Chapter 9
Phoenyxx
I blink rapidly, dimly aware I’m being carried.
Memories flood back, and I tense in Hunter’s hold.
My arms are wound tightly around his neck.
My mind reels at the discovery of who I am. An heiress? To a mafia family?
I’m so wrapped up in my thoughts I don’t hear someone approaching, and Hunter stopping.
“Not right now, 3. she’s had a shock and needs to rest,” Hunter says gently.
I lift my head, looking at my Golden-Eyed Boy. He steps up, grabbing my hand that’s still around Hunter’s neck. He tugs, making his intentions clear.
“It’s okay, Hunter. I want him here, with me,” I rasp; voice broken.
3 nods, a slight smile ghosting over his lips.
Hunter makes a tsking sound but relents. “Fine, but you are going to rest. Understand, Pretty Girl?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Master...”
“Don’t start that shit.” Hunter responds.
3 snarls, yanking me roughly from Hunter’s grip.
“Careful. She is not unbreakable,” Hunter chastises.
Shaking his head, Hunter leads us into the room.
3 heads straight for the neatly made bed, lowering us down onto it. He lies next to me and rolls onto his side to stare at me.
“What’s your name, my Golden-Eyed Boy?” I ask, reaching up to stroke his cheek, distracting myself from the information threatening to take me down. I'd rather focus on the beautiful and mysterious guy in front of me.
Emotions flit across his face as he struggles to respond with words. “Don—don’t know.”
I give him a tiny smile. “I’m so proud of you trying to talk. I love the sound of your voice, it’s beautiful.”
Hunter clears his throat. “I’m still here, you know.”
“Just come lay on my other side, okay?” I ask softly.
Hunter does as I ask, putting an arm around me.
3 whines, trying to move me closer.
“Guys, I’m not a tug-of-war rope. I'm not going anywhere.”
3 leans in, stroking an errant hair behind my ear. He waits a beat, a question in his eyes. I smile, and he leans in, capturing my lips. Unlike before, he licks the seam of my lips, and I open for him. He delves in, his tongue tangling with mine in a breathless kiss.
Electric sparks light up all over my body, and I moan softly into his mouth. But before it can go any further, Hunter winds his arm around my front, grasping my throat.
“What did I say about resting, my bad girl?”
I groan; my ass grazing his hard cock.
I am trying to live in the moment, needing to feel good right now. There's simply too much shit shouting in my brain, and it is way too much. I can’t focus or control my reactions, so this time with two of my guys is a perfect escape.
“Do you want to get punished later?” Hunter murmurs into my ear.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I joke.
I feel movement from 3, and his shoulders are shaking in mirth.
“Oh, that’s funny, huh?” I stick my tongue out at him.
3 tuts, gently tapping the side of my face.
“Okay, okay—no need to gang up on me. Well, for now, anyway.”
“I know what you’re doing, Pretty Girl. No distractions. You need to process this information and rest up.” Hunter looks towards 3. “She just found out who she is, and who her family is.”
Understanding shows in 3’s eyes, and he gathers me in to hold me. Hunter spoons me from behind.
Feeling more secure, I close my eyes. I'm thinking there’s no way in hell I'll fall asleep; my mind’s going one hundred miles a minute, despite the warm bodies on each side of me. Shaking these revelations is harder than I thought it would be. But somehow, being between these two; I do.
“No, no, stop!”
The tall man towers over me, anger alight in his eyes. He never likes it when I don’t cooperate. But I can’t—I can’t do this anymore.
He reaches down, ripping me from the living room floor I’m curled up on. I got to watch some TV, but he ordered me to go back downstairs—where all his friends await me.
I'm only seven years old.
I already had to put my mouth somewhere gross. It was so nasty.
Now he wants me to entertain his guests.
I won’t, I won’t!
He yanks my arm again, dragging me through the kitchen to the basement door. I whine, but it makes no difference. I drag my heels on the stairs, but he’s stronger and faster than me.
He leads me over to the wall, where these cuffs hang.
My heart tries to beat out of my chest. This is the worst he’s done to me so far.
He pulls up my arms, cuffing them tightly. I hang against the wall, the pull of my body making me cry out.
“Sir, perhaps we should secure her legs, as well?” one of his friends speaks up.
He grunts, then nods.
He does something to the wall, and another set of cuffs appears below me. Where did those come from?
He opens my legs wide, cuffing my ankles.
I cry, but no one cares. These people like my tears and pain.
The tall man rips the t-shirt from my body he covered me with as we watched TV. I'm naked and helpless.
The others rush forward, putting their hands all over me.
“Remember, friends—her virtue must remain intact. No exceptions.”
Groans sound from the awful people.
“I wonder if we can make her...?” one woman asks.
“She’s way too young,” another man answers, smacking her in the back of the head.
She smirks. “Doesn’t hurt to try.”
I force my thoughts away, going to the safe place in my mind. A beautiful beach, sand spreading out for miles. Tons of shells gleam by the water. I smell the ocean air. I've never actually been—at least, I don’t think I have.
I stay in my safe place, the people fading away.
I bolt upright on a gasp. I look around wildly, recognizing Hunter’s room. He’s on my left, and 3 is on my right.
“Pretty Girl, are you okay?” Hunter asks in concern, sitting up to rub circles on my back.
3 wakes as well and winds himself around me.
“Nightmare,” I choke out. “A memory. From when Synn’s piece of shit father had me.”
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Hunter kisses me on the cheek, tenderness etched into his face.
I smile softly.
“I have to go, beautiful. You'll be fine here with 3.” Hunter looks towards 3. “Take care of her?”
3 nods twice.
Hunter drags himself out of bed, takes a quick shower, and dresses before heading out.
