Chapter 19
Hunter
The relief I feel with Pretty Girl’s return is absolute. Though knowing that sick asshole is chained up somewhere in the compound makes me want to go beat answers out of him.
Jax catches my attention. "Harris, we need to talk. If you could follow me to my office.”
I do so silently and take a seat, waiting for him to speak. He’s standing across from me, looking like a lot is on his mind.
“First off, I know you want to know where Maxim is being held. I will fill you in after I speak with you about your sister.”
“Alright.” I cross my legs, resting my ankle on my thigh.
“I’m going to bring in an experienced therapist once a week to work with Cynthia. She needs more than what we can provide. I'm concerned with the relationship sparking between her and Thor. That will need closely monitored.”
“I agree with you. I want my sister back, as whole as possible. I’m concerned about the Thor situation, too. I don’t think he would put her at risk, though.”
“We’ll see about that.” Jax says, shaking his head. “I’ll let you know once something is scheduled for Cynthia.”
“And Maxim?”
Jax sighs. “He’s on the basement level, in one of our dungeon rooms. Not many know about those rooms. They’re equipped with soundproofing and ready for any type of questioning. He’s in the room at the very end of the hallway, on the left.”
“Thank you, Jax. May I go now?”
“Yes. Don't tell everyone about Maxim’s location. A few of the guys should suffice,” Jax adds.
“Okay.”
I already know who I’m going to tell. We need answers.
Purge, Synn, and Frost should be good assets.
Phoenyxx
“I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been through, Nyx. But I can be here for you,” Valley starts.
“You’re amazing, Val. Honestly, I thought I’d just be numb like all the other times.
When all you’ve known is abuse, you’ve got to numb yourself, so you don’t completely wither away.
But this time, not so much. I wasn’t scared of Maxim at first. But when he chained me up, that's when my terror started again.”
“God, honey. I wish I could take it all away from you.”
“Hey,” Cynthia whispers. “I get it. I’m starting to remember my time before The Morgue. My brother is like a parent. He raised me. But numb is my default setting.” She shrugs. “I’ve got my boyfriend now, though. He makes me happy happy.”
We had her for a minute, but she lost herself again. I reach forward, hugging Cynthia. “It’s okay, girl.”
“How are you doing with the big revelation?” Valley asks. “You know, who you are? I mean, Caterina Rossi is a pretty bad-ass name.”
“I’m Phoenyxx. I have no idea who that other girl is. I've had pieces of memories from before Synn’s father kidnapped me, but they’re fleeting. I have so many questions.”
Valley bites her lip in thought. “Do you want to meet your parents?”
“God, yes. But not yet. I'm not ready,” I say honestly.
“Understandable.”
“Me next.” Cynthia raises her hand. “Those masks hurt me all over. My brain and my body. But I fooled them. I went up and away, flew right over their heads.” Her eyes go comically large, and my heart squeezes in sympathy.
“I know, Cynthia. Your mind was protecting itself. I know you’ll get yourself back,” I say to her.
“Thanks, wifey.” Cynthia snuggles closer to me, laying her head on my shoulder, softly humming to herself.
“I’ve never been able to block shit out,” Valley confesses. “I relive every minute of the abuse my brother put me through. It's in my dreams every night. Most of the time, I wake up screaming. Bryan helps, though. When he holds me, the monster is scared away.”
I choke on emotion, so much empathy bleeding out for my two friends. It's not a competition of who had it the worst. All three of us have been so traumatized, of course, we're affected still. It's just different for each of us.
I'm desperately in need of the distraction a movie will provide. I want to forget Maxim for a while.
“Why don’t we head over to the theater for our movie?” Valley suggests, as if reading my mind. “I’ve got the perfect movie picked out for us. It's called ‘Teeth’. It's a horror film, mostly. But I promise you it will be cathartic for all of us.” She smiles.
“Horror? Am I going to be scared?” I ask.
Valley laughs. “Nope. The heroine is kick-ass. You'll see.”
The three of us walk down the hall to the theater, hands linked, grinning at each other. I am loving this. I never thought in a million years I’d have a girl’s night or a slumber party.
My heart warms knowing these girls love me as much as I do them.
It did take me longer to accept Cynthia, but that was more due to the circumstances of being in The Morgue together.
Pair that with the very fresh betrayal and loss I went through thinking my Valley was gone, and it was hard to open up completely.
Until 3, anyway. My Golden-Eyed Boy. He snuck in and stole a piece of my heart. I truly didn’t think anyone could get to me again, so it was both surprising and scary when he got under my skin. I love him as much as I do the others.
I’m jarred from my thoughts when we get to the theater and Valley squeals in excitement.
