Chapter 2
Phoenyxx
Distant voices reach me. They’re fuzzy, and I don’t know who it even is. I'm floating, enjoying the pain-free space. I can’t quite remember who I am, or even where I am.
A bright light practically blinds me, and I throw up an arm to block it only to be shocked at the ghostly visage. I’m see-through?
What the fuck?
I try to look at myself, but the light gets steadily brighter, drawing me towards it. It's warm and comforting. I can feel endless love and peace coming from it. I reach for it when a voice filters through the other side of it.
“Young Phoenyxx, it's not your time yet. You must fight. Go back to your body, sweetheart. The others need you.”
I don’t recognize the voice at all. “Who are you?”
A face bobs in front of me. An old man, with kind and compassionate features.
“It’s not time to know that yet. Go on back,” he answers, disappearing into the light.
The light itself begins to fade, and I panic. “No, don’t go!”
Murmurs of voices I couldn’t make out before are getting louder.
Wait—I know them.
“Pazessca, fight.”
“Malishka, please...”
“Nyx, I need you.”
Oh my God.
I turn towards the voices, wading through the fog I seem surrounded by to get to them.
Next thing I know, I’m falling—fast and hard.
Razor
I've been hanging back, letting the others be near Fiasca. While I keep an eye on Harris and Valley for my girl.
I can’t just watch from afar anymore, though.
Making it to Fiasca’s bedside, I elbow Synn out of the way.
“Brother, really?” Synn says, with surprise on his face.
“Sorry man, I need her, too.”
“Alright, of course.” Synn squeezes my shoulder as he passes me.
I grab Fiasca’s limp hand, willing life into her small body. “Fiasca, I need you. Please, come back to me—to us.”
She starts to stir, and I freak out in excitement. “Doc, she's moving!” I lean over to whisper directly into her ear. “Fiasca, come on back, we love you.”
The Doctor hurries over, checking Fiasca’s vitals. She's hooked up to an IV that’s feeding her blood and fluids, a heart monitor, and an oxygen detector.
The Doctor already checked her out thoroughly, finding the bullet lodged a half inch from her upper spine.
He said if it had hit any closer, she would be paralyzed from the neck down.
He got it out and stitched her up. She lost a lot of blood, but luckily, he had her blood type on hand already, in his office.
As for Harris, he got lucky. He was shot in the left side of his abdomen, and the bullet exited through the left side of his back. Nothing vital was hit. He didn’t need blood, but he is being given fluids after getting stitches, and is hooked up to the same type of machines as Fiasca.
His sister, Cynthia, refuses to leave his side. Purge has camped out next to him, keeping an eye on the unstable Cynthia, who is only lucid for moments at a time.
Everyone else is wearing holes in the floor, anxiety ripe throughout the room.
“She’s waking up,” Doc tells us. I whoop loudly and he warns, “Be careful, and don’t crowd her.”
I squeeze Fiasca’s hand, encouraging those gorgeous eyes to open. I lean in to kiss her cheek, and next thing I know, I’m being pushed aside by Trikk. The normally easygoing guy looks at me with death in his eyes.
“Whoa, man—it's all good.” Backing away, I allow him to be next to her.
I wait with bated breath to see how she is when those green eyes open.
Phoenyxx
I groan, an insanely bright light hurting my still-closed eyes. Voices break out around me.
“Bambi, open your eyes. Please, my baby.”
I slowly crack open my eyes, feeling pain all over. “Trikk? What’s going on? Where am I?”
“Oh my God,” Valley screams, and I wince. She rushes to my other side. “Sorry, Nyx. I'm so happy you’re awake.”
“You’re in Jax’s doctor’s office,” Trikk explains. “You were shot in the back. You're going to be okay, though. Doc got the bullet out.”
I frown, images suddenly assaulting my battered brain. My heart stalls when I remember what happened.
“No... Hunter!”
I try to sit up, but it’s not happening. I'm way too weak.
I turn my head to see a second bed right next to mine. Hunter lies deathly still there. 6—I mean—Cynthia is next to him, Purge on the other side.
Purge rushes over to me. “He’s okay, Iskra. He should be waking up soon. His wound wasn’t life-threatening.”
I exhale, willing my heart to slow down from the panic. “Is everyone here?”
Bodies crowd me, making me smile. My guys; all of them are here. Valley and Bryan, too.
Wait...
“Where’s 3?”