Once he’s gone, I look at 3. “Hey, is there any way you can communicate, besides talking?”
He looks thoughtful, then throws his hands up in the air.
I look around the room, spying a notepad and pen. “Can you read and write?”
He nods.
I feel kind of dumb for not asking before now. It has been so crazy and hectic since the escape from The Retreat, it didn’t cross my mind.
I jump up, grabbing the pen and notepad to hand both over to him.
“Do you remember who you are?”
3 opens the notepad, writing down ‘No.’
“Okay, how long were you there? In The Retreat?” I continue.
He writes for a moment, then shows it to me.
‘As long as I can remember. I've never known anything except that place.’
Fuck. My poor Golden-Eyed Boy.
I deemed him that nickname when I first saw him, in The Morgue. He looked so small and helpless. The first thing I saw was his golden eyes.
“What did they do to you?”
He writes again, taking a moment to do so.
‘Torture, like you. Fight, give sexual favors. Though I’ve never had actual sex before.’
“Oh my God. I'm so sorry. So, you’re a virgin?”
3 nods once sharply.
I blow out a breath. “How do you feel about me?”
He smiles as he writes. ‘I love you, Phoenyxx. I want to be a part of whatever this is.’
“You love me? And want to join my other guys?”
“Y-yes,” 3 struggles.
“Oh, my Golden-Eyed Boy. I'm so proud of you.” I lean in to kiss him, which he eagerly returns. “I love you, too.”
Tears fill his eyes, and his hands move up to my throat, trailing down to my chest. His eyes dart between mine, looking for permission. I respond by placing his hands directly onto my breasts.
He moans, hands moving in wonder. One slips under my shirt, and wetness fills me as he tweaks a nipple. Before we can go any further though, the door flies open.
“What the fuck?” Synn marches in, grabbing 3 off the bed. “This is not happening. Got it?”
“Synn, listen to me. I care about him. I want him to join us.” I try to be patient, but this man pushes all my buttons.
Synn roars, tossing 3 back onto the bed. He points a finger at me. “Get your mind right, Pazessca. I'm going to the others. We will be back to discuss this.” He shoots a dirty look at 3. “Don’t fucking touch her again.”
Synn stomps out, slamming the door behind him.
I sigh heavily and apologize to 3. “Sorry about that. I'll talk to them, okay?” I get up, grabbing my clothes from the floor. “Go on back to our room. I'm going to grab us some food and talk to those cavemen idiots.”
I still insist on shoving current events to the back of my mind. It's easier for me to be my usual snarky self, instead of caving to vulnerability. It's my go-to when things get too heavy.
I pull on my clothes, hustling out the door.
I'm fucking starving and need coffee.
And I am taking those motherfuckers to school— as Valley would say.
I walk hand-in-hand with my Golden-Eyed Boy, hunting for the others. I’m nervous, but my determination is much stronger.
I'm not surprised to find them all grouped up in the media room. Trikk and Razor are in front of a gaming console, Synn and Purge are on another, Ghost is playing some sort of large standing game, Hunter playing something similar with a ball pinging around. Frost is cheering on Ghost.
I clear my throat. “Guys, we need to talk.”
They all look up.
A musical sound makes Trikk groan. “Dammit, I died.”
They all stop playing their games and come closer to me and 3.
Synn frowns. “You’re touching her again.”
I smack his hand away when he tries to grab 3. “Listen up assholes!”
“Uh-oh...” Purge mutters.
“I have an announcement. This is not up for negotiation: 3 is going to be joining our little romantic group. One thing you all need to understand is that we do love each other. 3, Cynthia, and I formed a tight bond while being kept in the house of horrors.”
Razor sputters, his face turning beet red. “You can’t be serious. You already have seven dudes, Fiasca.”
Frost surprises me with his comment. “He doesn’t even have a fucking name...”
Hunter steps up, always the epitome of calm and common sense. “I understand, Pretty Girl. If this is what you want, I’ll accept it—and him.”
I shoot him a warm smile, mouthing ‘Thank you.’
Ghost steps up, saying, “The guy’s not bad, honestly. I've hung out with him the most. He does really care for our girl.”
Trikk jumps in next. “He’s cool. I accept it, Bambi. I love you. I know I’m not going to lose you.”
I smile at them both. “I love you too.”
Then I eyeball Synn, Razor, Purge and Frost. “Well?”
Frost scrubs a hand down his face, blowing out a breath. “I’m okay with it, Killer.”
Purge is next. “Yeah, I’m cool with it.”
Razor—who’s still red in the face—grits his teeth, then tells me, "Fine. I will accept it, but I won’t lose you to anyone else. Got it?”
Then there’s Synn.
As usual, he’s the most difficult to deal with. “Pazessca,” he says slowly. “I’m not about to lose you again.” He glares at 3. “If you hurt her, I will gut you.”
I roll my eyes dramatically, feigning a yawn. “Good. Now that we’re all on the same page—”
But I’m cut off by 3 letting go of my hand, sneaking it slowly around my throat, and gripping me firmly. He drags my lips to his, claiming me with one hell of a scorching kiss.
Something crashes in the background, and Synn and Razor stride out of the room, in a huff.
Frost comes to my side, yanking me away from 3. “Mine,” he growls, tasting my lips next.
Before I can scold him, I’m saved by Valley and Bryan strolling in.
“You better be nice to my bestie, or I’ll eviscerate you fuckers,” Valley says with confidence. “Yeah, I saw Grumpy and Grumpier taking off like bats out of hell.”
I burst out laughing, going over to hug her. “That’s awful graphic, girl.”
She grins. “You know it.”
I laugh again, beyond happy to have these free moments with everyone I love.
I'll deal with my identity crisis later. Much fucking later.