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CHAPTER FOUR

Phoenix

I was right; they gave me shoes. I didn’t recognize them, but Hazel said they were top-of-the-line Jordans.

Hazel was signing discharge papers, and I half listened as the doctor explained that while all my tests had come back saying I was healthy, they wanted to keep an eye on me and do blood work… blah blah blah .

Hazel nodded and told them all the things they wanted to hear.

Some psychiatrist or therapist was going to meet us at some safe house when I got there to introduce herself.

I didn’t much care, but Hazel had at least told me that cops and doctors wouldn’t be roaming around all the time.

…This place was some sort of high-tech mansion with amazing security, and the people living there were in the business of dancing with the devil and then beating the shit out of him… something like that.

Nothing really mattered, and it was pointless to explain that. He’d find me and take me if he wanted. He used to tell me that I was his to do with as he saw fit, and if I ever got away he’d procure me—there was that word again.

“Thank you, Doctor.” Hazel handed the clipboard to her with the discharge papers and smiled at me. “Ready to go?”

I wasn’t ready for anything, but getting out of this hospital sounded good. I nodded and grabbed the sweat shirt I’d been given. I wasn’t sure if it was cold out, but it was soft and I liked it.

“Now, there are three guys waiting for us downstairs. They live in this house we’ll be staying at. Lizzy said they are the best, and they’ll make sure you’re safe until this whole thing is done.” Hazel grabbed the small bag I had, and we walked out of the room.

There were five officers lining the hallway and at the end, by the elevator, was Agent Rose. Hazel sighed but kept on moving.

“Ms. Briar, I have to protest on you and your brother staying at these strangers’ house.”

“They’re not strangers, Agent. You said it yourself—the house is impressive and safe.”

He pursed his lips. “Yeah, it is, and I did a little background on these Saint brothers and some of the others living there. It’s odd.”

Hazel hit the Down button and lifted a brow. “Odd, how?”

“Odd because for how their backgrounds read, I can’t figure out how I’d never heard of them.”

The doors opened and we stepped in, Agent Rose too.

“They’re some sort of elite security guys is what Lizzy told me. She works for them. Did it ever occur to you that they are so good that nobody really knows them? Isn’t that the point?” Hazel glanced at me briefly, likely checking to see if I was okay.

“I will be coming by every day to?—”

“Now, wait a second. I explained to you that you’re going to give Nix time. You come by daily, and we’re going to have a problem.”

“We already have a problem,” Agent Rose’s eyes were hard. I could tell he really wanted to catch this guy, but I wasn’t going to be able to tell him much.

“Nix is my concern. I get that you’re cornered on this; I do. But I have to put him first.”

Agent Rose was going to say something, but I spoke first. “Tomorrow. Come by tomorrow.”

They both looked at me wide-eyed, mouths open. It would be funny if I were able to laugh at anything.

“Thank you, Mr. Briar.”

Once we reached the ground floor, we stepped out. More police were there. Didn’t they realize how obvious they made this whole thing?

By the exit stood three men who were definitely not police.

One had long hair tied back, shaved on the sides, and a beard.

He was huge. Like he could probably bench-press Hazel and me at the same time.

Beside him was another big guy—not as tall, though.

He had dark, short hair and was clean shaven, but there was something in those eyes of his.

He was talking to the beast of a man, but I could tell he saw and heard everything around him.

On the other side of him, there was a shorter guy with a big smile on his face.

He didn’t quite fit in with the two men, but he waved the moment he saw Hazel and me.

“Hello, Hazel,” he said and looked at me. “Hi, Phoenix. My name’s JJ, and this is Gabe.” He gestured to the clean-shaven guy. “And the behemoth is my love muffin, Shepherd.”

“We need to talk about how you introduce people,” Shepherd grumbled but grinned at me and Hazel. “You can call me Shep. We’ll be driving you to the house.”

JJ, Gabe, and Shep. They certainly seemed like they could protect me…well, maybe not JJ—he was almost too sweet.

As we walked to the car, Hazel entwined our arms. “I met Shep at the shop when I was talking to Lizzy about everything. He’s a real nice guy.

Believe me, Nix, they have experience in dealing with bad people and keeping others safe.

” She spoke softly so only I could hear, but from the way Gabe peeked over his shoulder at me, I figured he’d heard.

The car was actually a large SUV. Shep got into the driver’s seat while Gabe took the passenger’s seat. JJ went all the way to the back, leaving the middle for Hazel and me.

“We’ll have a police escort to the house because these fuckers can’t help themselves. It’s like they don’t understand the word inconspicuous.” Shep shook his head as he pulled out of the spot. I wanted to chuckle because I’d had the same thought.

Gabe turned to me and Hazel. “They’ll be stationed at the edge of our property. We wanted to ensure that you and Phoenix felt as at home as you possibly could under the circumstances.”

“Thank you, Gabe, all of you. It means the world to me that you’re helping.”

“The house is the safest around. And we have fun there, too. Hopefully you’ll both feel at ease soon enough.” JJ was behind me, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

The drive wasn’t very long, and we soon turned onto a long driveway and I noticed the police stopped, but we kept going.

This must be the beginning of their property line.

I glanced out the window, and all I could see were trees, well-maintained lawns, shrubbery.

It didn’t feel like there was a lot of security.

As if he could read my mind Gabe said, “Noel and Nick are in charge of all the tech stuff. While it doesn’t look like it, those trees and bushes have cameras in there.

We have state-of-the-art protections in place, but we work hard so it isn’t obvious.

If the cops pulled up and saw seven-foot walls, barbed wire, cameras and shit, they’d have more questions than we’d want to answer. ”

Shep snorted. “See, this is how you do inconspicuous.”

As soon as the house came into view, I was blown away.

I wasn’t sure what I’d been picturing, but this wasn’t it.

It was definitely a mansion, maybe almost like a castle, but it was homey.

I guessed I’d expected it to be daunting, but it wasn’t.

I didn’t know architecture or what the words to describe a house were.

But if someone had asked me, I’d have said it reminded me of Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island seaside estate.

I’d only seen it from pictures, but it was gorgeous.

“Yeah, no way you get a house like this making muffins.” Hazel laughed.

Shep patted Gabe’s arm. “Actually, Gabe’s sugar daddy bought this house.”

Gabe pushed him off just as Shep put the car in park. “Mason’s not my sugar daddy…he just has money, and he bought us all a house.”

I didn’t want to say that this Mason guy, did in fact sound like a sugar daddy, but…yeah.

“I can take you both inside and show you to your rooms,” JJ said.

Hazel opened the door, and we got out. I followed JJ into the house, the whole time taking in the gorgeous place. I wasn’t sure how safe it really was, and if he wanted me back, he’d find a way, but at least I’d be staying someplace beautiful until he did.