Rise (The Phoenix Series Book 1)

by M. K. Cunningham

  “You're welcome Summer, even though I don’t need to be thanked for that.” I was now relaxed, and no longer feared what Summer thought.

  Sadness came across her face once again. “Thane, there is something that you need to know. The only reason I am telling you this is because you think you have this need to save her.” A single tear fell from her eye. “Jerry, the guy you saw at the fight who had a knife to her chest, he had Drew killed. He was behind his death. He’s evil and Greer is in more danger than you can possibly fathom”

  Frowning, “Why did she run if he killed him?”

  “Thane, he is more powerful than you can imagine. He had him killed to prove to Greer who was in charge, who had the upper hand.” She couldn’t get past what she was trying to tell me. I don’t know if it was out of fear or something else.

  “Why was he trying to teach her a lesson Summer? How does Greer even know this Jerry guy?”

  More tears were streaming down her face. “Drew was Greer’s boyfriend. He met Greer six months before his death.” Pausing, “Drew wanted out and Jerry wouldn’t allow it. Due to the mention of wanting out, Jerry did the unthinkable to Greer to show Drew he couldn’t be bargained with.” She looked down at her hands and wouldn’t continue.

  Trying to look into her eyes, “Summer, what happened?”

  Sobbing uncontrollably, “He had her beaten, multiple times, to show Drew he wasn’t messing around. She wasn’t the same after that and Jerry now “owned” her as well as Drew.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. I just sat there, quiet.

  “She was forced into fighting. It was that, or they were going to kill her. Eventually, she and Drew ran, but they didn’t get far. They were waiting for Easton and me to show up at that gas station. By the time we got there, Drew was shot numerous times and left there to die alone, and Greer was missing. He made it look like Greer did it. Had surveillance and everything.” Letting out a single sob, “Jerry had gotten a hold of her again, but I don’t know what happened or how she escaped. She doesn’t talk much about anything anymore. She has been on the run since and he hasn’t found her, until recently.”

  “So, where is she?”

  Finally looking at me, “Thane, she told me that if he ever found her again, she would give herself up, to him. She is tired of running. If she gives herself up, she is signing her death certificate. God knows what he has in store for her.”

  Forcing my hand on Summer’s face, to continue looking at me, “I won’t let that happen. I will NEVER let that happen. I promise!”

  chapter nine

  greer

  A fter Summer and Thane left the precinct, I head back to the parking garage to get my Jeep. I honestly didn’t know what my next move was, all I knew was I would see Jerry again…very soon. I had no idea where he was holding up, so I would have to wait for him to come to me.

  I wasn’t going to let him control my life anymore. I hated running, hiding and fearing for not only my life but, the ones I loved now. This time, it was him or me.

  If I wanted Jerry to find me, that means that I would have to start showing myself more than I have in the last three years. Not only would I have Jerry looking for me, but the police would also since I was spotted the other night. This son-of-a-bitch was fucking with me.

  Jerry liked to make appearances at high-end swinger clubs where he was guaranteed anyone would put out for him, that’s where I would be. I knew a couple places like that, but The Dragon was the first on my list.

  ***

  Walking into The Dragon, I was prepared for tonight. I wanted Jerry’s attention, so I was determined to get it. I slipped on a black dress that clung to my body, the right side hung off my shoulder, and the bottom of it stopped a foot from my hip. I let my hair down and done my makeup more extravagant than I usually liked it.

  Looking around, I couldn’t see Jerry anywhere on the main floor. This was a massive nightclub with three different levels so I would work my way to each one, he could be anywhere if he were here.

  I started on the dance floor of the first level and found my first victim of the night. He was tall, clean-shaven and skinny. He wasn’t Thane, one of the many people I would miss. I needed to scope the room but not look inconspicuous about it, so I choose him to dance with while doing it.

  My dance partner wasn’t very appealing. He smelled of rotten fish and was sweaty as hell. He seemed more interested in dry humping my leg than dancing. At this point, I was becoming irritated.

