Chapter 86: Chapter Thirty-One

Andrei

I called Phoenix first thing.

He didn’t answer.

So, I sent him a text.

Me

I’m going to need a new social for Alice, new last name, a job, maybe something in retail. She likes clothes.

Me

Have her dye her hair blond so she’s unrecognizable, talk to her about the risks of wiping her prints from her skin. I’ll have her ready in an hour.

Phoenix replied back quickly.

Phoenix

I’m confused, I gave her twenty-four hours. She has yet to contact me. Did she tell you she wanted this?

I frowned down at my phone.

Me

What are you talking about?

Phoenix: I offered her her freedom last night. She said no.

Hands shaking, I read the response over and over again. He had to be wrong. Mistaken. Confused.

Because it was often that Phoenix Nicolasi was confused?

He was in his twenties, not his eighties.

Me

Whatever. I made the choice for her. It’s not worth it. I thought I could control it, thought it would be different.

Phoenix

So, what you’re saying is, you’re a coward?

Me

Take that back or I’m burning down your house with you in it.

Phoenix

Promises… whoops, I just added everyone in on this conversation. Guys Andrei’s scared.

I almost broke my phone in half.

Barely stopped myself from throwing it against the wall as texts came in.

Nixon

He does realize that he’s the monster he sees in the mirror… right?

Me

Speak for yourself psycho.

Nixon

I love it when you compliment me.

Chase

I was scared of the dark too when I was a kid, but then I put on my big boy pants realized I have a dick not a pussy and got the hell over it!

Me

We sure you have a dick?

Dante

Don’t make him show us.

Tex

Like the camera can really capture things that small.

Sergio

Why are we talking about dicks again? It’s seven a.m.!

Phoenix

Trouble in paradise. Andrei’s scared of his wife.

Me

I was interested, now I’m not. Because I don’t do attachments. She’ll be fine. She has my name.

Nixon

Did you pass her a note to break up with her? Or are you waiting until recess? Shit man, you can’t just marry someone one day and break up with them the next.

Me

Setting your house on fire too, guess I’ll be busy tonight.

I hated that he was both wrong and right. She’d be safe because she’d have my name, they didn’t know it wasn’t real. It didn’t matter. My name was all that mattered.

Nixon

Could you start the fire in the kitchen? Trace wants to do a remodel, would save me a shit ton of time.

Chase

I love setting things on fire.

Tex

People. You love setting people on fire, oh wait that’s Andrei.

I rolled my eyes.

Me

It was necessary at the time.

Sergio

Setting a human on fire when you could just shoot them? Mmmm, okay. Sure.

Phoenix

We’re getting off track. He wants to send her away.

Chase

Hell no. I’m enjoying this. Let’s lock him in his apartment and spike everything with Viagra.

Nixon

We don’t want to kill him, can you imagine the erection?

Dante

Erection, erection, erection. I love our texts, they make me feel so mature.

Chase

Small fry, the adults are talking, shhhh.

Tex

Rock a bye baby on the tree top…

Me

The day Tex sings me a lullaby is the day I give up on life, or maybe it’s the day life has given up on us?

Sergio

Deep, Drei, so deep.

Chase

Word.

Nixon

Look, we took blood oaths to protect you. That means from yourself when necessary, I mean look at Chase! He was miserable!

Chase

Thanks man, really.

Tex

Nixon’s right. Don’t send her away because you’re scared of a bit of nakedness.

Me

I’m not scared of her.

Phoenix

Take it from someone who refused to eat certain colors because I didn’t think I deserved them… you’re not good enough for her.

Tex

He’s right. He’s not who I would have picked for my baby sister. Anyone, I would have literally chosen anyone but him.

Phoenix

Thanks man.

Tex

It’s true.

Phoenix

She screams when she—

Me

STOP

Dante

Voice of reason here, arch enemy, person who almost shot you in the face and took great joy in sitting on your throne at Eagle Elite.

Me

You’re not missed.

Dante

Don’t do it. You’ll regret it.

Me

I already regret this entire conversation.

Phoenix

My answer, as you’ve already guessed, is hell no. If she reaches out to me and wants it, that’s on her, but I’m not doing this favor for you, because it’s not in your best interest.

Tex

Dad put his foot down, nice.

Me

You swore fealty to me and my family.

Phoenix

I’m protecting you from losing your soul. You’re welcome.

