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CHAPTER FORTY

Phoenix

The shed came into view. It was dark, the sun long gone, and the moon was just a sliver in the sky. I stepped up to the door and took a deep breath. I could hear the footsteps inside and no one talking, so I hoped Hazel was still knocked out.

I pushed it open and froze. He wasn’t facing me, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was him. His hair was visible. He was wearing a black sweat shirt with the hood down and jeans.

“He returns.”

That voice sent a shiver up my spine, and goose bumps erupted over my skin.

“Don’t linger, firebird. Do come in. I’ve been expecting you.” He turned, a porcelain mask adorning his face, his blue eyes piercing through the holes.

I stepped in, and the door slammed shut, making me jump.

“Still skittish? Afraid of your own shadow like a pathetic little boy.” He tsked.

“I also see you’re no smarter since you’ve fled.

” He motioned to my sister. who had both arms chained to the wall.

“I have a feeling she’s a fighter. So much stronger than you.

Am I right, firebird? Is she tougher than you? ”

I swallowed, and my eyes remained on Hazel, finding an odd comfort in her being here with me.

“Yes.”

“Of course she is. You know, I realized after Brady and Jason that you weren’t going to come to me. I was almost proud of you for standing your ground…until now. You’re weak, it’s okay. Your sister was the key to your procurement.”

He stepped closer to me, and I tried not to shake, but there was no stopping it.

“I knew where you were, in that big house with all those men. Police and FBI all around you. I waited, and then oh how nice that she left this morning. I followed her to Saintly Sweets, then when she was dropped off at her friend’s house.

I merely waited.” He chuckled darkly, grabbed a chair, and slammed it down. “Sit.”

I obeyed, anger slithering beneath my skin.

“I called her, made it so the call was choppy. Pretended to be the FBI with news about little old me. I lured her, firebird, and she went exactly where I wanted her to. Strong, but sadly the dumb genes are dominant in your family.”

A moan caught our attention. Hazel was waking up… Fuck .

“Ahh, there’s the little princess now. I feared I gave her too much—but alas, there she is.” He moved closer to her, and I finally found my voice.

“Let her go, I’m here. Her for me.”

He faced me, tilted his head. “Perhaps.”

What the fuck did that mean? “Adonis, please.”

“ Hmm …” He watched me for another moment before continuing toward Hazel. I wasn’t sure what he’d do, but I couldn’t let him touch her.

I rose from the chair and charged him, slamming into him with everything I had. He wasn’t expecting it and tripped, his body crashing into the side of the shed.

I scrambled to my feet and grabbed the nearest thing to me that could be a weapon. It was some sort of long pipe—I’d take it. Holding it close, I stepped in front of my sister. He was standing and rubbing the side of his head.

He rounded on me, took a step, and I lifted the pipe. “Stay away from her.”

He laughed, an honest-to-God belly laugh. “You’re so stupid, firebird. What are you going to do, hit me? You swing that, I’ll catch it and break every bone in your sad, pathetic, hideous body.”

His words weren’t hurting me. Perhaps because I knew things about him, maybe because Noel viewed me like I was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen.

I didn’t know, but he didn’t affect me anymore.

Sure I was terrified I’d die, but I wouldn’t die afraid, and I wouldn’t die thinking all those horrible things about myself. It was time to get my power back.

“I’m beautiful, actually. And smart. You tried to break me, but all you did was make me stronger.

I see you now, Amo Cormac. You’re not Adonis; there is no rebirth for you.

The ugliness behind your mask is with you forever.

No matter how many people you kill, you’ll still be ugly, and that bothers you.

You shatter beautiful people because it’s something you can never be. ”

I couldn’t see his face but his hands clenched, so I gripped the pipe tighter.

“You know nothing about me, firebird.”

“But I do. You own eleven cafés around the world, you were the victim of a botched plastic surgery that was so bad you couldn’t get it repaired.

You killed the doctor who did it, and you pretend you’re some gorgeous god, but this isn’t make-believe or some dream.

When I look in the mirror, I see this face.

Devoid of any scars, flawless.” I wasn’t vain, but I wanted to hurt him and if that meant shoving my appearance at him, so be it.

“When I’m done with you, no one will love you.” He charged, and I swung the pipe as hard as I could.

The sound of glass breaking and an oof was all I heard.

Amo was leaning against a table, his mask in pieces at his feet. He lifted his head and slowly panned his head in my direction.

At first he appeared fine. Nothing noticeable. Then he stepped into the light, and I moved back. What the hell?

On the right side of his face, there was a long, thin, silver scar under his chin by his lower lip and another on the upper one as if he’d done a lip replacement and it hadn’t taken. Aside from them appearing swollen, he wasn’t hideous. I’d seen worse—way worse.

“I’ll kill you,” he growled. This time as he came at me and I swung, I missed.

He tackled me to the ground and hovered over me.

“I don’t think you deserve the beauty of a rebirth.

” He yanked the pipe out of my hand. “Let’s see if the firebird can fly with a broken wing.

” He raised it up and connected with my arm, and I cried out.

Hazel’s head came up and when she saw me, her eyes widened, then she focused on Amo. She tried to get free of the chains and when she couldn’t, she kicked out, getting him right in the knee.

“You bitch.” He turned and slammed the pipe across her face. Blood sprayed onto the wall, and she slumped over.

“Hazel!” I shouted.

“You have problems of your own.” He raised the pipe again, connecting with my ankle. It was like fire shooting up my leg, and I fell on my back, my head falling to the side. I could see Hazel; her eyes were closed . Please let her be alive .

“You could have been amazing, firebird.”

I closed my eyes and waited for the final blow. The last thought I had was of Noel, his smile, his eyes, the love he made sure I felt every moment we were together. I’d miss his kisses most of all. I wished I told him I loved him.…Maybe he knew.