  Turning around to walk away from him because I could no longer take it anymore, Jerry was sitting in a booth, staring at me. He had a smirk on his face, a cigar in his hand and a brunette kneeling in front of him giving him head. Jerry hasn’t aged in the last three years, everything about him is still the same. Salt and pepper hair, blue eyes and manicured hands. Every time I saw him, I always got this nauseating chill in me, right now, it was tripled.

  I had to force my way toward him, but my feet felt heavy. They were betraying me and saving me all at the same time. He was still smirking at me before he turned to look at the lengthy guy next to him. He barked some orders at him, and they both looked my direction. Moving my feet, I started heading forward.

  I wasn’t even ten feet from Jerry when a pair of green eyes stepped into my view and were staring at me. I stopped in my tracks, shock and panic both struck me. How the hell did he find me? Was my mind playing games on me?

  Walking a few more feet to reach him, I placed my hand on his cheek to see if he was real, he was. Thane Williams was standing in front of me at this very moment. Panic rose even more, and I looked over his shoulder to see Jerry, staring at me, curious what was going on.

  Looking at Thane with wide eyes, “Go, please.” Begging more than I wanted, showing Jerry I knew him. “Thane please, hurry before he sees your face.” Panic was written all over my mine.

  “I’m not leaving you, Greer. I know why you are here. I came to stop you and bring you back.”

  He now had both of his hands on my cheeks, and I could feel tears streaming down them. I don’t know if it was because I was in awe of him, once again, or if it was because meeting him had placed him in the very predicament I’ve tried so hard to steer him away from. I just stared at him, trying to figure out how I was going to save him.

  “Greer, I’m not leaving without you.”

  Backing up so he could no longer touch me, “Thane, please. For once, just do me this! Walk away while I can still save you.” I couldn’t help but look at those green eyes. Those were the last good things I wanted to remember before coming to terms with whatever Jerry had in store for me.

  Before I knew it, Thane picked me up off the floor and started carrying me toward the exit. Looking back to Jerry, he threw the brunette off him and barked orders to the man I previously saw him talk to. He was standing up, adjusting himself, and he was pissed that I didn’t go through with my plans.

  I looked to Thane and started to hyperventilate because I had no idea what I was going to do. “Let…me…go!”

  I shuffled out of his hold and started running to Jerry. I was going to make this right. Thane caught my arm just a few feet from where he was standing and jolted me back to him. Before I could twist his arm and pin it to his back, he had used the same move on me that I used in the parking garage.

  Everything around me went black.

  ***

  “You like that? Tell me you like that cookie.” Hearing his voice sent chills down my spine every time.

  “I like it,” I said in a broken voice.

  I always agreed with him, it was better than saying nothing or disagreeing altogether.

  “That’s right cookie. Now, let’s try something else why don’t we.”

  Tears were streaming down my face, and I couldn’t wipe them away or hide them. My wrists were tied to a metal ring on the wall with a rope. There was no slack, and the line was tight and cutting into my wrists.

  He flipped me over from my back to my stomach.
“NO!”

  I woke from my nightmare in a pile of sweat.

  I was in a comfy bed, a dark room and an uncomfortable feeling in my left arm. Was I not dreaming? Was it real? Did Jerry really have me?

  Feeling around with my right hand, I could feel hard metal around my left wrist that was attached to the rail on the bed frame. I was handcuffed and even more terrified.

  Panic rose in my stomach. I became nauseous because I had no idea where I was, how long I have been out or what had been done to me.

  Moments later I could hear yelling out my door. It was faint which meant they weren’t anywhere near me. The voices sounded familiar the louder they got, it was Summer and Thane. I could hear a bit of the conversation.

  “You did what? Thane she is going to be pissed!” Summer was yelling, but it wasn’t her pissed off yell. She sounded relieved but was poorly trying to hide it.

  “Did you want her leaving with him? God knows what he would have done to her!” I loved hearing his raspy voice.

