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CHAPTER FIVE

Noel

I was monitoring the grounds via the cameras while Nick was on the other side of the tech room with Matt, explaining where the defense systems were.

We had cameras splayed throughout the property and beyond.

We wanted to know when anyone was even close to our house, which meant the street and roads surrounding us.

We’d recently added some in the woods on the side of our place and we had the ocean nearby, so unless someone took a boat and then climbed the cliffs, they weren’t getting in.

But just in case, we had cameras there too.

We also had defenses in place. Sensors that were backup for the cameras.

We had lethal ways of stopping people—such as targeted lasers, which were much more effective and quieter than guns.

There were electricity pulses strategically buried in the ground, which were new, and such a freaking amazing idea from Mason.

If activated, anyone on the sector we’d hit the button for would either be knocked out or killed. That depended on what was needed.

All these things weren’t legal, and because of that, they weren’t easy to find.

I was positive the FBI or police nearby had no inkling of anything.

We had some things visible, which Agent Rose had seen when he’d visited to make sure things were okay for Phoenix.

But all of that was legal shit. I wouldn’t be surprised if they thought this house couldn’t keep Phoenix safe. Fools.

I saw the SUVs and police vehicles turn onto our road, and I stayed vigilant. “They’re here.”

Matt came over, Nick close behind, and gasped. “That’s a lot of police for one person.”

“Well, you’ve read the reports on the victims of this psycho. They’re not taking any chances. And subtlety isn’t the authorities’ thing.” Nick pointed to our vehicle. “I bet Shep and Gabe are itching to lose the cops.”

“Better them than us.” I held out my fist, and Nick connected his with mine.

The police stopped at the end of the road, and the SUV made its way down our long driveway. When it came to a stop, I watched all the screens. I was sure no one was sneaking up anywhere, but I wasn’t going to half-ass this job.

Hazel stepped out before Phoenix. She had curly light-brown hair that was blowing everywhere due to the windy weather.

Phoenix was certainly beautiful. I couldn’t make out the color of his eyes through the cameras, but they were wide and he was clearly impressed with our home.

His dark hair was cut short with a good length on top.

He walked inside slowly, timidly, and I switched cameras to follow them.

“JJ’s going to get them to their rooms. Maybe we should put lunch out,” Matt offered.

“Good idea, Matty.” I heard the smack Matt gave Nick, likely on his ass.

“Let’s get to it, then… Nicky .”

Relationships had never appealed to me; I loved my freedom. My brothers were all shacking up, and that was their thing. I’d never wanted to be tied down. Aziza had once told me it was because I hadn’t found the right person. We’d see, I guess. Matt and Nick were cute, though—I could admit that.

I chuckled at their antics while I continued to follow Phoenix on the cameras.

We very much believed in privacy, but that didn’t mean we didn’t have camera access in the bedrooms. What if someone managed to get on our property and climb in through the window?

It was farfetched, but we didn’t leave anything to chance.

JJ was saying something to Phoenix and Hazel, motioning to the adjoining door. I clicked the audio button.

“Your rooms connect in case you want to be together.”

“Wow, thank you, JJ.” Hazel smiled. “This house is gorgeous. I really appreciate you all helping us out.”

JJ waved her off. “We have the ability to do so, and this is what we do.”

Phoenix was staring out the window. He didn’t say anything, and I imagined he wasn’t sure what he should or could say.

He’d been through a trauma, one that many couldn’t comprehend and many didn’t want to delve into.

He had secrets in his head that might help the Feds catch this nutjob, and it was likely that none of them understood why he wasn’t telling them.

I sat back in my chair and watched him. Whatever this killer had done, it was mental.

I was sure of it, and not a lot of people realized the power words had.

I wasn’t sure Phoenix was scared, but I’d bet money that whatever he saw and heard while he was kidnapped, he believed and that acceptance was deep in his bones.

“Lunch is probably ready. If you’d both rather have it in your rooms, that’s fine. I can bring some up.” JJ and Hazel looked at Phoenix. I had a feeling everyone would be taking their cues from him.