“In the corner,” Synn answers, taking Valley’s place beside me. He closes in on my face, kissing me on the lips, lingering for a second. My cheeks flame, but I can’t deny it feels amazing.
“My Pazessca,” he murmurs.
Trikk steps aside, Ghost taking his spot. “Malishka, my love.” He kisses me too. Tears are all over his face.
One by one, the rest of them come greet me and kiss me. Razor, then Frost.
“My Killer, back where you belong. I love you so much,” Frost says in a trembling voice, tears running down his cheeks and dripping onto my face.
I open my mouth to respond when a loud sound of outrage comes from the corner.
Frost is brutally pushed away, 3 coming to me and grabbing me around the middle and hugging me.
I grunt, and the Doctor cautions, “Careful, son, don’t break her stitches open.”
3 looks up, staring me in the eye. He kisses me softly, his mouth working. “M-Mine,” he stutters, and my jaw drops.
“3. My Golden-Eyed Boy. You just spoke!” Tears shine in my eyes, and I smile at him.
“Oh, fuck no,” Synn snarls, pushing forward. The rest of the guys start cursing too.
“Like hell,” Razor spits.
“Over my dead fucking body!” Trikk.
“No, boy, get your shit right.” Purge.
“She is mine!” Ghost.
“She belongs to The Six, little boy.” Frost.
A loud whistle sounds.
“Boys... stand the fuck down! Remember your places, damn.” Valley yells.
Bryan squeezes her hand, humor flitting over his face.
I let out a little laugh. “She’s right, you know. Have I said I forgive you all yet?”
A shocked gasp leaves Synn’s lips and I giggle. “Okay, okay. After everything, I’ll tell you all this: I forgive you. And I love you all. But don’t think for one minute I’ve forgotten what you did. You have a lot of making up to do.”
They all cheer like children. Dumb cavemen idiots.
I shake my head slightly, smiling.
The Doctor clears his throat. “Try to save your strength, Miss Phoenyxx. You need to rest and heal.” He pauses, then, “I also want to ask you if you have a method of birth control. I feel concerned, since you have so many... suitors.”
“They gave me an implant at The Retreat; it’s in my left arm,” I say.
“Good. I wasn’t sure if I should run a pregnancy test on you or not.”
Before I can respond, a male moan comes from next to me.
“Hunter!” a joyous looking Cynthia cries.
Cynthia’s eyes well with tears, shaking with the strength of her emotions. Even though she’s smiling, her body language shows her struggle.
“Let me over, dammit.” I try to force my body up to see him, though I can’t muster up the strength to move far. 3 stops me with a hand, pushing me back down. He firmly shakes his head.
Synn moves my bed as close to Hunter’s as possible and lifts me slightly to move me to the edge.
“Son,” the Doctor tries, but I stop him.
“I’m okay.”
Hunter opens those sexy eyes, turns his head towards me, and smiles. His arm snakes towards mine, and I stretch mine out, too. We lock fingers, and I burst into tears.
“Hunter, my God. Thank fuck you’re okay. I love you, baby, you hear me?” I babble overcome with emotion.
“I love you back, Pretty Girl.” Hunter looks around the room. “Anyone want to fill me in on what the hell happened?”
The guys talk over each other to explain.
I take that moment to lock eyes with Cynthia. “6... wifey? A hug?”
Cynthia’s eyes fill with clarity, and she squeals, running around the beds to gently hug me. “11! Yes, yes, you’re okay. Wait... did you know? I have a brother. Hunter, Hunter,” she singsongs. “I’m Cynthia. I remember my name.”
“I know, and I’m so happy for you. I'm Phoenyxx—remember?”
Cynthia’s head bobs. “Yes indeedy, I do. When do we get married?”
I laugh, tears leaking free as I chuckle.
Cynthia starts singing that song she made up back in the cell block again. “11 and me... gonna be family... getting married... la-la-la...”
“Okay now.” Jax's authoritative voice commands attention. “Let’s leave them to rest. I'll fill you in on the next steps while they sleep.”
All my guys come and kiss me and even squeeze Hunter’s hand as they file out. Valley and Bryan each give me a gentle hug, following the others out.
Cynthia squawks when the Doc suggests she leave, so she stays.
Hunter turns to me. “I love you, Phoenyxx.”
“I love you too, Hunter.”
His name stays on my lips as I fade to sleep.