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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Noel

When we were close to the shed, I heard Phoenix scream his sister’s name, and I double-timed it. It was pitch dark, but I had the flashlight on my phone and I knew we were close.

At the shed, I didn’t hesitate and shattered the door. Amo was hovering over Phoenix, a pipe raised above his head.

“No way, fucker.” I leaped over the table and slammed into Amo, both of us crashing to the ground.

“Noel!” Phoenix shouted, but I had a psycho killer to deal with.

“You motherfucker, you don’t touch the man I love.

” I grabbed the pipe that had fallen from his hands and started hitting him with it.

I put every ounce of muscle I had into that.

I didn’t want Carmichael arresting him; he had to die.

Monsters don’t get to walk with legends and Phoenix was just that, a legend in my book.

“Noel, stop.” Someone tried pulling me off him but they couldn’t. I was determined; he had to die.

Suddenly I was flying backward and hitting the floor while Gabe was holding me down.

“Brother, enough. We got him, he’s dead, you killed him.”

“Phoenix.” I tried to get up, but he wouldn’t let me.

“Not like this, calm yourself. He’s hurt, Hazel is hurt. You need to get your shit together.”

I swallowed and breathed. “Okay, Gabe, you need to get off me. I need him. I…”

I felt a hand in mine and turned my head. Phoenix had crawled to me, his smile shaky, tears pouring from his eyes.

“Baby.”

Gabe moved, and Phoenix collapsed on my chest. I held him as tightly as I could without hurting him. He sobbed into my shirt, and relief washed through me. Knowing he was alive brought a rush of contentment right to my heart, and I was sobbing right along with him.

I didn’t know how long we were like that but cops, EMTs, and FBI agents were all coming and going. Hazel was breathing, but they rushed her out to the ambulance.

Eventually I helped Phoenix to sit; then I scooped him up.

“Sir, I need to check him out,” an EMT said.

“I’m getting him out of this box of torture. I’ll carry him to your rig and go with you to the hospital.”

No one argued, and Carmichael glanced at me as I walked by with Phoenix. Gone was the anger; he nodded. I had no idea what would happen to me and at that moment, I didn’t care. Phoenix was alive, the victims had all been rescued, and The Broken-Doll Killer was no more. That was enough for me.

BNN News Outlet: “The manhunt for The Broken-Doll Killer has come to an end tonight. Amo Cormac, owner of a string of cafés across the world, was the man behind the mask. Unfortunately, there will be no trial. He won’t be able to face his victims and pay for his crimes.

Sources tell us one of his victims attacked Cormac, killing him.

Maybe it was justice—that’s not for us to decide.

Six victims were rescued from various locations tonight, and the bodies of two were taken out by the coroner.

We’re also told he had accomplices. More on their information to come.

For now, the world can sleep a little easier tonight knowing The Broken-Doll Killer is no more. ”

One Month Later

“Where’d they find them?” I was sitting outside, watching Matt help Phoenix with his physical therapy. He couldn’t do much since he had a cast on his arm and a brace on his ankle, but Matt knew what he was doing.

“Iowa, some truck stop. A driver recognized Jaron and Hank from their Wanted posters or something. They were arrested this morning.” Nick held his beer bottle out to me, and I clinked it with mine.

“About fucking time.”

As soon as the news announced that The Broken-Doll Killer was dead, the Zaffy brothers had run.

The FBI proved that Amo Cormac was paying the Zaffys an exorbitant amount of money for the embalming fluid, and their silence, through offshore accounts.

It didn’t take a detective to realize that they were terrified of Amo, but it wouldn’t save them.

The Broken-Doll Killer was dead, and they were alive.

They’d get the full wrath of a judge and jury, and I was here for it.

Angel came into view, head hung as he trekked across the yard toward the cliffs. He’d been depressed the last couple of weeks. Two was well and truly gone.

He was on the other side of the country with family and in an intensive program.

He’d deny it until he was blue in the face, but Angel had connected with him and they had a bond.

We all had people in our lives; Angel was the only one who hadn’t given his heart to anyone, and I wasn’t sure he ever would. Two was the closest he’d ever gotten.

Four had spiraled after Hazel’s kidnapping, and he was working with Aziza every day. Hazel told Four over and over that she was to blame. She’d been told not to leave the house, and she’d done just that.

He was getting there, but he was so hard on himself, we’d all have to make sure to help him get back to his somewhat normal life.

“I’m done!” Phoenix grabbed his crutch and hobbled over to me. When he was close, he dropped it and fell into my lap. “He’s so mean, Noel.”

Matt chuckled. “Everyone says PT stands for pain and torture.”

“And they’d all be right.” Phoenix playfully shoved Matt.

“Where’s Hazel?” I asked him.

“She went to her apartment.”

We’d offered for them to stay with us, but Hazel said she wanted her space. She’d had to have surgery on her cheekbone and was healing well. Lizzy was moving in with her to help her and to get out of her current place.

I wasn’t sure how long that would last because once Four was feeling better, I knew he wanted Lizzy to be with him. I wondered if she’d stay here, or he’d leave and live with her somewhere. Time would tell.

“Family night.” I winked at Nick and then grinned at Phoenix. “And we decided you get to choose dinner and the movie.”

He beamed. “Really?”

“Yup.”

“I have been waiting for this moment, and I’m ready.”

“Oh, I’m intrigued.” Matt rubbed his hands together.

“What are you intrigued about?” Angel walked over.

“Phoenix picks dinner and the movie tonight. He’s about to tell us.”

Angel nodded. “What are we eating and watching?”

“Jersey Mike’s and Center Stage .”

All that could be heard was the waves crashing in the distance. Phoenix’s eyes were as big as saucers as he looked at each of us expectantly.

“Uh…” Matt did this head-shake thing. “Yeah, I love Jersey Mike’s, and I never saw that movie. Sounds fun.”

“It’s so good. It’s about this girl who’s a dancer but not a typical kind, and she gets into this?—”

I covered his mouth. “Don’t tell us the whole plot, babe.”

“Right. So do you think the others will be cool with my choices?”

“Of course.”

“Absolutely.”

“Yep.”

“I doubt it.” That was Angel. He just shrugged and went back inside.

“Don’t listen to him, he’s all heartsick because Two is gone and his chance at love has blown away.” Matt made a twirly motion with his hand.

“We need to hook him up.” Nick cackled. “That’s my new life’s mission.”

I shook my head.

“Carmichael called.” Gabe stuck his head out from the sliding door. “I don’t know how—I won’t ask—but he got us out of any wrongdoing. Something about self-defense and a bunch of FBI words.”

“You all know we’re going to owe him forever, right?” Matt said.

“I’d rather owe him than Rose. That guy is a waste.” We hadn’t heard from him. Aside from the day he’d come to the house with Carmichael, we hadn’t seen him anywhere, and that was just fine.

“When’s dinner?” Phoenix asked.

“A few hours.”

“Wanna help me shower?” He waggled his brows.

“Fuck yeah, I do.” I stood, cradling him in my arms. “Bye, fuckers.”

Gabe moved out of the way and as fast as I could, I rushed up the stairs.

In the bathroom, I rested him on the toilet while I got the water temperature right.

“I love you, Noel Saint.”

I spun around, a cheesy smile no doubt on my face.

“I love you more, Phoenix Briar.”

And I would for the rest of my life.