Page 22 of Sadistic Retribution (Rise of Phoenyxx #2)

Hunter

I'm scanning the perimeter of the vast property of The Retreat when I see a blip of something.

I zoom the screen in, seeing a small, square structure a good several miles past the fence.

What the hell? I squint, seeing it looks familiar.

I make a sound, zooming back out, searching for anything that looks similar.

As I zoom out, I notice there are multiple storage sheds throughout the back of the property.

Thor rolls up to my side in his chair. “What did you find, man?”

I point to the structure, zooming in again. “That. What is that?”

He looks closer. “Maybe a storage building? But why would it be clear over there?”

Excitement makes my hands tremble as I stare at it. “Could this be it? A way into The Morgue?”

He purses his lips. “Maybe, but it’s awful small if it leads there.”

“True, but if it’s attached to a tunnel...”

“Shit!” Thor curses. “I’m calling Jax. This could be a lead!”

My phone buzzes right at that moment. I glance down to see it’s Trikk. I grab the burner out, calling him back.

“Bro! I saw something in the forest. A storage shed way past the electric fence.”

“I just saw it, too. We're looking into it. Please—do not jump the gun.”

“How the fuck would we even get to it? That fence is not scalable or anything!”

“I don’t know but I’ll see what I can find out. Hold on, okay? Stay still until you hear from me.”

I disconnect as Jax comes in. “Sounds like we have a lead? This could put at least two of these cases to rest, if it is. It would be enough to take steps against The Retreat. And, of course, retrieving Phoenyxx.”

“I sure as hell hope so,” I say. “How can we get to it, though?”

Thor chimes in, excitement in his voice. “I can try to hack into their security and loop the feed. Then I can bypass it for a few minutes. Maybe, anyway.”

Jax nods. “Get on it.” He claps us both on the backs. “Notify me as soon as you have answers. Good work.”

Frost

I fly through the front door, hoping the guys are all there to relay what happened at that fucked up dinner with my father.

I cup my hands around my mouth to holler out to them. “Guys!”

They all come skidding into the living room, minus Ghost. I’m really hoping he’s just off somewhere; not hurting himself anymore.

“So?” Synn asks impatiently, tapping his foot with his arms crossed.

“It’s what I suspected,” I start to explain.

I tell them about my father’s fucked up dinner with Zara and her father, and the threats from my father.

“Hell no!” Synn yells. “I swear to fuck...”

“He threatened Killer.” I finish with, my jaw in a rigid line.

Trikk's face turns deathly white. Razor doesn’t look much better. Purge is shaking his head, saying “Nope... no... hell-to-the-fucking-no!"

I look at them each in turn. “It’s safe to say, since Synn and me both were set up, the rest of you will be too. The question is—why? What do they have to gain, besides even more power? And why now?”

Purge chews on his lip. “I have theories, but nothing I can even remotely prove at the moment. Add it to the ever-growing roster of shit I need to figure out.”

“Let’s table it in the short-term. We need to focus on getting Killer back first. Everyone in agreement?”

“Yep!” Trikk exclaims.

“Hell yeah,” Razor adds.

Synn just looks at me. “Duh, man.”

“Whoever sees Ghost first, relay this to him, please. I need to go shower off the stench of my father right now.”

I head off to the bathroom, my mind going a mile a minute.

Synn

I can’t sit the fuck still. I just want to run through that fucking fence—see if my Pazessca is in that building. It's electrified top to bottom. There are no gaps or ins of any kind. It's impossible to get past.

Trikk interrupts my chaotic thoughts. “Just talked to Harris, bro. Told him about the building. He said he’s looking into it.”

“Not good enough,” I growl.

“I get it, bro, but it’s all we got.”

Purge's voice sounds from inside his room. “Guys—there’s something weird with this mob shit. There's a family I’ve never heard of before. I can’t see the name or anything, but I’m seeing the mention of seven families—not six.”

I pace, around and around the room. “What the fuck is going on?”

“I’m still digging. It could be a mistake, or something else. This will take me a hot minute, so I’ll do my best.”

