Rise (The Phoenix Series Book 1)

by M. K. Cunningham

Walking into the house, I search for her. I expect her to be out of bed by now since I’ve been gone for three hours, she is. I search the house and find her in my study, standing in front of my desk. She turns around and I can see in her eyes, she knows.

  As I approach her more, “Stop, now. Don’t come any closer!” I stop where I stand and wait for what is next.

  She turns back around to face the desk and looking at her I can see she found pictures of her. Ones that she didn’t know were taken and clearly by someone investigating her. She picks all of them up and turns to face me.

  “Let me explain, please” I have so much desperation in my voice and it’s killing me she won’t say anything to me. “I’m an undercover cop. I didn’t take those pictures; they were given to me.” Not like that was any better.

  Her mouth drops open and the pictures she had in her hands hit the floor. “No, it’s…not…true.” She couldn’t keep her voice from cracking and the tears from flowing. She stared at me, first with fear, then with sadness and finally, anger. She began to walk over the pictures on the floor and head for the door.

  I run up to her and drop to my knees. I look up at her in a silent plea for her to stay. As she tries walking away, I place my arms around her thighs and lean my head against her stomach…begging…pleading.

  I hear a sound come from her throat and I look up to see her crying. I know, at this moment, I’ve ruined her. She let me in, after everything, and I just fucked that up and what we could have had. At that moment, my heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest.

  Holding her tighter now, speaking into her stomach, “What do I have to do to make you stay?” I would do anything at this point.

  She won’t even touch me. She keeps her hands at her side, in a fist. I stand up, place both of my hands on the side of her face and stare into her eyes. She closes her eyes to avoid looking into mine and more tears stream down her face. I can’t take the look on her face any longer. I know what I have to do. I place my lips in-between the soft spot of her eyebrows and kiss her forehead.

  Backing up, she opens her eyes and I fall to my knees one last time and as she walks out, not looking back. I hear her get into a vehicle, telling someone to drive. I can’t take it. I stand up and race to the door to stop her and I’m too late. They drive off in the distance and I can’t stop her.

  Standing in the yard, with both of my hands on top of my head, I’m baffled. I can’t believe what just happened in a blink of an eye. I did not expect this to happen today, I wanted her to find out on my terms, me telling her. Why the hell didn’t I lock those up knowing she was here?

  After hours of calling Greer and pacing my house wondering what the hell I was going to do, I want to forget what happened. Whiskey becomes my friend.

  ***

  I woke to Rem barking uncontrollably. I got out of bed to find her and see what it was she was barking at. As I approach the door to my bedroom, I no longer hear Rem anymore. Panic rises and as I open my door two men are standing there staring at me. I try to close the door but they are too quick and strong. The door is shoved open and I’m forced into the corner to figure out how I’m going to get out of here.

  Looking around the room, I remember my Glock is on the opposite side of the room next to the nightstand, I’m fucked. As they start to approach me from the hallway I know what I have to do to have a slight chance to escape. Jump.

  I turn quickly and jump out my second story window, that is slightly opened, landing on my truck with shards of glass surrounding me. I get the wind knocked out of me and blackout for just a moment. When I come too, I hear the porch door swing open and I immediately get myself off the truck and onto the ground. Every bone in my body is aching but the adrenaline is helping me push through it.

  Waiting, I feel a spike of pain shoot up the left side of my stomach. Looking down, I can see a piece of thick glass protruding out. My white shirt has a slight blood stain on it but once I start moving more or take the glass out my odds of getting out of here will be slim. Slowly, I start to get light headed and slide under the truck to hide. From where I am, I can see Rem laying on the ground on the other side of the truck. She is passed out but looks to be breathing normally. Finally, I let the darkness take over me, I can’t fight it any longer.

  Moments later I feel rocks racking across my back and head. My eyes won’t open, and I can only imagine that the two in my house have now found me. The piece of glass in my stomach is digging deeper with every inch that my body moves. The pain is getting worse and my body shuts down one more time.

