Page 40 of Sadistic Retribution (Rise of Phoenyxx #2)

Hunter

I'm deep in concentration floundering my way through a complicated program when my phone buzzes on the table next to me. I glance at it, seeing it’s a video call from Jax. A video call? That's a first. It must be important.

I pick it up. “Yeah?”

“Harris, gather the troops. We have found intel you all need to hear.”

Wow, okay. I look at Purge, who heard the question. He's already up and out of the kitchen, getting everyone. The six boys filter in, followed by the two girls.

We all crowd around my phone. “All here. What did you find?”

He gestures towards Thor and Bill. “Our boys here discovered at least part of the reason The Morgue exists.”

Thor bounces around in his chair like a small child. “Let me tell them, Jax!”

“Fuck’s sake, Thor,” Bill mumbles.

“Fuck you, BILL!” he shouts back.

“Out with it,” Jax snaps.

“Shit, okay, okay. So, the people on the list. The ones with the monetary amounts were all sent into trafficking. The ones without—we believe they were sent on to somewhere else. We don’t think they’re dead,” Thor quickly explains.

Purge turns deadly pale. “Fucking pussy Father.”

“Sorry, young man,” Jax says to Purge. “The Bratva are heavily involved in trafficking, for sex and for... food. We don’t know what else they’re trying to do yet.”

Phoenyxx interrupts. “The experiments? One of the drugs they kept giving me made me Rage Out. I was stronger than should be possible. Like they were testing my will and mental strength.”

I curse repeatedly. I hate hearing this shit my Pretty Girl went through. “Do the Italian families have any idea this is all going on?”

“Doubtful,” Synn responds. “In the trafficking, possibly. But the rest? I don’t see my father willingly working with Purge’s father on this. Especially since we were sent here ourselves.”

The Italian and Russian mafias have some vast differences. The Bratva are more ruthless, and deal in the more hardcore areas, such as trafficking and murder. The Italians prefer to be more on the down-low, dealing mostly with drugs and guns. Murder, of course, is in every mob anywhere.

“We need more than this,” Jax says, frowning. “Keep on it, everyone.” He looks back to me. “Now, we have to make a plan to get you all out.”

“There’s an electric fence surrounding the property, in the woods. It also hides the now-known location of The Morgue,” Frost relays.

“Easy-peasy.” Thor smirks. “I can loop the cameras and cut the power for a small amount of time.”

Jax nods. “Good. That will be vital. I'll get back to you ASAP, Harris. Once we have a bit more to go on.”

I go to answer, but Valley’s small voice pipes up. “Um, Sir? Is getting the prisoners out of The Morgue a priority? My boyfriend is in there.” A tear slides down her cheek, Pretty Girl pulling her into a hug.

Jax ponders that for a moment. “Yes, it will be factored in.”

“Thank fuck,” Phoenyxx mutters, squeezing Valley tighter.

Jax ends the call, and I turn again to address the room.

“Alright, we need to dig as hard as we can. No piece of information is too small. Bring me anything you find.” I look to Purge.

“I want you exclusively on the other matter.” That being finding Pretty Girl's identity. I don’t want her to know we’re even looking until we have confirmation.

“Meeting over. Carry on,” I dismiss them all.

Frost

I’m pacing the living room, sick of being stuck inside.

Harris comes up to me, pulling me to the side. “I need you to go scope out the grounds. Get a lay of the land, see how people are acting. I'm sure the Director’s death has been noticed by now. I'd send Ghost, but I need someone out there who can both stick to the shadows and keep their cool.”

I nod happily. “I can do that. You just want me to observe, then report back?”

“Yes. Do not get seen, Frost. We’re planning our escape once I know what we have to get through.”

“Understood. Let me grab a hoodie, and I’ll go now.”

I grab my worn hoodie from the back of a kitchen chair, and scoot outside.

I look both ways down the hallway, seeing no one.

I scurry down the stairs and open the door.

I peek out—there are students everywhere.

This time of day, there shouldn't be many people outside. It’s twilight hour, the sun just starting to go down. That doesn’t bode well.

Making sure I blend in, I work my way through the courtyard. It's utter chaos out here. There are people fighting—boys and girls. Over by the fountain, people are openly fucking. There's yelling and cursing all around me.

I see guys heading into the woods, dragging a girl by her hair. She’s screaming, trying to get out of their grasp. I pause for a moment, pondering if I should go help. Shaking my head, I know I can’t.

I continue on, to the admin building. Going inside, there’s even more insanity unfolding.

I see only students—no adults. I cut over and go to the staff area.

Looking into Augustine’s office, I see it’s empty—though there’s still blood everywhere.

It's been completely destroyed. Totally ransacked.

Furniture upended, art ripped from the walls.

Heading back out into the main part of the admin building, I see that students are everywhere, some carrying weapons, eyes looking for violence to unleash. It's complete anarchy. I spot a couple of students off in a corner huddled up, starting small fires.

I shake my head and keep going, looking into the teachers' offices. It's all the same. Ripped apart—every one of them.

