Page 10 of Sadistic Retribution (Rise of Phoenyxx #2)

Bryan

The beatings, torture, and isolation are getting to me. All I have are my thoughts, which are no comfort whatsoever. All I see every time I close my eyes is Valley. Her laugh, her smile, her infectious personality. She was the one. I will never get over her.

Keys and footsteps alert me to someone coming. One of the masks, Skull, enters my cell. I’m tossed a mini bottle of water and a couple of granola bars. I snatch them up, stuffing them down quickly, savoring the water.

“Now that you’re hydrated, how about servicing me?” Skull asks, cocking his head.

“Excuse me?” I splutter out. Surely, he can’t mean...

“Oh, you heard me just fine, Loverboy. Get on your knees. Now.”

What the hell? There's no way I’m sucking off a guy!

“I’m not gay—” I try, but am cut off when he unbuckles his pants, dropping them to his feet. Horrified, I watch as he pumps himself a few times.

“You know what to do.” He gestures to his now stiff cock. My eyes widen, and I shake my head. Skull makes a sound of aggravation, reaching forward to pry my mouth open. “Do as you’re told!” he barks, in a gruff voice.

I slam my eyes shut, keeping my mouth open. My heart thrashes in my chest as Skull pushes himself into me. I just stay still, but am slapped upside the back of my head for my lack of effort.

“Suck it!” Skull yells through gritted teeth.

It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. It tastes so nasty, I have to fight a gag. It tastes like sweat, and there’s some funky smell I don’t want to identify.

He shoves to the back of my throat, making me dry heave. “If you puke on my cock, you’ll get it in your ass.”

I wince, trying to relax my spasming throat. I just let him thrust, attempting to suck along. He starts grunting, speeding up. I try to pull off, but he holds me in place by my hair.

He grunts once more, than spills his seed down my throat. “Swallow it!”

I grimace as I force it all down. I need to stall my vomit until he leaves, so I try to concentrate on controlling my reaction. I look at the floor, humiliated beyond belief.

Skull turns to leave, and I collapse onto the hard concrete again. I lean over and puke my guts out in the corner, the granola bars coming right back up.

I don’t know why they just don’t kill me. This torture makes no sense. I'm a nobody. There can’t be any worth in keeping me alive. I know they sense my desperation to rest with Valley. But they won’t give it to me.

How much longer can I possibly sustain this?

Hunter

I’m still hard at work with Thor and Bill. There are a couple of others there, too. I’m not sure who they are. I didn’t bother to ask.

One of the guys turns towards me. “Hey, I’m Georgeo,” he says. He's tall and thin and his arms are covered in tattoos. He has long, dark hair held back by a hair band.

“Good to meet you. I'm Harris.”

The other newbie greets me, as well. “I’m Lee—like the General Lee. Dukes for life!” He arm-pumps, grinning. He's so blonde, it’s almost white. Light brown eyes, and a surfer-type build.

“The PC lab is full of nerds,” Bill says, rolling his eyes dramatically.

“Okay... BILL,” Lee laughs out.

“So, tell me more about you guys?” I ask everyone.

“I’m an open book, man,” Thor laughs. “I’m just the nerdy, class cut up. In school, I was always in trouble.”

“When did you get into hacking?”

“In middle school, believe it or not. I had a sheltered life. My parents were strict as hell. I didn’t have much in the way of friends, but what I did have was my computer. I just kind of taught myself over time.”

“Impressive,” I say with a smile.

“As for me, I was a nine to five office grunt,” Bill explains next, “and I got sick of it real fast. I used to mess around on the company computers until I got caught. After losing that job, I realized I wasn’t cut out for corporate America.”

I nod, understanding that. “You?” I ask Lee.

“Total geek. Studied computers from the jump. I'm super into video games and old eighties sitcoms. I mean—The Dukes of Hazard was the Best. Ever.”

“Agree to disagree,” Bill mutters.

Georgeo goes to speak next. “Nothing too shocking or outrageous. I was in the Army, having grown up as an Army brat. I was shipped overseas to France. While there, I fell into some vital information. I had to crack it—so another one of my squad taught me hacking. Unfortunately, it led to me being dishonorably discharged due to misconduct.” He shrugs.

“I can relate,” I whisper to myself.

“So, is this sausage fest over now?” Bill bites out.

Ignoring him, I pinch the space between my brows. I look towards Thor. “Any updates on either girl?”

“Nothing substantial. I'm still working on Augustine’s folders. So far, the number sequences are all similar. I think I’m onto something, but have nothing to back it up yet.”