  I tuned out after hearing Thane. I knew I was safe, but I really wanted out of these cuffs. My nightmare was still fresh in my mind, and I couldn’t stand anything restraining me now.

  Feeling around with my right hand, I found my keys on the nightstand next to the bed. I grabbed them and took the metal ring off it and bent it to form a straight line. Picking the lock to the handcuffs was a breeze compared to many other items I’ve gotten out of. Once I heard the click, I knew I was free from the cuffs.

  Getting out of bed, I realized I was no longer wearing my clothes from the club. Thane or Summer had undressed me, and I was now wearing his clothes. Baggy sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt.

  Making my way down the hall, to the bathroom, to assess myself in the mirror, my makeup was smeared all over my eyes. I had to clean them up, I didn’t want either one of them seeing me like this. Then again, maybe I should escape while I can to save both. I was still shaken, especially after my nightmare but I needed to leave. Just then a knock came from the door.

  “Greer, it’s me, Summer. Can I come in?” She sounded sad and apologetic.

  I said nothing. Not because I was mad at her, I wasn’t. I didn’t know what to say or what to do.

  Sighing, she turned around and slid down to the floor, sitting in front of the door. There was no way I was going to get out of here unnoticed. Summer was blocking my only way out of the bathroom. The window in here was way too small to fit into, not even my head could.

  Instead, I turned my back to the door and did the exact same thing. If I couldn’t get out, I would sit here and think about my next move.

  I couldn’t believe what happened tonight. I had a plan in place, and now that was ruined. Summer and Thane destroyed it all. Everyone was in danger, and I had a way out for them, now I don’t know if I could help them.

  Summer and I sat in silence for a good ten minutes. Every now and then I could hear her shift her body and I knew she wanted to say something, but she kept quiet.

  Staring at the baby blue drywall in front of me, the lights above the bathroom sink started to dim off and on. Peering off to the right, I stared at them in fear that the room would go black. I wasn’t a big fan of the dark. Honestly, it scared the shit out of me. After months with Jerry, the darkness always reminded me of him. Now that he was back in the picture, that’s all I ever see or hear even though he wasn’t near me.

  Startled by the sound of her voice, “Greer.”

  I stayed quiet, I had nothing to say.

  “Greer, please, talk to me.” I could hear the desperation in her voice.

  Still, I said nothing.

  Before I knew it, the bulb in the bathroom went out. Summer was saying something, but I couldn’t hear her. My breathing was too loud, and my eyes were working overtime, pacing back and forth across the room, searching for anything that might be a threat to me.

  I wanted so desperately to open the door and run, but I was paralyzed. My heart was pounding fast in my chest, and perspiration was forming on my forehead. Just then, I heard footsteps coming my way, and my brain went into survival mode.

  Lunging from the door, I pinned myself between the sink and the toilet. Items from the pedestal had fallen all around me as I hit the wall hard with my back and slid to the floor. Sliding my hand across the floor to find anything to use, to help defend myself, I stumbled upon a razor.

  Taking the cap off, I started to tear the plastic around the blades. My fingertips began to sting due to the edges digging into my skin, but I kept going until I succeeded in getting it torn apart. Finally, the pieces of plastic pop out and I caught the blades before they hit the cold, hard tile below me.

  A loud banging was coming from the door now. I still couldn’t hear what was being said, but I knew who I would see when he barged through the door, Jerry. This time, I would kill him.

  The door was being rammed multiple times but it not once budged. I sat there, focused on the door. Waiting for him to appear. With the sound of wood splitting, the door swung open, and a dark figure stood in the doorway, looking at me.

  As he came closer, I began to swing my hand left and right toward him. He stopped and stared at me for a moment before picking up his pace again. Once again, my hand went flying in the air, and I lunged for him. I got close enough to graze his throat but nowhere close to harming him before he grabbed my right wrist.