  ***

  Coming to, I’m tied to a pole in a room with a dirt floor. Looking around I can see that it is still daylight through a small window located to my right. I hear men talking outside of the door located behind me. Turning to look behind me is not an option. My left side is killing me. Looking down, my white shirt is covered in blood along with my jeans. The glass that was there is no more, they must have taken it out.

  Moments later the two men that were at my bedroom door are now standing in front of me. They appear to be identical twins, the only difference is one of them has a scar on their forehead. Seconds later, a third set of shoes are heard walking up behind me. Whoever it is, they just stand there. The shadow that they cast let me know a man is behind me. “Whoever you are, why don’t you show yourself you bastard!”

  Before I know it, the man with the scar kicks me in the bleeding wound. “AAAH!” My head falls forward, and I’m becoming dizzy again.

  “Gentlemen, give me a bit with the boy.” Whoever it is, they have a strong voice and seem to be the one in charge. Something about his voice sounds very familiar also. As the twins leave the room, the other man appears before me. He has very expensive shoes on and as my eyes scan up his body to his face…

  “Fuck.” I went from thinking I had a chance to knowing I have none.

  “I’d like to introduce myself, my name... is Jerry Sloan.”

  “I know who the fuck you are. You aren’t getting anywhere near her!”

  “Oh, that’s good to know that you know who I am. Makes this conversation much easier to have. You see, my boys here, have been keeping an eye on you for quite some time now. Various leads led us straight to you and you my friend, led us straight to her.” He’s smiling from ear to ear by now. “She is gorgeous, isn’t she? Too bad you fell for the wrong person.”

  Oh my god, it was him. Staring into his eyes, “You were at my work? Why the hell didn’t I notice it was you?”

  With all the strength I have left in me I get to my feet and rush him until the rope will no longer allow me to go any further. I wrap my leg around his and drop him to the ground. Moments later, the twins are back in the room and beating the shit out of me. By now, I can feel blood pouring from my face and by the feel of it, my ribs seem out of place.

  Grabbing me by my hair they lift me to my knees and against the pole. Jerry is already back on his feet and kneeling to look at me. “They never learn boys, you can’t win when it comes to me, so why try?” Just then, I spit the blood, that I have in my mouth, on his face.

  Out of nowhere, Jerry takes a knife and stabs me in the leg. “FUCK!” is all I can get to come out of my mouth.

  “You had better listen, and you had better listen well. That bitch will be mine and the only way to guarantee she will be, is to have us some bait. That bait is you boy. If you wish to see her again you better stop with your shenanigans.” He raises to his feet and walks closer to the twins. “I’ve got a phone call to make, how about you show this piece of shit what happens when you act up. Do what you want but leave him very much alive.” He walks out, and the twins begin their brutal persecution.

  CHAPTER twenty

  greer

  L ying in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, I couldn’t believe I woke before the alarm. I roll to my right and stare at the bright green numbers on the clock. From a night of sobbing, way too hard, I felt like shit. After all this time, Thane… a cop? Not only th
at, but he was also investigating me? WTF?

  Summer’s snoring catches my attention, and I turn over to face her. I didn’t remember much after I started crying, but I do remember Summer jumping in bed with me, holding my head, as I sobbed in her lap. The yelling and screaming of the night's events were still cluttering my thoughts.

  Groaning, “Ugh…”

  I lean into her shoulder, take my index finger and start to poke her nose. She flinches every time I do it, and I just smile.

  Finally waking up, “Greer, what time is it?” Her eyes were still closed as she is talking to me.

  With my head propped up on my left hand, “Four-thirty in the morning.”

  “Are you kidding me! Go back to sleep.” She throws her pillow on her head. My eyes start tearing up again. I hated the overactive emotions that ripped through me. She lifts the pillow and stares at me.

  “Greer…please…don’t cry.” Summer’s eyebrows bend in, and she had a sad look on her face. Placing her hand on mine, “Everything will be alright. We will get through this.”

