Phoenix's Revenge

5.

Thank you all so much for reading!!

Phoenix POV

I wake up to light shaking. My eyes snap open and I'm swinging before I can even think.

My fist makes contact square with Nikolai's jaw.

Oops.

"Shit, I'm sorry." I quickly apologize.

He groans and rubs his jaw.

"Damn, nice left hook." He smirks and I shove him off.

"We're home?"

He nods.

All at once, the day's activities hit me like a ton of bricks. I try to stand but wince the whole way up. I attempt to take a breath in and it feels like blades are cutting at my ribs.

Probably broken. I bend over and clutch my ribs.

"Fuuuck." I gasp out. M

"Broken ribs?" He asks.

I nod.

He sighs and bends down. He hooks one arm under my armpits and one under my knees, picking me up bridal style.

"I can walk."

"Mmhm." He hums while rolling his eyes. He walks out of the jet and my dad runs to us.

"Why are you carrying her? Is she hurt? How bad?" He berates Nikolai with questions.

"Dad I'm fine. Just broken ribs." He visibly relaxes as we head into the house.

"How'd it go?"

"Bad." We both say.

We explain that we were too late and there were too many men. And how we ended up alone in a warehouse.

"And you both fought your way out? Without dying?"

We nod.

"Well damn."

He turns and heads back to work.

"Take her to the hospital wing. Get those ribs wrapped."

Nikolai looks down at me and I shake my head.

"Get me some tequila and some ace bandages."

Amusement flashes across his face. He sets me down and I hobble up to my bedroom. Once I'm there, I take out my earpiece, take my vest off, and sit on the bed. I start to take my shirt off, but the pain is too bad. I wince and put my arms back down. I look up and see Nikolai watching.

"Are you just going to stand there?" I snap. "No one likes a watcher."

"I could watch you all day, sweetheart." His voice is low and suggestive. It send butterflies through my body.

"I'll bet you could."

He smirks and hands me the bottle of tequila. I take a long drink and offer it to him. He shrugs and follows suit.

"Is it okay if I help you?"

"Yeah."

"Arms up then, gorgeous."

I roll my eyes at the nickname, but my face heats up nonetheless.

I carefully lift my arms up and he slips his fingers under the hem. His rough fingers drag up my body and I shiver. He pulls it off and we both look at my ribs. There's a massive purple bruise covering most of it.

"How did that happen?" He asks.

"Some asshole kicked me a few times while I was distracted. Steel toe boots. He's dead now."

He chuckles.

"Atta girl."

He goes to wrap my ribs but I stop him.

"Actually, I wanna go in the hot tub first."

He puts the bandages down and goes to walk out.

"Meet me there?"

He freezes and turns back around, a cocky smirk on his face.

"Careful, I might think you like me."

I roll my eyes. Fuck me.

"Or, I was trying to be nice for once asshat."

He laughs. It's a beautiful, beautiful sound.

"Okay. I'll be there."

I nod and he leaves. I put on a swimsuit and am suddenly extremely self conscious. I'm bruised and covered in scars. The one on my hip is the worst. Jagged lines form initials. GM. Gonzo Marchetti. The Italians wanted to 'mark' their new territory.

Assholes.

I've never been self conscious so I'm not starting now.

I walk out to the tub and notice Nikolai already in. His eyes scan my body and land on the scar. I quickly cover it and slip into the water.

"Where did you get that." His voice is sharp and his jaw is tight.

"None of your fucking business."

Who died and made him king?

He quickly moves over to me. He lifts me from the water and plops me on the concrete. His eyes train on my hip.

"Excuse me? What the hell is wrong with you?"

He runs his finger over it.

His face is unreadable. He promptly gets out of the tub and stalks inside.

"Good talk!" I yell after him.

I roll my eyes and sink back in the tub. Men are so moody.

Nikolai POV

Why the fuck do we have matching scars.