent solidarity.

“Uncomplicate it,” Diabla demands.

I blow out a breath and explain what happened with McCormick and how I’d be dead without Phantom’s help.

“I can’t believe you did something so incredibly stupid and reckless,” Loki chides.

“She didn’t even think about inviting the rest of us,” Diabla grumbles as she flicks her retractable knife.

“According to you, McCormick is dead,” Jinx ponders. “So, this doesn’t explain why you need us there.”

“You all know my twin is the president of the local MC where I live,” I remind them.

“There’s more at stake here than I initially thought.

I need your help, and it's time I finally introduced Hellfire Hackers to Saints Purgatory. I told my brother about the team, but I didn’t disclose any personal details about any of you.

I’d never betray you like that.” I take a deep breath.

“I’m asking you all to come here because the rest of the discussion we need to have can’t take place online no matter how good our security is. ”

“How do we know it’ll be safe at your brother’s club?” Bela asks.

Phantom snickers. “Unless you know where you’re going, you’ll never find it. Shit, I’ve been to the place twice and still couldn’t tell you how to get there. Trust me, it’s safe.”

“Why should we trust your brother?” Diabla demands.

“Do you trust me?” I ask.

She holds my gaze, and for a moment, I worry that she’s going to say no because of what I’ve already confessed today. So, when she finally nods, I breathe a sigh of relief.

“If you trust me, you can trust him,” I tell her before asking the team as a whole, “Well, are you in?”

It feels like eternity as we wait for their decision, even though it couldn’t be more than a minute or so.

“I’m in,” Jinx says.

“Me, too,” Bela agrees.

“I’ll be there,” Loki confirms.

Diabla hesitates for a brief moment. “I’ll come, but only because you said there’s more at stake. I don’t like how this is playing out, Jez.”

Phantom shoots forward. “She did it to pro?—”

“No,” I correct him. “Diabla’s right. I should’ve told you all from the beginning, but I was afraid you’d see me differently. I promise, no more secrets.”

“No more secrets?” Diabla asks as if she needs to double-check, and I nod. “Is there something going on between you and Phantom?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Phantom and I speak at the same time.

I gulp. “What we mean is that there wasn’t anything going on between us until this week. I’d never met him in person until the whole McCormick thing.”

“And now?” Loki teases.

I throw my hands in the air. “Fine, we’re in a relationship.”

“Don’t forget Demon,” Phantom adds.

“Who’s Demon?” Jinx asks.

“Me,” Demon’s voice booms behind me.

I grab my chest. “What the fuck, Demon? You scared the shit out of me.”

Phantom chuckles besides me as Demon steps into the camera and lays his hand on my other shoulder.

“Damn girl,” Diabla whistles. “Two, huh?”

“Shit, I’d be down for two if they both looked like that,” Bela adds shyly.

“Bela!” we all shout, and her face flames with embarrassment.

“I-I-I mean,” she stammers. “They’re good looking… I mean handsome… I’m just gonna shut up now.”

Jinx taps her chin. “How does it work?”

“Well, if Demon ta?—”

“That’s it!” I yell before Phantom can finish. “Get out, and take Demon with you.”

“But babe,” Demon begins.

I push back my chair and stand, whirling around on them. “I said get out, before you both lose your dicks.”

Phantom smirks. “But you love our dicks.”

I swing, fully intending to break his nose, but miss as he dodges out of my reach.

Demon pushes him out the door. “You might not value your cock, but I do. She’s a woman of her word. Let’s go.”

Demon and Phantom leave without another word. I take a few deep breaths before I turn around and face the other women in my life.

“I’ll say this,” Diabla begins. “You’ll never have a dull moment.”

“You can say that again,” I mumble. “I’m really sorry about keeping all this from you guys. I should’ve known eventually it would catch up to me.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t end up as another statistic,” Diabla grumbles.

“I know, I know,” I placate. “I’ll send everyone my address. We’ll meet here and ride together to the clubhouse. Phantom wasn’t joking when he said no one would ever find it unless they really know where it is.”

“When do we need to be there?” Bela asks.

“Will there be single hot bikers?” Loki fires.

“Omigod, Loki,” I say with a sigh.

“What? You got a hot biker and a hot hacker,” she retorts. “I can’t get my hands on one ?”

“Two hot bikers,” I correct. “Phantom is prospecting for Saints Purgatory.”

“What the hell?” Diabla demands.

“Oh, chill the fuck out, Diabla,” Jinx chides. “Phantom can do what he wants.”

“So quit being stingy then, Jez,” Loki says. “If you can have two, I’m sure there’s a few single guys left. I only want one.”

“You’d probably eat them alive,” Jinx teases.

“What’s wrong with that?” Loki quips. “A little slap and tickle never hurt anyone.”

I snort. Loki has no idea what she’s asking. Although, I think these girls could definitely hold their own against my brothers.

At least they aren’t slamming the proverbial door in my face.

I grin. “Let’s get you here first. Then you can drool all over some bikers. But word to the wise, stay away from the committed ones. My sisters will tear you apart.” I chuckle when Loki rolls her eyes. “Can you be here next Friday morning?”

“Yes,” the four of them say in unison.

“Great,” I say. “I’ll get some rooms set up for us at the clubhouse with everything we’ll need so you don’t need to worry about bringing your laptops or any other equipment. Bring your game faces ladies. We’re gonna show these bikers just how dangerous we can be.”

Diabla’s smile is evil. “They’re not gonna know what hit ‘em.”

Eight days later…

T he clubhouse is bursting at the seams when we arrive.

Fortunately, the prospects were able to get the sleeping quarters needed for my team ready in time.

When I told Soul that my team and I would be staying here, he wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but I reminded him that he was the one who insisted on meeting them.

I also reminded him that my house isn’t big enough, and with Demon, Phantom, and me exploring our relationship thing, it’s easier not having people underfoot.

He caved as soon as I brought up my sex life.

After some brief introductions and giving everyone a chance to drop their things in their reserved spaces, we head into the conference room Fort and Lock helped me set up.