Rise (The Phoenix Series Book 1)

by M. K. Cunningham

  Making my way through the timber to my house, all I could think about was the people I cared for. I had to get what I could and leave. Reaching my porch, I barged in making my way to my room. I grabbed a duffle bag out of my closet and shoved clothes into it.

  Jogging downstairs, my alarms were going off on the security monitor by the door. Someone was making their way up my driveway, and they were doing it fast. Running for the deck out back, I jumped off into the grass and fled into the woods. I stopped far enough where I couldn’t be seen.

  “Greer!” It was Thane. He was panicking and running around in my house trying to find me.

  I stayed behind a tree and watched him make his way from one room to the next. Because Jerry was in town, I couldn’t put the people I cared about in any more danger than what they were in now. If Thane could find my house, he could too. It was a matter of time.

  “Greer. Please. I can help you.” He was now standing on the deck, yelling into the woods. Hoping I would come out, I wouldn’t.

  After fifteen minutes of Thane begging and pleading, he left. I snuck back into the house an hour later just in case he decided to stake my place out. I ran to the garage and grabbed my keys off the wall to the Jeep Wrangler. I had left my Harley at Bombers, and there was no way I was getting it back anytime soon.

  I peeled out of the dirt road and made my way into the city. If Jerry’s in town and found me once, he’d see me again. If he wanted me, he’d have to come and get me. I’d be ready this time.

  I pulled into a motel and rented a room for the night. I had to come up with a plan, and I had to do it fast.

  ***

  I woke the next morning to my alarm ringing. My eyes popped open and I jumped out of bed. I took a nice long steamy shower and it was nice. Heading out, I needed to make sure Summer was taken care of. She was my priority at this moment.

  Pulling into a parking garage, I decided to dump my Jeep here for the day. I needed to not be seen, so I wore a plain black ball cap with my hair down, a black zip-up hoodie, jeans and white sneakers.

  I walked ten blocks to the precinct where Summer was being held, and I waited across the road behind a large street lamp. I had called Easton on my burner phone, and he said that she hadn’t been released yet. I transferred money to him to post bail for her. Just as I was about to make my way in the building, Summer and Thane walked out together.

  I held myself back from going up to her and hugging her. I couldn’t believe the predicament we were in. I had become reckless especially since I knew better.

  Chapter eight

  thane

  B y the time I woke from the parking garage, she was gone. Rushing to the truck, I put the key in the ignition and sped out, she was running. I rushed to her house as fast I could to try to stop her. I had no idea how long I was out for, but it was enough for her to get away.

  Approaching her house, the front door was wide open. Panic struck me. Did she make it here or did someone come barging in trying to find her, or worse, kill her? From the looks of the fight tonight, she was in more danger than anyone thought. I had no idea what was being said to her when he had her pinned to the ground on top of the roof, but whatever it was, spiked fear into her. If only I could have gotten to Greer but the crowd was persistent in not letting me through.

  “Greer!” I hoped that she would show herself if she heard my voice.

  I ran from room to room trying to find her. I was hoping I wasn’t late and didn’t see her dead. As I approached a bedroom, drawers were flown from the dresser, laying all around the floor, they were empty. She had been here and was now gone.

  Running to the deck, hoping she was out there and could hear me. “Greer. Please. I can help you.”

  I stayed around for about fifteen minutes, looking for anything to see if I could find a clue where she would be heading. She had nothing I could go off, no receipts, no certificates of any…nothing. I wasn’t going to give up on her tonight.

  I had been searching for Greer all night. After leaving her house, I made my way slowly to the city. I kept checking the timber on both sides of me, trying to see if I could find her out there. Nothing. Once in town, I went from business to business looking for her. She had to be here someone, at least for the night.

  By morning, I still had no sign that Greer was anywhere around. Before leaving, she had asked me to get Summer out of jail, I had to. Summer was my only means to possibly finding Greer.

  After walking into the precinct, I found out Summer’s bail had already been made, and she was due to get out at any moment. When asking, who paid the bond, all that came up was an Ann Robinson from California. It had to of been Greer. Was she still in the city?

  Just then, Summer appeared. “Thane!” She ran to me and hugged me, tightly. Stepping back and looking into my eyes, “Thane, where is Greer?” She was worried just as much as I was.

  Sighing, “I have no idea.” Talking in a low voice so those around us couldn’t hear our conversation. “Let’s get out of here first.” Not only did I not want to be seen here, but I also didn’t want Summer knowing I worked here.

  Making our way outside, I had a sense of comfort come over me. That feeling I had when Greer was around, I had it now. Deep down, I could sense her presence, but I couldn’t see her. Looking around, all I can see was the morning traffic and people trying to make it to work on time. No sign of Greer.

  Summer led us a few blocks down to a mom and pop’s café. The outside of the building was wearing down, but the inside looked like it had just been redone. Marble flooring and countertops, tan walls and stainless-steel appliances. The lighting in the café was well lit but not enough to give you a headache.

  Just as we were sitting down in a booth, we were greeted by a bubbly redheaded lady who appeared to be in her late fifties. “Good morning Y'all. What can I get you, two good-looking people?” As she talked, I could hear a southern accent slowly come out.