I grind my teeth, the scraping sound making my head hurt. Soon, Pazessca... hold on.

Phoenyxx

My stare is blank, my mind wonderfully empty. The only thing I feel is anger. And rage.

The masks walk me into an elevator, going up. We're let out onto a floor with nice decor and gleaming floors. I’m shuffled into a room, the door closing behind me.

“11! Congratulations on your breakthrough. It's time for the next step,” Demon announces.

I wait, not saying a word.

“You get a choice,” Demon continues. “You can go back to your cell block, fight, and stay there for good. Or...”

Horns finishes. “Or, you can work for us—for The Retreat itself. You would go back to general population, with your former peers. You would take orders directly from the Director.”

“Think before answering,” Skull includes. “We would equip you handsomely for any vengeance you may be seeking.”

I raise a brow. “So, if I say yes, I will go back? And be allowed to seek my revenge?”

“Yes,” Demon responds. “You will not be allowed to kill any of The Six, and every order must be followed and completed, to the letter.”

I nod briskly. “Well then… I accept.”

At my word, they surround me in some sort of weird group hug. Grossed out, I step back.

I wait as they grab a whole array of weapons from a table behind them and belt-looking things, and set them all on the table.

“These are sheathes to hold the weapons to your body. This one goes on your thigh, this one around your waist,” Demon explains, holding up each example.

“I understand.”

I watch silently as they attach the sheathes, then load me up with an assortment of knives. They tell me what each one is as they add them to the belt around my waist.

“A switchblade. This one is a hunting knife. This is a dagger. And this is another kind of hunting knife.”

They move to the thigh strap. “Another couple of sharp knives.”

“So is there a certain way to use these?” I ask.

Demon laughs. “Point, slice, or stab. Easy.”

I nod again. Demon stands, grinning at me. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, beyond ready,” I answer, with a slow, evil smirk crossing my face.

Ghost

I’m pacing the courtyard, close to the tree line. It's the middle of the night, and it’s getting colder. I’m shivering a bit in just my hoodie, but don’t care.

Out of the corner of my eye, I sense movement close to the trees. I hear the rustling of branches, then someone steps out, pausing. I look up.

Oh my God!

My Malishka is standing there, scanning the area. She doesn’t see me yet. She's clothed in sweats and a sweatshirt, sneakers on her feet. She looks skinny, but I see muscle there too, though her clothes are baggy. She walks forward, heading my direction.

I step out, shaking like a leaf. She finally sees me, narrowing her eyes. I run to her and throw myself at her feet. I grab onto her ankles and start to sob, my chest heaving.

“Malishka, I’m so sorry! So fucking sorry!” I wail miserably.

She puts her hand in my hair, and I still. Without warning, she yanks my head up to see her face. It's blank. No emotion whatsoever in it.

She leans down closer to me—and spits in my face. “Fuck you,” is all she says, shaking me off her. Then she turns on her heel, and walks away.

I stare after her in shock. What is wrong with her? She's so... cold.

I shake it off, grabbing my phone, dialing as I full-on run back to the apartment.

Synn picks up on the first ring. “Ghost?”

“She's back, she’s here,” I babble. “I just saw her. She spat in my face and told me to fuck off. She's... different. She's cold as ice.”

“What?” he screeches. “Purge, Frost, Razor, Trikk!” he bellows as I rush into the dorm, almost tripping on my way back up. I burst through the door, tears all over my face. I collapse onto the floor.

Frost comes over, calmly tilting my face up. “Where did she go?”

“I don’t know, she just kept walking. I was too freaked out to watch closely.”

“We’ll find her,” Purge soothes. “I’m checking the cameras now.”

“Wait, bro... what cameras?” Trikk asks, confusion etched into his features.

“The ones I’ve found all over the fucking property. Sorry I haven’t said anything yet.”

Synn roars, completely losing control. He palms his phone, almost crushing it in his fist. He hits a call and lifts it to his ear.

“Harris!” he barks. “She’s back! There’s something wrong with her. Ghost said she’s cold.” He listens for a minute, then nods. “Do that!” He hangs up, turning to face us. “The fucker said he will try to bring his ass back.”