Page 27 of Jezebel’s Liberation (Hellfire Hackers #1)

“ Y ou okay?”

I whirl around at my best friend’s question, and stare into the first person I let into my heart back when I thought I was broken beyond repair. Apple crosses my room, coming to a stop in front of me.

“I’m fine,” I say, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“Bullshit.”

“Really, I’m fi?—”

Apple throws her hands up. “What is it with you Grandon men? Between you and your brother, I’m gonna end up six feet under way before my time.”

I smirk. “Nah. You’ll outlive us both.”

She rolls her eyes and slaps me upside the head.

“You’re an idiot… an idiot who’s definitely not fine.

” Apple grabs my hand and tugs me toward the couch that’s situated along the wall on the opposite side of the room from my bed.

After urging me to sit, she settles on the cushion next to me and says, “You’re forgetting who I am.

I know you, Mark. I know your story. So, talk to me. ”

I don’t bother correcting her use of my given name. Somehow, I don’t think she’d listen to me anyway. I’ll always be Mark to her, and that’s okay.

“It’s a lot,” I finally admit. “Not only am I getting close to finally being free of my abusers, but add in Jez, and my entire world feels like it’s spinning out of control.”

She chuckles. “I’m guessing Jez is only half of that particular equation. Or is it more like one-third?”

I know she’s teasing, but that doesn’t stop the tiny fissure of unease that snakes its way through my system. Only when she rests her small hand on my forearm do I let go of the emotion. Apple is the last person who would judge me.

“Am I too fucked up for this?” I ask her.

“For what?”

“A relationship,” I reply. “And one with two people, no less.”

“And one that includes a man as one of those two people,” she says, sensing that there was more to my line of thought. I nod, and she continues. “You are not fucked up. You’ve experienced the worst the world has to offer, and you’re still standing. I’d say you’re doing pretty good.”

“Yeah, but…” I shake my head. “Okay, can I be real with you for a minute?”

“Always,” she says. “I prefer it actually.”

Turning to face her, I try to formulate my thoughts, but the longer I sit here and think, the more jumbled my head becomes. Finally, I spit out the first thing that slips off my tongue.

“How is it that a man is so damn good a sucking cock?”

Apple’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second before she throws her head back and laughs. “That is not what I was expecting,” she says when she composes herself. “And the only answer I can come up with is that he’s good at it because he has one.”

It feels good to talk to someone about this, even if it is a woman. But I’ve never seen Apple as just a woman. She’s my best friend, my sister-in-law, and my confidant. If I can’t talk to her about this, then I might as well throw in the towel before I go insane.

“And he’s patient, too,” I tell her. “Like, he made sure to check in on me throughout all of it, ya know? I thought I’d freak out because of what happened to me, and for a second, I did, but he and Jez grounded me.”

“That’s a good thing, Mark.”

“I know, but… I just… I want more, ya know?”

“Is that so?”

Apple and I jump to our feet, both of us startled by Phantom’s voice. Even from across the room, I can see the way his nostrils flare and his eyes darken.

“Uh, how long were you standing there?” I ask nervously.

Fuck, he makes me feel like a goddamn teenage girl.

“Long enough to know you like how I use my mouth.”

“And that’s my cue to go,” Apple says as she scurries toward the door. When she’s right next to Phantom, she stops and faces him. “If you hurt him, it’ll be me you’ll be meeting in the Confessional.”

With that, she smiles sweetly and leaves the two of us alone.

“Confessional?” he asks, eyebrow raised.

“Oh, prospect, you’ve got a lot to learn.

Phantom takes a step in my direction, then another, and another. “I’m looking

forward to it.”

A thought slams into my brain, and I clear my throat. “That, uh…” I nod at the couch. “That probably looked bad.”

He tilts his head. “Bad?”

“Yeah. Like we were doing something we shouldn’t be,” I offer.

Phantom chuckles. “All I saw was two best friends talking. Honestly, I’m glad you have her.”

“You are?”

“Of course. Jez and I are here for you, I hope you know that, but I’m not stupid enough to think that there aren’t things you might want to talk about that you’re more comfortable going to Apple.”

Releasing a sigh, I nod. “Thanks. You’re taking my friendship with her way better than my brother did.”

“I get the impression that there’s a lot of things I’ll take better than Malice.”

There’s an underlying heat to his words, and my cock twitches.

“Where’s Jez?” I ask, changing the subject so I don’t jump him right this second.

“I’m right here,” she says as she strolls into the room.

Without missing a beat, Phantom grabs her arm and forces her to stop next to him. “Did you know that Demon likes the way I suck his cock?” he asks, his tone teasing.

Jez darts her eyes to mine. “I’m better though, right?”

I lift my hands as if to surrender. “I value my life, so I’m not answering that. So, were you guys able to find any more on the pedo ring?” I ask, recognizing that this is a safer topic, despite its traumatizing nature.

Like I said, I value my life… and my balls.

“No,” Jez admits. “But they’re still working on it. I did have an idea, though.”

“What’s that?” I ask, trying to dampen the frustration washing over me at the lack of more info.

“We set a trap,” she says simply.

“A trap?” Phantom asks. “Like a digital one?”

Jez looks at me, and it hits me like a ton of bricks what she’s thinking. “Not exactly,” she says. “More like a Demon and Jez baited trap.”

“Absolutely fucking not!” Phantom shouts, and he begins to pace. “No way. Not happening.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” I say quietly, and he falters in his steps to glare at me. “But just a Demon-filled trap.”

“What the fuck?” Jez snarls. “There’s no way I’m gonna be left out of my own plan.”

“Neither of you are doing this,” Phantom growls. “We’ll get them, but not like that.”

“Phantom,” Jez begins, stepping in front of him to stop his pacing. “Crane won’t be able to pass up a chance at getting to Demon, and Agent Betts will be the same with me. I’m the hacker who exposed him.”

“ I’m the hacker who exposed him,” Phantom bites out.

“And I’m your boss,” she snaps.

“C’mon, guys,” I coax. “We can’t do this. If we let this come between us, they win.”

Jez whirls on me, her eyes sparking fire. “You’re taking his side?”

“Jesus,” I mutter, closing the distance until I’m standing next to both of them. “No, I’m not taking sides. Well, okay, I am, but it’s our side I’m taking. I finally feel like maybe there’s more for me than trauma and pain and… loneliness.”

“Damn, that talk with Apple really did help,” Phantom says with a grin.

“What talk with Apple?” Jez asks, darting her gaze back and forth between us. “What am I missing?”

Before she can answer, there’s a loud banging on the door, and the three of us turn to see Grim standing in the open entry.

“We really need to remember to shut that from now on,” I mumble.

Grim lifts his hands and signs, “I need Phantom.”

Jez stiffens. “No.”