Page 9 of Sadistic Retribution (Rise of Phoenyxx #2)

Synn

I'm stalking through the halls of the admin building, glaring and sneering at anyone who dares to look at me. My mind won’t stop replaying what we did to Pazessca. And to Valley. That annoying little girl was so important to her—we destroyed her world.

Wrecked it so completely, I don’t know if I’ll ever even see Pazessca again. I'm not used to feeling guilt. It's a useless emotion. Nevertheless, here I am—being crushed by it, the weight like solid lead in my chest.

But I will not stop until we have her back. Even if she hates me and won’t ever speak to me again. I know she’s in the fucking Morgue, but I can’t get to her. There's no way to—Dammit, why isn’t Harris here?

My thoughts are interrupted by a female hand trailing down my back. I smell flowers and musk—not my Pazessca. I whirl around, snarling at Destiny.

“Synn, poor baby. You need to be cared for,” she purrs, running her hand lower.

I smack it away. “I don’t need or want shit from you.”

“But you’re alone. You need me. I can take care of all your needs,” she insists, licking her lips.

“You disgust me,” I spit, curling my lip. “I hate you, stupid bitch.”

“You can take out your anger on me. I'll do anything you want me to.”

“Oh, really?” I step closer to her, hovering near her face. I raise my hand as if to touch her, but shove her back—hard.

Destiny stumbles, crashing to the floor. Tears fill her eyes. She slowly gets up. “What happened to us, Synn? We were all so close as kids. Inseparable…”

Destiny isn’t part of either Mafia family, but her father works closely with all of ours. She was constantly around, attempting to keep up with us boys. We cared about her, until she viciously turned on us. Bitch using her budding sexuality to create jealousy between us.

“You can’t be serious, Des? You happened! You threw that nasty pussy at every one of us, then tried to turn us all against each other.”

She pouts, crossing her arms. “You can’t hold that against me. I was young and confused. I loved—love—you all! You can’t blame me for wanting all of you. That dumb whore had you—”

I cut her off, slapping her across the face. She reaches up to cradle her cheek in shock.

“Never speak of her again,” I snarl. “She is ten times the woman you’ll ever be!”

“Fucking seriously?” Her face reddens in anger. “You do realize that our fathers are planning for us to get married, right? Once you leave—well, when we leave—an engagement announcement will be coming.”

“Oh, fuck you, Des, and fuck them, too. Over my dead body…” I furrow my brow, realizing she said WE were getting out soon. “What the hell do you mean when we leave?”

She grins. “You don’t know? When you guys go home, so do I. Why do you think I’m even here? I was put here on purpose, to watch over you all.”

My mouth drops open. What. The. Actual. Fuck?

I spit on her, shoving her hard enough for her back to slam into the nearest wall. “Stay away. I mean it, Des. You won’t get back up next time.”

I turn on my heel, walking away fast. My mind is reeling. I decide to head back to the apartment—I need to fill the guys in on this insanity.

Trikk

I'm walking out of Bambi’s room where I've been sleeping. I lock the door behind me, and get about two steps down the hall before someone collides with me.

“Oh! Trikk, I was looking for you,” a shy, female voice says.

I look up to see who it is. One of Destiny’s squad—the quieter one. What the fuck is her name again? “What do you want?”

She clears her throat. “Betsey. Zuman, Destiny’s friend.” She fiddles with her sleeve. “I haven’t seen Phoenyxx lately. Is she okay? I'm concerned.”

I frown. Why would this girl give a shit about Bambi? “Why do you care?”

“Um... she was nice to me. I like her. I mean—we're not friends or anything, but I still care.”

Well, that’s news to me. “She’s… gone. I don’t know where to. Or when, or even if she’ll be back. Just go on about your life, okay?”

Her face falls. “Oh, that’s awful. I'm so sorry...”

I struggle to keep the emotion off my face. “Yeah, thanks.”

She nods, then walks off. I sigh heavily, wishing with everything I have that Bambi is brought back to me.

I'm way too depressed to go to class, so I just go back to the apartment. Maybe one of the others will be there too.

Synn

I slam the door as I burst inside. I hear a yelp—so at least one of them is here.

“Fuck, bro, heart attack much?” Trikk comes out of his room, looking like hammered shit.

He has dark circles under his eyes. His hair is mussed, his clothes hanging on his rapidly thinning frame.

Trikk never looks anything less than perfect.

It was pushed on him his whole life. His father always emphasized the way he needs to look, so women will all fall for him.

I never understood that more when I actually witnessed it for myself.

Synn Age 12

I'm just chilling with Trikk, shooting the shit about girls and video games.

His door suddenly flies open, his father coming through it. He cuts a look at me, then addresses Trikk. “Did you let time get away from you, son? You know Mrs. Billings is eagerly awaiting you in her hotel suite.”

I sit up straight, bile filling my mouth. We're not even teens yet. This is...so sick!

“Sorry, Father,” Trikk answers, misery lacing his voice.

“It’s alright, just get changed and meet me downstairs.”

Once he leaves the room, I look at Trikk. “Why not tell him no? It's so fucking wrong!”

“You know I can’t, none of our fathers understand the word ‘no’.”

“Ugh! This is bullshit!” I gesticulate wildly. “How old is this bitch, anyway?”

“Um... not sure, but she’s like, super old, bro. She has wrinkles.” He shivers dramatically. “Maybe sixties?”

“Eww! That is so nasty. That blows, man.”

He just shrugs. “It is what it is, bro.”

“You good?” I ask Trikk with concern. He shakes his head, looking away. I move forward, stiffly bringing him in for a one-armed hug. I don’t hug. But Pazessca has changed me in so many ways.

“Bro,” he says in surprise.

I step back. “Are the others here?” He shrugs. I roll my eyes, and shout “Front room now!”

Doors open, the other four stumbling out. Frost is paler than usual, pain etched onto his face. Purge is barely walking, exhaustion weighing him down. Razor is restless, playing with his razor more now than ever. And Ghost… he's barely alive.

“I had an interesting talk with Des,” I start. “Apparently, she was put here to watch over us.” Frost goes to open his mouth, but I hold up a finger. “Our fathers have been planning a fucking engagement for her and me when we get home, too.”

“The fuck?” Razor yells, rage washing over him. “Like fuck you marry that putrid bitch!”

I laugh hollowly. “Yeah, no shit. But I can’t just tell my father to fuck off, either. I'll deal with it when I have to.”

“I truly don’t understand her delusions,” Purge says, shaking his head. “She still acts like we’re all friends.”

I laugh. “She’s a looney tune. Can you believe I had to explain why we hate her? She didn’t get it.”

“Fuck’s sake,” Razor laughs in incredulity.

“Exactly, Brother, exactly.”