“In other words, not enough for Boss Man to sanction a move,” Bill quips.

“He’s such a hard ass,” Thor mutters.

The door opens. “What was that, Thor?” Jax looms in the doorway with someone else slightly behind him.

Thor blushes, ducking his head. “Nothing. Not a thing.” He makes a show of turning back to his screen, typing away.

The new guy behind Jax steps forward a bit. He's very tall—over six-foot-four from the looks of it. Built of muscle, with big hands and big feet.

He's wearing glasses, but his blue eyes sparkle in amusement when he speaks. “I’m Trav. And yeah, it’s all big.” His deep voice echoes through the room, making Bill snort a laugh.

“Trav is one of our snipers, and muscle when needed,” Jax supplies.

“Ex-Navy SEAL,” Trav adds.

I nod in appreciation. “Harris. Good to meet you.”

“Likewise. I’m a good-hearted guy who likes to use humor, when I can. I have a black belt in Taekwondo,” Trav offers up.

Jax claps me on the back. “Harris, come with me. I want to talk to you.”

“Sure.” Trav heads another direction, and I follow Jax out of the room, heading down the right side of the hallway. We go up a set of stairs and into another hallway. I haven’t been to this part of the compound yet.

Curious, I look around. We pass by a lot of closed doors.

“What are all these rooms for?” I ask Jax.

“Offices, and living quarters for myself, mostly. Some are not for anyone to see.”

I smile in respect. “Of course, I get it.”

He leads me to the last door on the left, ushering me inside.

“This is my office,” he explains. I glance around the space, impressed by how high-tech everything is.

It's spacious as hell. He has a large oak desk in the center, with a huge dark brown leather office chair.

The walls are mostly bare, except for a few random landscape portraits.

Against the wall are two huge glass computer desks, filled with monitors, multiple keyboards, and stacks of paper scattered over them.

A printer/fax machine stands in the corner.

Two large bookshelves line the back walls, filled with books, various knick-knacks, and other personal items. I shuffle closer.

There are military handbooks, dictionaries, books on shooting, knife use, computer manuals.

There are even a few medical books mixed in.

The second shelf holds fiction. Typical guy-types of authors, like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Patterson.

I peer at the bottom shelf, barely able to hold back a snort of laughter as I peruse the titles—Alpha Wolf, Zodiac Academy, the entire Elite Kings series by Amo Jones.

“Nice,” I comment, nodding in appreciation and stopping myself from teasing him on his reading tastes.

“Have a seat, Harris.”

I lower myself into a very comfortable leather armchair close to his desk, and he sits, also.

“I wanted to talk to you about potentially joining us permanently once your assignment has concluded. Be one of the ZYGOS team.” Jax pauses.

“I founded ZYGOS several years ago. I ran a street gang growing up and into my adulthood. I did despicable things. The one good thing I ever did was create my... daughter, Violet.” He looks away for a minute, then clears his throat.

“She was only two-years-old when she was gunned down right in fucking front of me. Her little body was hit with so many bullets... I couldn’t.

.. I couldn’t get to her in time. The fucks who killed her never did any time. They got off on a technicality.”

My jaw is on the floor. “God, Jax…I am so sorry.”

He waves off my apology. “ZYGOS is a Greek word meaning balance—justice. I wanted to get that for innocent victims. I met a couple of my guys, who were on board with this whole thing. I built this place up from there. I only recruit people who have fucked up, but have atoned, and who have the skills we need.”

I nod, completely understanding him. “So, my past qualifies me?”

“Absolutely,” he confirms, steepling his fingers under his chin. “We want you with us. You would be a hell of an asset to us.”

I arch a brow, knowing this was possible—but certainly not expected. “In what capacity? My hacking skills are pretty basic, and my fighting skills need some work. I'm a decent shot, though.”

“We intend to train you in fighting, mainly. We want to hone the skills you learned in the Marines, and add to them. Improve your shooting skills. My hackers will help you with while you’re here, but that will mostly be backup.”

I take a breath, thinking about this. My role as a therapist in The Retreat was meant to be temporary, until my assignment was over.

I originally got my degree in social work to do something to give back after being a gang-banger drug dealer.

I wanted to do something to make Cynthia proud.

After a bit of time though, I couldn’t see being a therapist as a long-term career.

I was flailing when ZYGOS first reached out to me.

But now that Pretty Girl is part of the equation, it gives me pause. “Will I still have access to The Retreat, as well?”