Page 81 of Code Name: Phoenix

Raising the folded belt, I go in for the kill.

Any remaining hope that I’m bluffing drains from her as the belt hits her bottom, and she screams into the room as the mirror vibrates once more.

Jack’s coming.

“You still with me, my little crybaby?” I recite more of Maxwell’s words. I don’t give her a chance to answer as I bring the belt down a second time, hard, across the fleshiest section of her ass.

She fills her lungs, then tenses, and I loosen my hold on the cloth belt of her robe just enough for her to—

“JACK!…JAAAAACK!” She screams the safe word just like she did on the video. Just like the first night in my interrogation room.

She’s there in the moment, and she’s broken.

An echoing crack sends the door flying open. Splinters from the frame spray into the room, and the man who enters is not the friend I know.

Jack’s entire being is threatening to explode away from himself.

His face is stained red with rage as he barrels across the room, pain and anger etched into every part of his being.

I drop the belt and stand back from Jessa’s trembling, half-naked body.

I entirely hate myself for what I had to do to Jessa. For what I did to both of them.

I raise my hands to show I’m not a challenge, but I know what’s about to happen, and I deserve every ounce of retribution that’s coming.

CHAPTER29

JACK

The slam of the last truck door brings a groan from my left as Hunter stretches out his back and grabs his pack from the ground.

“Thanks, man,” Grizz calls. Hunter grunts, spins on his heels, and waves his good night over his shoulder.

After making my own excuses, I head back inside, but it’s not my own bed I want to sleep in.

Today was long—too long—and now that Jessa’s back in my life, I don’t want to be away from her. I also don’t want her to be alone after everything that happened yesterday.

Making plans to quietly slide into bed beside her and wrap myself around her body, I open the door and walk down the corridor leading to her quarters. My boots echo all of the way until I reach her door.

Frantic footsteps sound from behind Dana’s door, and when I hear a knock from the inside, I unlock it.

“How did it go?” Dana looks a little too interested in my night, but I set it aside for now.

“It went well. The guys are all ready for tomorrow.” I attempt to make small talk, but there’s something about the look on her face that tells me it isn’t the answer she is looking for.

Nervously looking down the empty hall, she steps out to make sure she sees the entire space, as if she’s looking for someone. Then it hits me.

“Are you waiting for Grizz? I think he went to sleep.” I keep my voice low. Jessa’s had a busy day, and I don’t want to be the reason she wakes up.

“What? No. I’m waiting for you to bring Jessa back. Was she able to help you guys?”

Blood drains from my head into my feet in confusion. A sick feeling twists into the pit of my stomach.

“What are you talking about?”

“Logan came by earlier. I heard him through the door. He said something about the video. You guys needed her help. He was taking her to—you.” Dana’s features pinch in worry as she says the last word.

I see it written all over her face.

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