I turn around and check out the classroom area, students combusting there en masse. The classrooms are full of debauchery. Sex, blood, orgies—it looks like a scene from a cheap porno, or something.

I leave that area fast, not wanting to get involved. I'm aiming for the art wing, where Ghost’s secret room is located. That's when I see him. Purge's motherfucking father is here! And he’s not alone. He's surrounded by his guards, and his next-in-command.

I practically run to the end of the hall to make sure I’m out of sight. Ghost's secret room is untouched. The door isn’t open, so I'm assuming it hasn’t been found. The art rooms are also untouched. This is promising. This is the exit I was considering for our escape.

I hold my breath, waiting to be sure Purge’s father doesn’t come this way.

After a minute, when no one comes, I crack open the door and look outside.

There aren’t many people around. I go out the door, beelining for the medical and gym buildings.

The med building is trashed. There are students in there towards the back scurrying around.

I stay in the shadows, seeing a secret room with the door wide open.

I get a bit closer to see what they’re doing.

It's a medication storage room! They're stealing meds. Fuck. Me.

I race over to the gym area. The pool has people fucking in and around it; it looks like a big orgy. I turn and leave, checking out the cafeteria next.

It's insane in there! Food is being stolen and hoarded. Fistfights break out over it. I back out quickly, knowing I need to get back to Harris's—it’s too risky for me to stay out here any longer.

I decide to skip the girls’ dorm, and rush back to the boys’. I skirt past random students milling about. Weirdly, people seem to be skipping the boys’ dorm. Thank fuck.

Letting myself back in to the apartment, I go straight for the kitchen. Harris is buried in the documents, brow furrowed as he studies everything. Purge is at the computer, as always.

“Harris! It's fucking insane out there. No sign of any adults. People are fighting and fucking. Most everything is ransacked. They’re stealing meds, unsurprisingly. Augustine is gone, but the blood is still there.”

“Take a breath, Frost.”

I gulp some air and start again. “Purge, your father is here. I saw him stalking the admin building, with his second and a multitude of guards. I did check the art wing, and it’s untouched. I don’t think anyone found Ghost’s room. I think that exit may be the way to go.”

Purge bursts from his chair, shouting. “My father? With his second? Fuck, this is really fucking bad, man! For him to show up himself with an entourage, he must know we at least suspect the truth. He’s probably out for blood. Our blood!”

I pale, understanding completely. Bratva don’t typically go around in public with their second. It usually means shit is tits-up.

“I need to call Jax immediately,” Harris declares. “I’ll step away for a few minutes, Purge.”

He doesn’t respond, typing fast on what looks like on the dark web. I clap him on the shoulder and go to sit on the sofa. It's a waiting game now. I hope we can pull this off, all while keeping Killer and Valley safe.

Phoenyxx

I was shamelessly eavesdropping again. When Frost blew in looking sick, I knew it was something bad. Valley is trembling next to me. I've got to toughen her up for this.

“Val, bestie, I know you’re scared. But in order to get through this, and out of here, you’ve got to thicken your skin, girl. We need badass Valley for this.”

“I’m sorry, Nyx, I am. I’m so worried about Bry!

He's all I can think about I am getting him out—even if I have to do it myself!” Her spine straightens, and I see her slide her armor back on.

“I’m willing to take out anyone in our way.

You're right. I have to stuff the fear back. Thanks for being honest. Love you, babes.”

I side-hug her. “There’s my girl. I'm petrified, too. Losing is not an option. We have to somehow not only find our way out but get into The Morgue to get the others out of there, on the way.”

“We’ve got this! We have those six buttfucks, plus your swoon-worthy Doc, and the hottie Jax.”

I crack up, loving this girl more every day. “What you said.” I hold my hand up for a high-five.

She giggles and slaps my palm. “You're not as socially retarded as you used to be!”

“Oh my God!” I laugh harder, hoping I don’t pee my pants. “We’re unbeatable, you and me.”

“Damn skippy we are!” She looks at me with rounded eyes then. “I... um... want to share a thought with you—just please don’t get mad. Hear me out, bestie?” Her gaze flashes with something I can’t place.

“Lay it on me.”

“Knowing what we know now, it changes things, yeah? I mean—the guys. They were forced to do it. They feel hella bad too, I can tell. I think you should consider forgiving them. There are no more secrets, true? I just...” She sighs, then smiles at me.

“Val... damn. Much easier said than done. Every time I look at them, I see you, still and bloody in the gym. I can still viscerally feel my soul being yanked from me. The worst agony I’ve ever felt, and that's with all the abuse. I don’t know, honestly.

I want to forgive them, but I just can’t yet. I need time.”

She hugs me, kissing my cheek. “Thanks for hearing me out. I so get it, girl! Forgiveness is hard. But I know your big old heart can tackle it. Have faith, okay?”

I kiss her back on the cheek. I adore this girl. I say it all the time, but I truly feel she’s my female soulmate. We were meant to be best friends—hell, more like sisters. The love I have for her grows every day. I am so thankful for her!