  As she spoke those last words, a damn broke from my eyes. I don’t even know why I’m crying. Was it because when I finally opened up and let someone in, they tore at my heart or was it because I got caught and the ring was no more? Summer sat up and held me, again, until I passed out from exhaustion.

  ***

  The smell of bacon lingered in my bedroom. Sitting up, I look over to the other side of the bed and Summer was gone.

  I throw the covers off me and get out of bed. Pulling out some black shorts and a red shirt from my dresser drawer, I walk out into the hallway. Summer has a plate in her hand heading to my bedroom.

  “Hey, didn’t think you would be up yet. Was going to serve you breakfast in bed.” She still had a sad expression on her face but tried to hide it. “How are you feeling?”

  I take the plate out of her hands and place it on the stand. For the second time, in the ten years, I’ve known her, I put my arms around her tight, giving her a hug. She is shocked at what I’ve just done, and it takes her a moment to register. She finally places her hands on my back and squeezes, showing her love for me.

  “Thank you, Summer.” We stood there for a good deal of time, just hugging.

  As I release her and look at her, she’s crying. “Summer, what’s wrong?” I become worried because she never cries.

  Wiping the tears from her cheek, “I’m just happy.” She smiles at me and walks back to the kitchen.

  I grab the plate of food and head in that direction. Getting to the marble countertop, I pull out a bar stool, sit down and eat. Just as I get up to clean my plate, I hear my phone ringing from the living room. I walk over to see Jerry’s name pop up on my screen. I let it go to voicemail. Walking away, he begins to call again. He’s becoming very persistent.

  Walking over and picking up my phone, I slide the green circle to the right and place the phone to my ear. Not saying anything, I wait.

  “When you see my name pop up, you answer it. You understand me?” He is furious.

  “Jerry, what do you want?” I’m becoming more irritated and nervous the longer he lingers on the other end of the phone.

  “You’re fighting tonight. Be ready and at the compound by nine pm.”

  I hesitate before answering. “Jerry, I’m done.”

  I can hear him through the phone snickering. “To hell if you are. You will be here, or you will regret it.” With the way he said those last words, I had an awful feeling in my gut. Something was wrong.

  “What did you do?” He began laughing, very hard, into the phone. “Jerry, what the fuck have you done?” I am now screaming at him.

  His voice calms down and gets serious, “Cookie, mark my words. You will be here!” He hangs up.

  I take the phone from my ear and stare at it, I’m in shock. Hearing Summer approaching from behind me, I turn to look at her. She can see the worry on my face. I drop the phone, make my way up the stairs and to my room. I throw on my black leather pants and boots, take the Glock from under my bed, put my hair in a high messy bun and head to the garage.

  As I pull the Harley out, Summer comes running from the front door. She’s yelling at me as I start the motorcycle and rev her up. Pulling my sunglasses down, I take off without saying a word to her.

  Approaching the compound, I see Parker walking out of the main building with his arms crossed. I put the motorcycle in neutral and shut her off. I get off and make my way to him, demanding to speak to Jerry. He stands there, staring at me, not saying a single thing. I look around and head for the door he came out of.

  Grabbing my left arm, before I can get the distance between us, “I don’t think so sugar.”

  I look down at his hand and back up into his eyes. Calmly I replied, “Get your hand off me.”

  He stands there laughing at my words. Before he knows it, I spin around to his right and end up behind him. I now have his arm extended straight behind his back. As he is looking behind him, to see me, he smiles. He yanks his arm out of his socket, spins around and kicks me in the knee to get free. I watch as he re-adjusts his arm in a matter of seconds.

  Jerry comes out of the door. He is clapping and looking straight at me. “Bravo! Great entertainment. Now, show me something like that tonight and win.” He emphasizes the word win.

  “Fuck you. I told you no!” I see Parker charging me from the corner of my eye. He gets a foot away, and I slide down and extend my right leg out and trip him. He goes rolling a few feet, and I’m on him in a matter of seconds. I pull the Glock out, tucked away at the back of my pants. Parker is now staring straight into the barrel of the gun.