  “Ruby, I’d like a number seven with white bread and black coffee please.” Summer’s eyes lit up when looking at her. I couldn’t help but notice we didn’t have menus, so she came here often if she knew the list.

  “Young man, what would you like?” I couldn’t help but stare at the waitress, there was something about her that I couldn’t put my finger on.

  Snapping out of it, “Um, coffee, black please.”

  “Coffee, that is all you are going to have?” Summer had her arms folded on the table, and her eyebrow arched at me.

  Smirking, “Well, yeah.”

  Looking from me to Ruby, “Ruby, you can order him the exact same thing as me.”

  Ruby smiled at both of us before heading back to the kitchen to put in the order.

  “Thane, what happened?” She had a cold stare about her that kind of said she wasn’t playing around anymore.

  Clearing my throat, “She was being chased from an alley when I spotted her.” I don’t know why, but I couldn’t come to look at Summer. Instead, I found myself looking at my hands that were knotted up with the other on the table.

  “Thane, it is critical that you tell me what happened. I need to know that way I know what her next move is.”

  Talking to my hands, “I had her jump in my truck, and then I sped off to a parking garage to wait out the chaos that was going on at that club.” Pausing before continuing, “She started talking this nonsense about how we shouldn’t be together and tried to walk away.”

  Looking at Summer with a sad expression on my face, “She wouldn’t let me help her, she wouldn’t tell me anything. The last thing she told me was I need to promise to get you out. After that, she did some kind of mojo move on me that knocked my ass out.” I felt ashamed at this moment that I had let her down.

  Out of nowhere Summer burst into laughter. I don’t know if it was because the story I told her or the fact that Greer took me out, but my embarrassment escalated.

  “Summer, please…I know I fucked up somewhere, but you don’t have to laugh at me.”


  She was still laughing hysterically before it turned into significant sobbing. Summer had her elbows on the table and her hands covering her face as Ruby came rushing out of the kitchen.

  Leaning down to look into her eyes, “Summer…honey…look at me.”

  Summer turned her head to face Ruby but not enough to let me see her face. Whatever facial exchange was going on between them was severe. Ruby’s face went from worry to ghost-like with a tear ready to escape her watery eyes. Before it fell, she swiped it away, took her hands and gently patted them on the table before heading back to the kitchen. From where I was sitting I could see she was silently hyperventilating and was trying to be strong for Summer.

  Leaning in towards Summer, “Can you please tell me what’s wrong?” I just waited.

  Her sobbing had stopped, but her eyes were still watery. “She’s gone.”

  “I know she is gone, but she will be back, right?” My heart started to pound faster than it should have.

  “No.” Summer was fidgety. She would look at me and then back to her now knotted up fisted laying on her lap. “I’ll probably never see her again.” She looked over to the kitchen. “Nor will the people that love her.”

  Ruby had come out of the kitchen once again. This time she had our coffees and our orders. Placing them in front of us, Ruby turned to look at Summer one last time with her hand placed on her shoulder. “Greer will be back, we will see her again. Look how far she has made it. I have faith honey, you should too.”

  Summer did not say a single word the rest of the time we were in the café. Her eyes remained glued to her plate, waffles with scrambled eggs, hash browns and white toast. She stomached the idea of eating food when she was no longer hungry.

  As we finished eating my phone started buzzing in my pocket. “Hello.” The precinct was calling.

  I was being yelled at through the phone by my Captain. I had to stand up from the table and turn the volume down almost to silent so Summer could not overhear it. He was pissed.

  All I could say, “Yes, sir. I’ll be in shortly.” I had no idea what he was yelling at me for, I did have my guesses. I was too panicked to make sure he wasn’t heard. I hung up.

  Summer looked at me with suspicion. “What was that about?”

  Trying to play it cool, “My boss is extremely pissed at me for missing work this morning. I failed to call in, so he was chewing me out.” Standing up and leaving money on the table for both of our meals and tip. “I should head out and get my ass to work to explain myself.”

  “Wait, why did you miss work?” I had an uneasy feeling about this. She was questioning me, and I couldn’t have that.

  Sighing, “Like I said earlier, I was worried about Greer. I’ve literally been out all night looking for her. Between panicking for her safety and making sure you were released, I forgot the time.” It wasn’t a full lie, but it was still a lie I had to keep up with.

  Nodding, she didn’t say another word and I left.

  ***

  Walking into the precinct, I couldn’t shake this feeling. I had no idea why I was on edge, but I was. As I made my way to Captain Slater’s office, everybody’s eyes were on me. What don’t I know?

  “Captain.”

  He turned from his big office window that overlooked the city and faced me. Shit.

  “Shut that fucking door, now!” He was pissed, and I’m sure I was about to find out why or be fired.

  I turned to shut the door and just as it clicked he laid into me.

  “What the fuck happened on that rooftop? Didn’t I give you simple instructions to follow? You want to tell me why the hell you didn’t call in or why you helped her escape?” His face was red, and he looked like he was going to pass out.

