Page 15 of Sadistic Retribution (Rise of Phoenyxx #2)

Ghost

I silently breeze through the hallways, making my way to the director’s office. I walk through the crowd unseen, wearing my grey hoodie up, hands shoved into my pockets, head down. When I'm alone, it’s as if I’m truly invisible. No one sees me unless I want them to. I know how to blend in.

My father summoned me, having staff tell me to go out to the backyard. We have a vast property. Really nice gardens all over, a huge courtyard, a gazebo, and even a maze at the back of the house.

I head over to where he’s standing, close to the maze. “Okay, Son—this is a test. A challenge. If you can make it through the maze unseen and invisible, you’ll get a nice reward. However, if even one person sees you, you’ll be punished.”

I swallow subtly. “What is the reward and the punishment, Father?”

“The reward is a weekend trip with your friends to a place of your choice. The punishment… well, you’ve seen the cages in the basement. You certainly don’t want to be in one.”

Fuck. That's a fucking understatement. I know exactly what happens to the women and children in those cages. They're beaten, raped, and shipped off to God knows where. The uncooperative ones are killed. I've been forced to do the killing a couple of times.

As for the trip, that would be wonderful, even if we’d be accompanied by his men.

I don’t hesitate, flipping up the hood of my hoodie. I oh-so-quietly start to slowly make my way through the maze. I get to the end of the first turn, going left. I spot a flash of color in the bushes and skirt over to the side, gliding along like a ghost.

I manage to escape the person’s notice, continuing on. I weave through, right and left. I evade every person I see. My confidence building, I speed up, knowing the end of the maze is close.

I spot the exit, going down the side and slightly into the bushes towards it. Right before I reach it, a hand whips out, hauling me up by my shirt. I'm dragged out of the maze, heels dragging through the grass.

“Got him, Boss,” one of my father’s many lackeys announce, pride in his voice. He drops me, and I turn towards him, venom in my gaze.

“I am disappointed, Son. Clearly you are still performing under the bar.” My father addresses the lackey. “Take him down and put him in an empty cage.”

I keep my lips zipped and expression neutral as I’m dragged down the basement stairs.

The smell hits me first. Piss, shit, and blood—not to mention thick body odor.

I raise my eyes, seeing all the cages full, except one.

There are women of all ages—young to older, fifties, probably.

And the children. God, I can’t look at them.

The youngest looks like a fucking toddler.

The screaming and crying pierces my ears, but I can’t react.

I'm shoved headfirst into the empty cage. It’s bare, except for a bucket which is clearly a toilet of sorts.

No blankets or anything. The lackey orders me to strip and hand my clothes to him through the bars.

I go down to my boxers, and he shakes his head.

Fuck. I shove them down, and hand them to him with everything else.

He leaves, and I huddle and shiver in the freezing air down here. One girl chokes on her tears in the cage next to mine. “Please help me,” she whispers. “I know you’re his son... you have to help me. Please!”

I shake my head. “I can’t help you. I'm so sorry.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I shove it all down. I can’t show any weakness.

I have no idea how long I’ll be down here, probably days. I settle in as best as I can, sending my mind elsewhere.

I hover outside Augustine’s office, waiting for him to leave. It's close to lunch time, so I figure he’ll leave to eat at least.

I'm proven right after about five minutes or so. He walks out, shutting the door behind him. He doesn’t even lock it—he must not plan to be gone long.

I slip inside, checking the walls first for any tunnel entrances. Nothing. Next, I check behind and around the paintings and bookshelf for a safe or hidden latch. Again, nothing.

I move to his desk. I disregard the top, knowing nothing of importance will be in plain sight.

I start to open the drawers, but they are all locked…

except one. I slowly slide it open, seeing files inside.

I reach in and grab the first one. The cover simply has one name: Aslanov. What the fuck? Frost's last name?

I flip it open, seeing some kind of dossier on the top. It's all his family members, and a bunch of numbers next to the names.

I’m trying to reach in for more when I hear the Director’s voice close by. I shove the file back in, no time to even take pics. I poke my head out, making sure the coast is clear.

I go out, blending in with everyone else. Head still down, I leave the admin building to go back to the apartment. I need to relay this to Frost and Purge.

Synn

I'm crashed out on the sofa, arm thrown over my eyes. Too many thoughts swirling in my brain to try to sleep. Purge is in his room, and Frost is across from me, doing the same.

The door snicks open, Ghost walking in. “Hey, I have info. I got into Augustine’s office for a minute.”

Frost and I sit up straight, and Purge joins us. I motion for Ghost to continue.

“Where’s Razor and Trikk?” he asks.

I shrug. “Just tell us.”

“I found an open drawer with files inside. The one on top had Frost’s last name on it.”

Frost’s head snaps up. “The fuck?”

“Yeah, it had a list of your family members, with numbers next to each one. It's all I could look for before he came back.”

“Wait... what kind of numbers?” Purge questions.

“Not sure. Just long numbers, I couldn’t study it to be able to tell.”

“Okay. We have to get back in there,” Frost says, and I nod in agreement. “Chances are there could be clues to the location of the morgue, and who-knows what else.”

“I agree. We have to figure out a time he’ll be gone for longer. Purge, I know you can pick locks.”

“In my sleep,” Purge confirms.

“Someone needs to keep an eye on that office. Frost, can you do it?” I ask him.

“I can. I need something to do anyway to chase away this restlessness.”

I shift in my seat, still shocked to see my friend FEELING. I don’t say anything, though, sensitive to the situation. Me... Sensitive. Such a crazy thing...

I lose myself in my head again. We need to not only find Pazessca, but get some dirt on this place, and our fathers. We need the upper hand.

Hunter

“Well, so this is a thing,” Thor announces, sitting back in his seat.

“What?” I ask, a headache throbbing behind my eyes. I need to take a break from staring at a screen, but don’t dare do it.

“The six boys. They’re Mafia and Bratva.”

“What?”

“Yep. All their fathers are the heads of their individual families. It seems the boys are the heirs to the thrones.”

“Holy fucking shit! How did I not put those pieces together?”

“Don’t beat yourself up, man. Your attention was on your two ladies.”

“Still!”

“I’ll report this to Jax. Go take a walk or something, you look like a rubber band about to snap,” Thor suggests.

I blow out a pained breath. “Yeah, okay. Keep digging though. Anything we can uncover could be a lead.”

“Um... duh. I got you, bro.”

I bark out a sarcastic laugh. “Thor, you are something else.”

His laugh echoes behind me as I go to walk it off.