Nixon

Sex does solve a lot.

Tex

He’s not wrong.

Dante

Besides… you’re a whore, shouldn’t be hard.

They didn’t know.

In their eyes I was double dipping.

Running the club and screwing anything with legs and a healthy appetite for life.

Fantastic.

Phoenix

Guys…

Me

Phoenix say one word…

Phoenix

I hate to be the one to do this.

Me

Phoenix I will MURDER YOU.

Phoenix

Andrei’s…

Nixon

Dying?

Tex

Secretly Italian?

Dante

Been married for a year?

Sergio

Russian, he’s Russian. I win.

Chase

He’s a virgin.

Phoenix

You knew?

Nixon

I’m sorry, what?

Tex

WTF?

Dante

You justify setting people on fire and sex is what? Too adventurous for you?

Nixon

What?

Tex

I’m confused.

Phoenix

How did you know?

I exhaled in relief. At least I was a better actor than that.

Me

I’m running myself over with my car now. See you in Hell.

Tex

Wear a condom!

Nixon

Don’t go too fast.

Chase

It will be over in five seconds. Maybe two.

Dante

I can come over and—

Me

Finish that sentence and I strangle you.

Tex

That’s what she said.

Phoenix

You aren’t your father.

I stared at the screen.

The guys stopped texting.

Maybe they knew I needed a minute.

Maybe they didn’t know what to say.

Me

I have work to do. I’m going to break Elena. I’m not going to have sex. It’s all I have, all I have.

I hated being vulnerable.

I hated admitting that.

And then Nixon replied.

Nixon

I respect that.

Tex

Same.

Dante

She wouldn’t be taking it, Drei, you’d be giving it.

Sergio

We’re here if you need us.

Phoenix

I get that more than you will ever know.

Me

Then try to understand why I want her to leave.

Phoenix

No, I think I like the idea of you being tortured and finally facing your demons, they’ll come knocking a different way, and there are worse ways to conquer your fears.

Nixon

He’s right.

Me

I’m leaving this chat group now.

I tossed my phone on the bed and ran my shaky hands through my hair, then stood, grabbed my phone, and stomped out of my room.

Alice was waiting in the kitchen. She’d made bacon.

I stared at it.

Then at her. “You packed?

“No.” She swallowed a piece and reached for another. “I’m not.”

“Why?” I leaned against the granite; it cut into my hip as I waited for her response.

She eyed me up and down. “You need me.”

“No.” Rage filled me, how dare she! “I really don’t.”

“We’ll see.”

“Yup, guess we will.”

Was everyone going to drive me insane today?

I slammed my hands on the countertop and tried to breathe in and out, in and out. “I’m off to torture my stepmother. Don’t know when I’ll be back.”

“Wait!” She reached for my arm, touched it.

I flinched. “What? What more could you possibly want from me?”

“Can I come?” Her eyes searched mine.

I had to have heard her wrong. “I’m sorry, what?”

Was she drunk?

“Can I come with you?”

“You,” I said slowly, “want to come with me and watch while I torture a woman for information and bring her as close to death as physically possible?”

She shivered and then paled. “Is she bad?”

“Does it matter?”

She nodded.

I bit back a curse.

“She used to hit on me when I was a kid and tried touching me in the shower multiple times, would tell my dad I was the one hitting on her and made it so that I had to kill my own puppy when I was a child.

Alice’s eyes lit up with rage. “I’m coming.”

“Just make sure you puke in the corner and remember she’s the enemy.”

“If I’m staying, I need to learn how this works.”

Exhausted already, I sighed. “You’re not staying, six thirty-two.”

“Back to that, are we?”

“Alice.” I said her name with warning when my heart sped up that she would even fight to stay. “Don’t.”

“Do I need to bring like a weapon or something?”

I smirked. “Wow, you’re actually serious, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I mean you cut out my brother’s tongue. I’m assuming I need a knife or—”

“I’m keeping you far away from all sharp objects. With my luck you’d actually injure yourself and distract me.

Was it my imagination or did her eyes light up? “No. I would think for a man who has a tarantula at the bar, you’d be far more… adventurous.”

I barked out a laugh. “You have no fucking idea.”

At least one good thing would happen from today.

Alice would watch what I did.

And because she was a good person.

Because she was more than good.

She’d realize just how much she didn’t belong in my world.

I was the prince of darkness.

She may as well be an angel of light.