Phoenix shrugged. Hazel faced JJ. “We can try downstairs, and if it’s too much I’ll come up here with Nix.”

JJ nodded. “Great. I’ll leave you guys to get settled. If you go the way you came, when you get to the bottom of the stairs, turn left and follow the sounds of my idiot family.”

Hazel laughed. “Thank you, JJ.”

JJ excused himself, and I watched for a few seconds as Hazel and Phoenix settled in, but it felt intrusive, so I shut the screen off and left the room to join my family for lunch.

The table in the kitchen wasn’t big enough to fit everyone, so we convened in the dining room. There was a large salad, homemade tomato soup, and a mountain of grilled cheese sandwiches. The perfect lunch for a cool windy day.

Hazel and Phoenix entered shortly after we’d all fixed our dishes. It was important not to make either of them feel uncomfortable and that was where people like JJ, Matt, and Mason came in. Those three were great with people.

“How are the rooms?” Mason asked as he offered to fill their soup bowls.

“Amazing. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is that they’re adjoining.” Hazel took her bowl from Mason.

“Nick and Noel almost took those…you know, the twin thing.” JJ pointed his thumb our way.

Hazel and Phoenix looked over at us, and while her eyes smiled, his seemed devoid of much emotion, but they locked on mine…Hazel. Like his sister’s name.

“Yeah, well, that would have been a disaster,” I muttered.

“You mean awesome!” Nick scoffed.

“They may look alike, but they’re actually quite different.” Mason smirked and regarded Matt. “And just think, if they were connected, you’d have Noel in and out of your and Nick’s room all the time.”

Matt let out a pffft . “Like that doesn’t already happen.”

I held up my hand. “After the last time I did it, I will never do it again.”

JJ grinned. “You saw some things, didn’t you? Some dark things.”

A balled-up napkin hit the side of JJ’s head. “Stop. You’re making it weirder than it is.” Shep ducked when JJ threw it back at him.

I glanced at Phoenix, who was eating so quietly it was almost as if he were hoping to go unseen.

But there was no way I couldn’t notice him.

His eyes watched everything and everyone.

There was no quirk of his lips at our ridiculousness, no emotion or even an idea of what was going through his head.

I’d never seen anyone like that. Well, Four—but he’d shown anger, and as time had gone by he’d become really good at expressing what he was feeling even if he didn’t show it.

As soon as there was a lull in the conversation, Hazel spoke up. “I meant to let all of you know. Hopefully, it won’t be a problem. Nix agreed to sit down with Agent Rose tomorrow and tell him what he knows. Is that all right?”

It was Angel who answered, “The whole point of this is for Phoenix and you to be safe while the FBI and police find this guy. That won’t happen unless they know everything they can.

We’ve all agreed that we were fine with them coming and talking with you, but it’s more about your comfort.

If you’re both fine with that, yes, that’s fine. Do you know what time?”

“I wanted to talk with all of you first to see what would work.”

Gabe shrugged. “You decide and let us know. We have rooms you can use for privacy.”

She looked at Phoenix, who was simply finishing up his lunch and letting his sister call the shots.

“I guess around ten maybe, after breakfast. Is that okay, Nix?”

He peered up from his bowl, locked eyes with his sister, and panned over each of us. “Yeah.”

His voice was a whisper, but it was nice to know he’d spoken.

“It’s settled, then.” Shep grinned. “Ten o’clock, you can let him know.”

We finished lunch with idle chitchat. Phoenix never uttered another word, and afterward he left quietly.

I could see the pain for Hazel’s brother in her eyes. “He sleeps a lot,” she offered once he’d left.

“He’s coping.” JJ gave her a smile.

She nodded and asked if she could help clean up. As much as her brother was dealing, so was she. Hazel wasn’t sure what had happened to him; she hadn’t been able to tell us a whole lot in the shop, but it had to have been a nightmare. Looked like tomorrow we’d all find out.