Page 65 of What's Left of Me

“He’s never going to go to him, but even if he did, he talks like Phoenix would know where to go.”

I realized the second she said it, that was because he believed Phoenix knew where to go.

“We noticed that too,” Carmichael responded. “Which makes me wonder if Phoenix knows where Adonis wants him to be.”

Okay, so Carmichael wasn’t a complete idiot.

“I can ask him, but everything he knows, he’s already told us.”

“Please ask him.”

When she ended the call, a haunting feeling shrouded the room. Phoenix was sitting close, having listened to the whole thing, his eyes downcast.

“There’s only one place he’d want me to go.” His voice was barely a whisper.

“Where?” I took his hands in mine.

He lifted his eyes, dread and sorrow shining through.

“He wants me to go back to the shed.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Phoenix

“Why’d it rhyme?”JJ wondered aloud a short time later after I’d had a chance to calm down.

He’d said he wanted me back and he’d kill until I returned to him, but for some reason, in the recesses of my mind I’d thought maybe they’d catch him, especially when we’d found Jaron’s associates. Now, I knew he’d never stop until I returned. His obsession likely had nothing to do with me personally but with the fact that I was his property, his rebirth, and with me leaving I’d messed up his pattern.

“It’s weird, right?” Mason agreed.

“We can ask Aziza—I called her, and she’ll be here soon.” Noel sat beside me on the love seat that had been pushed against the wall.

“Did he speak in rhymes, ever?” I looked up at where Matt was sitting on the corner of one of the desks and shook my head.

“Do you think someone else is working with him?” Mason motioned to Matt. “It happened with you.”

Matt sighed. “That was very different. Nicole was married to James and a victim all the same. I feel like she was trying to stay alive, and in her mind she loved him.” Matt glanced at me and I smiled softly. I knew a little about what happened to him.

“My stalker was my landlord and we thought his wife was his partner in it all, and yeah, she helped him, but she likely had no choice as it turned out he’d abducted her many years earlier and brainwashed her.” He frowned. “In the end she killed herself because she’d thought she’d failed him. It was terribly sad.”

“Oh my God, that’s horrible.” My heart hurt just thinking about it.

“It was, is…but I really don’t think that’s the case here. He brainwashes his victims to think horribly about themselves, likely to keep them complacent and stay with him because he’s the only one tolerating them, but it’s not to have them team up with him.”

“In a way, the Zaffys are working for him.” Shep walked into the room, carrying a tray with cookies and a pitcher of milk. Gabe followed, holding glasses.

“I think it may be time to visit the Zaffys.” Angel reached over and snagged a cookie.

“You don’t think the FBI is watching them like a hawk?” Nick poured himself and Matt a glass of milk.

Angel’s grin was full-on mischief. “Oh Nick, you and Noel have all the toys. I’m sure we can find out how much surveillance they’re under and organize accordingly.”

“Can you never smile again, please?” Noel grimaced. “It’s unsettling.”

That earned a chuckle from me.

“We should focus on Jaron. I think of all the Zaffys, he’s the one who likely knows more than the others. Hank would be a close second.” JJ chomped on a cookie and when I went to grab my own, Noel took two and handed them to me.

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