  “Sir, they took all electronic devices at the door. They had scanners on them to make sure that none got passed them. They confiscated it.”

  He stood there, quiet, waiting for more information.

  Letting out a puff of air, “I helped her escape because I felt like you would have lost her in the chaos and I could still help keep an eye on her, gain her trust.” Pausing to see his reaction, there was none. “Sir, I also believe that she wasn’t the one who murdered Drew Sloan, sir.”

  Laughing, at me, “And why would you say that? What makes you think you have the power to tell me that our investigators are wrong? Where is she?”

  I felt like this wasn’t getting anywhere. Anything that I may say was just going to go in one ear and out the other.

  “She escaped by knocking me out” Raising my hands in defense, “I know that’s not what you want to hear, and I don’t have the power...” He cut me off right there.

  “That’s right, you don’t. You know what else you don’t have? The girl you helped escape. Should I hold you in contempt and charge you with being an accessory in a murder case?”

  Interrupting him, “Sir. No. I can make this right.”

  Raising his voice higher, “To hell you will. From here on out you are suspended until further notice. Turn in your badge and gun with Mary at her desk.”

  With that, I walked out. I knew no matter what I said it didn’t matter at this point.

  ***

  Stepping out of the precinct, I froze. Summer was standing there, starring with disgust pinned on her face.

  “Fuck you!” She turned around and started throwing rocks from the rock garden.

  Trying to dodge them, unsuccessfully, “Summer, wait.” She did not once let up, and the busy crowd around us stopped to watch the scene being played out before them.

  I rushed up to her and grabbed both of her wrists to stop her. “You need to stop, you are making a scene. Stop! Now!”

  She looked straight at me and spit in my face, “Fuck you!”

  She had every right to be mad at me, but this couldn’t happen, not right here.

  Still holding her wrists, I drug her a half block over to my truck. “Get in, I’ll explain.”

  She just stood there, arms crossed.

  “Summer, get in the damn truck!” She was stubborn as hell.

  “The last time someone got in your truck, my best friend, she disappeared. You going to make sure I disappear too?”

  I just stared at her, not saying anything. I was done with the small talk. She finally gave in and got in the truck.

  “Happy?” She had her arms crossed, and her back was leaning against the passenger door looking at me.

  “Why the hell were you throwing rocks at me?” I wanted to know what she knew or what she thought before I went about spilling my business.

  Shaking her head, “Thane, don’t even try that shit on me. I know better, I’ve been around long enough to know what this is.” She paused before continuing. “Why don’t you spill it.”

  I wasn’t going to let her in on anything without knowing one hundred percent if she knew I was a cop. “I was at the building, trying to find out if they had Greer in holding since the cops were at the fight last night.” I tried to keep calm.

  “Bull fucking shit Thane! I’m leaving!” She proceeded to put her hand on the door handle, but I stopped her before she could continue.

  “I’m a cop! Ok? Or was…I’m not sure anymore.” I was questioning my life right about now. My eyes were going back and forth between Summer and the steering wheel. I didn’t know where to look because I didn’t know how she was going to react to this news.

  She just stared at me, not saying anything. There was only a glare coming my way, I was clueless.

  “She trusted you, Thane. She fucking trusted you! How could you?” Her hands were flying all over the place with all the frustration coming out.

  I just stayed quiet.

  Shaking her head, “How long have you known about Greer? When you found her in the woods, was it you who did this to her? Just to get close to her? Tell me, Thane!”

  Finally, gazing into her eyes, “I didn’t do that to Greer.” An uneasy sickening feeling came over me, “I found her in the woods gagged, tied up
and hanging from a tree. She was almost beaten to death, and someone had stabbed her in the abdomen.” Pausing, “If it wasn’t for Rem getting my attention, she might have died out there. I brought her back and attempted to save her life.”

  By now, I was clenching the steering wheel without even realizing it. My knuckles were pure white. Looking over to Summer, her face was flushed. She said nothing but continued to stare at me.

  “I didn’t realize who Greer was until I went back to work that Monday after I found her in the woods. Even then, with all the evidence laid out in front of me, I didn’t believe she murdered that Drew guy.” I couldn’t stand the look on Summer’s face, so I turned back to face the steering wheel I still found myself gripping.

  Sighing, “When I drove home from work that day and seen the two of you coming down my road, I was relieved. I didn’t have any urge to stop what I was doing just to bring her in. I truly wanted to know her.” Pausing. “We connected. I’m not sure when it was, whether the first time I saw her, her spending the day at my house, clubbing, the night in the alley…I don’t know.”

  Still…nothing. Summer was quiet.

  I pleaded my case, and now, I was going to wait for her to speak. She just looked at me, in shock or maybe hate. “Night in the alley? What night? What happened in the alley?”

  I gave her a smirk and shrugged my shoulders, “It was intimate.”

  Shaking her head and then lunging at me, she hugged me, tight. We were in this position for quite a while before she backed up and released me.

  “Thank you, Thane. She never told me what happened to her. Greer likes to keep her life private, even from the people who love her the most and are always there for her. She has this need to keep people safe, even when we can take care of ourselves.” Her color came back to her.