Page 93 of Sadistic Retribution

“Alright, bring it up after we get finished in here, okay?”

Rattled, I nod, putting the picture back inside. I go back to the drawer, feeling around for anything else. It's empty, and the guys are all on their own drawer, so I stand back.

“Bingo!” Trikk yells. “Found our families’ files.”

They make quick work of the rest, piling it all high on the desktop. “This is all of it,” Purge confirms. Ghost pulls out a backpack, and we shove all the paper and files into it. Purge grabs the computer monitor, Hunter grabbing the keyboard and tower.

Frost opens the door, looking around the hallway. “There’s no one. We need to move quick. Remember the plan—we are leaving from the side door, one hallway over.” He reaches for the handle, locking it behind us as we exit the room.

We walk fast, heads on a swivel to make sure we’re not spotted. Trotting over to the side door, we make a break for it. The courtyard is thankfully empty since lunch is in full swing. We practically run over to the boys’ dorm, thundering up the stairs, and over to Hunter's apartment.

Once we’re in, the computer is put down on the small kitchen table inside, the backpack placed next to it.

“It’s time to work,” Hunter says, with Trikk letting out a “Duh...”, making me smile before I remember I’m still pissed as hell.

Purge works to set up the computer, and the files are spread over the table.

“There’s more room in the bedrooms. Everyone, grab some files and start going through them. Shout if anything looks interesting,” Hunter tells us. He looks at me, adding, “Take a shower, baby. You can borrow a shirt and sweats from my dresser.”

I nod, anxious to wash the stink of dead Director off me.

Chapter 33

Phoenyxx

I'm comingout of the bathroom, stuck in my thoughts. I jump like an idiot when Valley walks up, hugging me. “Nyx? Can we hang out for a while? I just...”

“Of course, babes. You don’t even have to ask, let alone explain. Let's go to Hunter’s room, so we can have some privacy.”

We head that way, and I make a pit stop, poking my head around to the living room. “Everyone, stay out of Hunter’s room! Me and Valley are going to catch up.”

A grumble of sure and ok satisfies me that the message got through. We get into the room and I throw the lock, just to be safe. We sink down onto the bed, and the minute my ass is seated, she bursts into tears.

“Oh, honey!”

“I’ve been so scared,” Valley cries. “I mean, the guys made sure I was safe and stuff, but I was totally alone. All I could think about was you and Bryan. My heart literally died when you both broke in front of me. I was stuck in my brain, Nyx—I heard every word!”

She sobs, her shoulders heaving. God, how did I not even consider what she must have been going through?

Wait, I wonder if...? I decide to ask. Wincing, I ask Valley, “Were you also aware of what Ghost did with his... um...” I stutter out, unable to finish the sentence.

She gives me a tiny smile. “Yeah, but I'm not upset anymore, not like I was.”

“Val... I don’t have words. My heart breaks for you. You went through hell.” She gives me a watery smile. I stare at her pretty face in wonder, how she is always radiating love and positivity. She is truly one-of-a-kind.

“I will promise you this,” I say. “We will get Bryan out of there. We won’t leave this place without him.”

“Do you know anything about him at all?” She chews the inside of her cheek, fingers fiddling together.

I heave a heavy sigh. “The last time I saw him was in the ring. He was... not responsive. They dumped him in with the fucking cannibal. But, he didn’t get beaten. The cannibal has morals, or something.”

“Oh! My God! My poor baby! Him thinking I was gone really affected him that badly?”

“Sweetheart, he is so in love with you. You are his everything. Never doubt that.”

She nods frantically. “Will you tell me about the others you want to save?”

“Fuck,” I breathe out. “Okay. 6 is a younger girl, really pretty, but she is totally crazy. She has lucid moments, but mostly she’s in outer space. Still, she’s impossible to dislike. She took a liking to me. Even sang songs about marrying me.”