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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Phoenix

We did almost everything but fuck that night. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. I sucked him, he jacked me, and by maybe the third orgasm I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

When I woke, I was alone in bed but not in the room. The sun was peeking through the curtains, and Noel was a few feet away, typing away at his keyboard.

I watched him in his naked glory. He was fucking sexy with his hair down, concentrating on whatever he was doing. I wanted to straddle his lap and ride him like I’d been dreaming about.

Last night I’d mumbled something along the lines of wanting him to fuck me, and he’d promised we would absolutely be doing that.

I wasn’t bold. I knew Noel said I was, but the truth was that I’d been scared he’d reject me at some point…until last night. I’d seen it in his eyes—he wanted me just as much as I wanted him, and that was going to be the glimmer of hope in this shitty storm that was my life.

He sat back and scratched his chest; he was reading something, and judging by the expression on his face, it wasn’t good.

“What’s wrong?”

He turned and tried to school his features but it was too late, I saw.

“You’re up.”

“What’s going on, Noel?” I made to move, but he came over to me.

“Nothing, just…I was reading something, and it’s fucked up.”

“And you don’t want to tell me?”

“Not really, no.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled him closer as soon as he was in reach. “Tell me, because you know you have to.”

He sighed and rand his fingers through his hair. “It was Brady’s autopsy report.”

So he’d finally accessed it. “It’s bad.”

“Brutal, Phoenix. Like it was done by someone completely different.”

I brought his hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to his palm. “He’s angry.”

“Oh, yeah, it’s clear from what he did that he is.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

He leaned in and pecked my lips. “I sent it to Aziza, and I already texted everyone to meet in the living room. I can let you read it and process it on your own if you want, or you can join us.”

I didn’t think reading it alone was at all a good idea, and I suspected if Noel was going to explain it, it would be far tamer that way.

“I’ll join you all.”

“Okay. Aziza will be here in an hour. Let’s shower and get breakfast.”

Our shower was sweet. He washed me like I was fragile but kissed me like he wanted to light me on fire. Noel was the best of both worlds, the give and the take, the craving and the fulfillment. I’d never been with anyone like him.

The kitchen was bustling when we arrived, my slight attitude from the night before not even a blip on the radar. Plates were filled with eggs, bacon, and toast, and everyone sat wherever to eat.

Aziza arrived halfway through and JJ thrust a breakfast plate at her, which she took because the food in this house was amazing.

We ate in peace, no one talking about Adonis, or the fact that Noel was going to read an autopsy report that would likely live rent free in our brains forever.

As soon as we were all settled in the living room, Noel stood in front of the room, and there was no hiding his discomfort. No one was going to enjoy this.

“Right.” Noel cleared his throat. “So, I’m not going to read this all technical like, just facts, quick. Aziza has thoughts, and maybe we can figure something out.”

“Good idea.” JJ smiled.

“As we know, the other victims were strangled, bones broken postmortem. In Brady’s case, it appears he was strangled, and his bones were broken while he was still breathing.

Cause of death was actually blood loss because the bones punctured through his skin and no attempts to stave off bleeding were done. ”

“Jesus,” someone whispered.

“I don’t understand.” Four was reading the report while Noel spoke.

“This Brady, did he take him, knowing this method would be pointless? Because here’s the thing.

If he took Brady for the sole purpose of doing this and leaving a message then, okay, success.

But if he wanted him to be a replacement to a rebirth of himself, why would he do any of this? ”

I looked at Aziza because if anyone had an idea why, it would be her.

“A spiral,” she answered. “His intentions are very unclear. What we know is, he has said he’d do this again unless Phoenix is returned—which he won’t be, and for that I can only guess he’s killing violently to anger us, to make us feel the discomfort he feels with his plan being interrupted.”

“And the live flowers?” Mason asked.

“It’s about opposites. The other victims were preserved, made to look like dolls, form his rebirth.

Life taken from flowers leaves dead flowers.

Brady got live ones since his death wasn’t a rebirth but a punishment, a message.

He wasn’t dressed pretty. His face, according to the report, was almost unrecognizable.

It in no way represents Adonis,” she answered.

“So warped.” Gabe sighed. “And what’s it looking like the feds are doing?”

Noel shrugged. “Rose signed off on the report, so he knows, but other than that, I don’t see him doing anything.”

“Why do you think he hasn’t brought the recordings?” I had to wonder what was going on there; it seemed like an easy thing to do.

Aziza shook her head. “That I’m going to find out today. He’s not working with us very well, which makes it harder to help you and catch him and end this.”

Noel smiled at me. “You doing okay, Phoenix?”

“Yeah. I mean, no, because I know him, and he’s going to keep his promise, find someone else and kill them just as terribly as he did Brady. All because he wants me.”

“And don’t even think about being a hero here, Nix.” Hazel narrowed her eyes. “No, like, sacrificing yourself or being bait.”

My eyes widened. “Hazel, I actually do have self-preservation. I have no desire to step off this property until he’s caught, no matter how painful it is listening to what he’s doing to these other people.”

“I’m relieved to hear you say that.” Aziza grinned.

“I have to go down to the shop. With the shit that happened with Brady, we were closed and I promised Lizzy I’d be there.” Shep stood.

“I’ll go with you.” Four followed him out as did JJ.

“Want to watch a movie or something?” Hazel asked me.

I glanced at Noel, who was talking with his brother. I really wanted to go back to his room, hide under the covers with him, and distract myself from everything going on around me, but the hopeful look in Hazel’s eyes had me agreeing to hang out with her.

I was sure Noel had a million things to do anyway. I’d just gotten to my room with Hazel when a text from him came through.

Have fun with your sister, tonight your ass is mine.

I chuckled.…He’d get no argument from me.