  Twisting my body, to face the sink once again, I lifted my left elbow high enough to sock him in the nose. Before I could do it again, he hugged me from behind with my arms in an X across my chest. At some point, he had knocked the razor out of my hand when restraining me. Tilting my head forward and picking my legs up and placing them on the side of the sink, I immediately lunge back and contacted his face with the back of my head.

  My head was in excruciating pain from that blow. He let up a little and stumbled but immediately regained his footing before I could escape his grasp. Before I knew it, I was being thrown to the ground, in the hallway, and the light above me was blinding. The sting from gazing into the hall light caused my eyes to water.

  Not long after that, Thane's head blocked the light, and his face came into view. His nose was a bloody mess, and he had a scratch just underneath his chin.

  I had mistaken Thane for Jerry.

  A single sob came from my throat and then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Looking up, Summer was glued to the wall with her hands around her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were frozen on me and fear was laced in them.

  Never, in the years that Summer has known me, has she seen me lash out like this. It’s always been the ring that she’s seen me fight and defend myself. I always hid my nightmares from her, so she has no idea what goes on in my head, nobody does.

  “Greer…Greer!” My head straightened out to look at Thane.

  Emotions filled head and they were coming in fast. What had I done?

  “It’s me, Thane. Do you hear me?” He was staring into my face, waiting for me to answer. A vein in his neck was bulging out, he was using everything he had in him to restrain me.

  I nodded. I couldn’t form words to escape my mouth.

  “I’m going to release you, and when I do you are going to relax.” I hadn’t realized I was tense still. He gazed into my eyes with desperation and hopes that I would follow through.

  I nodded again, but this time I couldn’t hold back the waterworks, I didn’t realize I was keeping in.

  Releasing me, I turned over to my side and began to cry uncontrollably. Seconds later, Thane had picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, he held me on his lap, wiping every tear away with his thumb.

  ***

  I was alone in the dark, cold room. My hands were still tied up to the ring above my head, and I had just woken from Jerry’s torture. I have no idea how long I was out for but the drops of water coming from the ceiling, hitting my head, woke me.

  I was sore, very sore. At this moment in time, all I could do
was lay in this bed and wait for my next punishment. I have never been the religious type, but I was praying I would die soon. I don’t know how much more I could take of this.

  Jerry had killed Drew, and now, Sasha was gone. She attempted to get us out, but it was wishful thinking. His men caught us not even five minutes later, or so it seemed like it. At least she went out fast, and she fought like hell. Myself, I was pathetic, I had no energy to lift a god damn finger.

  As I lay here, waiting, I could feel my body get weaker each moment that passed. The man that was always with Jerry would bring me stale bread and brown distrusting water every few days, but since the Sasha incident, I haven’t seen anything in who knows how long.

  Just then, laughing was coming from down the hall, heading in my direction.

  Whoever it was kept walking on by, never stopping at my door.

  I woke to warm skin pressed against my back and an arm thrown over my torso. At some point in time, I was laid in bed and covered up. I don’t remember falling asleep, the last thing I remember was Thane wiping my tears away and rocking me back and forth.

  Laying still, I tried to figure out who it was without waking them. I couldn’t move my head because whoever it was, was laying on some of my hair. There breathing started to become slow and light, before I knew it, the hand across my torso moved to my back and was softly rubbing it up and down in slow motions.

  Just then, it occurred to me that it wasn’t Summer, but Thane.

  “Good morning.” He continued to keep rubbing and never letting up.

  Memories from last night flooded my head, and my emotions were like a roller coaster right now. My mind raced, trying to figure out what to say to him. Sorry, I tried to kill you last night! I couldn’t get that out of my mind. Why did I think it was Jerry when just moments before Summer was sitting outside the door?

  Clearing his throat, “Greer, please talk to me. I’m worried about you.”

  Here it goes, all or nothing.

  “I’m so sorry.” Gulping hard, trying to keep a sob from escaping. “I don’t know what came over me last night, I didn’t realize it was you,” Trying harder now. “Did I hurt you?”