  Emmett, Parker’s twin brother, is standing next to Jerry with his gun placed at the side of Thane’s head. “You pull the trigger, I pull mine.” My mouth drops open, and my heart is racing. He knows I won’t pull the trigger.

  Parker knocks the gun away from his face and out of my hand. I look back over to him, and he has his right arm extended back. I blacked out, again.

  ***

  I wake to dirt being kicked in my face. This time I’m restrained. I look up from the ground, into Jerry’s face. “Cookie, didn’t I tell you…you can’t win with me and I will never accept a no from you.” He has a smug look on his face.

  “Where is he?” I try to sound harsh, but my emotions were getting in the way.

  Kneeling and looking at me, “You will fight, or he will die.”

  My bottom lip lifts inward toward my mouth, and my eyes start to water. I look away from Jerry and to the ground.

  Emmett appears behind Jerry, dragging Thane, by his hair. I look up and see Thane, with hurt in his eyes. They have duct tape over his mouth, his hair has strands hanging out from his bun, his face has dirt and dried up blood on it, he has a cut above his left eye and the side of his mouth has a purple bruise forming. From the looks of it, his stomach and leg had some injuries too.

  Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I know what my answer will be. Even though I ended it with him, I love him, so I know my answer.

  “Ok, you son-of-a-bitch! I’ll fight!” They take Thane away, and I can hear him yelling under the tape. He is kicking his legs and trying to get free.

  Jerry stands back up and heads out the door with him. Just before he is out of sight, he turns to look at me. “See you in a few hours cookie.” He walks away.

  ***

  I pull up to the driveway and Summer is sitting on the steps with a bottle of whiskey at her feet. As I get off, she begins screaming at me.

  “What the fuck Greer. Where did you go? Who was on the phone?” Her eyes were huge and worried.

  I look up at her and hug her, crying. Her body relaxes, and she starts to panic. “Greer, what’s wrong? Two hugs in one day, not that I’m complaining, I love them, but you don’t hug.” She is squeezing me tightly.

  I pull her back and look into her eyes. “I’m fighting tonight at nine.” Tears are streaming down my face.

  “
What? No! Greer, you can’t. He doesn’t own you, just say no.” She has both her hands on my shoulders forcing me to look at her.

  “He has Thane. Summer, I can’t lose him…I love him.” She releases my shoulders and hugs me again.

  ***

  Walking out of my room and down the stairs, I feel nothing. I have on the usual outfit that I wear to fights, black shorts, and a gray t-shirt. Summer is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. She has the keys to the Jeep. I can’t focus and feel dead inside. I knew what my fate would be tonight if I fight…death. Jerry is not going to let me walk out alive even if I win.

  We get in the Jeep, and she pulls away into the night. Arriving at the compound, I can see vehicles parked alongside the private road. Summer pulls up and parks right in front of the building, not caring what the onlookers are saying. We get out, and she stands next to me squeezing my hand. I look at her, saying nothing, not even smiling. I release her hand and walk through the gate. She stands there knowing I don’t want her to come along.

  I look to the left of the ring and see hundreds of people crowded around, waiting for the fight to start. To the right, is Jerry sitting in a chair that overlooks the crowd and ring. He has one leg stretched out as he staggered in his seat. Emmett and Parker are beside him, standing.

  Parker has Thane on his knees in front of him, grabbing a handful of his hair, forcing him to look at me. I see Thane, and he is still a mess from this morning. They replaced the duct tape at his wrists with rope and tied him to the railing in front of him.

  As I start walking towards Jerry, the announcer makes way with introductions. I stop in my tracks, staring at Jerry and turn for the ring.

  Bruce Rhine is waiting for me. He is white, has a shaved head, brown eyes, a bodybuilder figure and is wearing royal blue and lime green shorts. I’ve heard about him but never seen him. They say he was training to go professional but didn’t make it because he couldn’t follow anybody’s rules, he punched the president of the corporation right in the face. I heard he had an ugly attitude and shitty personally. Skinhead mother fucker with a nasty temper.