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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Phoenix

My mind was still reeling two days after Agent Rose had stopped by.

Every fiber of my being was yelling at me that the voice in the background was Adonis.

I, along with everyone else in the house, couldn’t understand how hard it could be to track this guy down.

I mean, he worked with Jaron Zaffy and their family, so couldn’t they just go knock on his door and arrest him?

“I say we go to his house, grab him, and end this ourselves.” I turned in my seat where I’d been looking out the kitchen window. Noel was arguing with Nick, who appeared exasperated.

“Look, I get it. When all that shit was happening with Matt, all I wanted to do was find who was doing it and end them.”

Noel froze, a glass of lemonade halfway to his mouth, and gawked at Nick. “Seriously? That’s exactly what you did do!”

“Meh.” Nick shrugged. “Technically, I planned.”

“Do you think I’m just going to hop in my car, kick his door in, and drag him out?”

“I think that’s exactly what you’d do.”

Noel glanced at me and rolled his eyes. “Phoenix, tell my idiot brother here I’m smarter than him and don’t go off half-cocked like he does…then tell him I’m better-looking than him, and everyone in the house likes me more.”

I chuckled when Nick smacked Noel’s shoulder. “As a sibling, I’ve discovered it’s best not to get involved.”

Noel came over and sat beside me. “I went through all the employee records, and I know where all of them live. The authorities aren’t doing shit, and I think we could seriously end this on our own.” He glared at his brother, who came and sat across from us. “We’ve done it before.”

Nick sighed. “You know the rules, Noel. None of us just decide and do, there’s got to be a vote.”

I wrinkled my nose and looked between the two of them. “A vote?”

“Yeah.” Noel absentmindedly started playing with a thread hanging from my shirt. “It’s how we decide what cases to take and moves to make. We all get together and vote. Majority wins.”

“And you want to vote that you track down this man that I think is Adonis and kill him?” I wasn’t as calm as my tone would lead them to believe. This was insane.

“Kinda.”

Nick snorted. “Not kinda—that’s exactly what he wants to do.”

“Fine, then I’ll call for a vote.”

“Wait.” I grabbed his hand when he made to get up. “You can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“You’re talking about killing someone like it will be no big deal.

But, Noel, it’s a huge deal. You’ll be taking a life of someone I’m not one hundred percent sure is Adonis; there’s a possibility I’m wrong.

You need more proof. And also, totally dangerous.

What if you do find him, it’s the guy, and he kills you? ”

“Phoenix.” He brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed my fingers. “I wouldn’t do anything until I was positive we had the right guy, I’d never go alone, and my brothers and I have done this to the point that we understand how vital it is to plan it out perfectly.”

“You’re just going to take a life?” I sat back, my hand slipping from him.

“Phoenix, I’ve told you about the things I’ve done, explained why. This psycho is no better than any of the other people currently residing in the dirt.”

“I…” Why didn’t I want him to do this? Adonis needed to be stopped, but it was a life.

“If Phoenix doesn’t want you to do this, the vote will be pointless,” Nick said. “You know I’m right.”

Noel clenched his jaw. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize he was frustrated with me.

“Phoenix, I wouldn’t hurt an innocent person, and this guy isn’t innocent. Why would you want him walking this earth, living, killing people? I don’t know what the FBI is doing but the more they wait, the more people die. We have the power to stop this. Why don’t you see that?”

“You think I don’t see that?” Anger rose in my chest, and I stood.

“You think I don’t wish he was off the face of the planet every day?

Do you think he doesn’t haunt my dreams?

Hell, sometimes even when I’m eating or watching TV I can hear his words.

I remember the way he’d make me feel day after day.

Don’t think because I don’t want you to kill him that I don’t want him dead. ”

“Baby.” Noel stood and cupped my face in his hands. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t have any idea what you’re feeling. I’m seeing it one way, and you’re seeing it another and we’re clashing on this, that’s all.”

“Look.” Nick got up and moved around us. “I think it’s best Noel do more digging and get as much info on this dude as he can. Let’s be sure we have the right guy first. Maybe then we come back to this convo, and by then maybe Phoenix will change his mind…and maybe not.”

I stared into Noel’s eyes, so full of worry and affection, and I just melted.

“I’m sorry, Noel. I know you’re trying to keep me safe, and I’m standing here making you think I want to protect someone who kidnapped and mentally fucked with me for months. I’m not, it’s…I wasn’t ready for this conversation, I think.”

He gently kissed my lips and smiled. “I’m going to say something I’ve never said before.”

I quirked a brow. “Oh?”

He nodded. “I think my brother’s right.”

“And with that I leave you with a go-fuck-yourself.” Nick sauntered out with two middle fingers raised.

I chuckled. “I’m willing to have this talk again, Noel. Though maybe we make sure we’re positive, and who knows, while you’re doing that, maybe the cops and FBI will have caught him by then and it’ll all be moot.”

“You have more faith in our system than I ever will, but yeah, that could happen. But Phoenix, if it comes down to your safety or your moral compass, I’m going to make sure you’re safe for as long as I can. Even if it means you’ll hate me.”

I wrapped my arms around him, my face pressing against his chest. “I could never hate you, Noel.”

“I’m going to hold you to that, you know.”

I laughed. “I’m sure you will.” I lifted my face to see him. “Thank you for caring about me so much.”

“Phoenix, caring about you is the easiest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”

“Thank you all the same.”

“My pleasure.”