“You ladies are going to totes love this flick. It's so good. I felt empowered after seeing it the first time,” Valley tells us. “Watching horror is a safe space to heal from trauma. Every movie I watch all the way through is another win for me.” She grins, waggling her brows.
“I believe you,” I laugh, her happiness contagious.
“Me too? I need power. Like Marvel, you know? Thor... yeah. Thor, Loki...” Cynthia trails off.
Valley and I burst out in chuckles.
“Cynthia, you are such a vibe,” Valley giggles.
“She sure is,” I agree. “So, are these Marvel movies ones I need to watch?”
Valley and Cynthia say at the same time, “Yes!”
Okay, then. I guess I’ll meet Thor and Loki soon enough.
We take our seats, hands full of yummy munchies. I sit back in my comfy seat as the lights dim, and the screen comes to life.
“So... Teeth? Is it werewolves, or something?” I attempt, but Valley is having none of it.
“You’ll find out, Nyx.”
I knit my brows in confusion as the movie starts playing.
Damn, the poor girl—the lead in the movie. That stepbrother of hers is a huge piece of shit.
It gets to the scene where she willingly is trying to have sex, and my jaw drops. “Oh my God!” I yell, sending Valley into peals of laughter. “The teeth are in her pussy?”
Cynthia cracks up on my other side. “Now that’s one way to do it!”
I shake my head, riveted to the screen to see how this plays out.
Towards the end, the scene with her stepbrother has me gasping.
“Oh, hell yeah, You go, girl!” I holler enthusiastically, cheering the character on.
The film ends, and we are all sitting there wheezing with laughter. My face hurts from smiling so much.
“Thanks, Val. You were right. That was cathartic as hell.”
“It really was,” Cynthia agrees. “I need to tell Thor.”
Cynthia darts off before we can stop her.
“Hunter is going to shit himself,” I mutter, earning another giggle from Valley.
Holding hands again, we go back to my room. I'm stuffed full of food, and sleepy.
This is exactly what I needed after Maxim—that fuck.
Synn
I was awake most of the night, impatient to get to Pazessca. I honored her girl time, but now it’s eight a.m. and I’m going to get her.
I knock on her door, and female grumbles sound from the other side. “Coming,” Pazessca answers, opening the door at last.
She looks adorable in sleep shorts, duck slippers, a t-shirt, and rumpled hair is.
“Good morning, Baby Girl. I come bearing gifts.” I hold out the three coffees I wrangled from the kitchen.
“Damn, I might like you after all!” Valley exclaims, grabbing the coffee from my hand.
“Where’s Cynthia?” I ask, not seeing her in the room.
“Um... she went to find Thor and never came back,” Pazessca admits.
“Harris is going to have a field day with that one,” I laugh. "Anyway, I’m ready for our date, Baby Girl.”
“I get it, I’m leaving,” Valley says. She kisses Pazessca on her cheek and heads out.
Pazessca smiles shyly, sweeping her arm for me to come inside. I do, locking the door behind me.
She sips her coffee. “So...?”
“So, we have a very overdue date, Baby Girl,” I say.
She blushes. “I just woke up, Synn. I need a shower, at least.”
“Go right ahead. I'll wait.” I take a seat on the end of her bed. When she leaves to shower, I call out, “Where’s 3, by the way?”
“With Ghost,” Pazessca calls back.
Ah, okay. Those two have made a bit of a friendship. That's good, especially for Ghost. He was so love-starved for so long. Anyone else that appreciates him is a good thing.
I wait patiently for Pazessca, feeling nervous. The fuck? I have butterflies? I facepalm, groaning. I have it so bad for this girl.
She emerges finally from the ensuite, wrapped in a towel, hair down her back and damp. She looks stunning. I'm momentarily struck dumb.
“I need clothes,” she tosses out as she heads for the closet in the room.
“No, you don't,” I answer as I pick her up from behind, earning a screech.
I set her down on the bed, going to my knees to look at her face. “I need you now, Pazessca. I can’t wait anymore.”
She freezes, uncertainty crossing her face.
Looking in my eyes, she says, “Be gentle, and go slow. I'm still raw from what I just endured.”
“You don’t even have to ask,” I say.
I lean in, capturing her lips. Electricity shoots through my veins, and it steals my breath. I've never felt this before. The passion is out of this world.
“Synn,” she breathes, her hands coming up to cradle my face. She opens her mouth for my eager tongue. As soon as I'm inside her mouth, I lose all control. My cock is so hard, precum is leaking from the tip already.
I crawl onto the bed with her, and she scoots back to accommodate me. She grabs the edge of the towel and whips it off.
“My God, Pazessca,” is all I can say. But I force myself to ask, “Are you sure you’re ready for this so soon?” I'm not a total dick— not anymore.