Phoenix's Revenge

36.

Phoenix POV

Things are...weird.

Nikolai and I go on the best we know how, but neither of us are good with words or emotions, so a lot goes unsaid.

We're tasked with the reparations of the organizations. The Americans lost my parents and the Russians lost Mr. Petrov. All of us are scrambling to regroup before the Italians, but it'll be a long time and retaliation is no doubt still on the forefront of their minds.

Calen has the respect of the men in both camps so he's been training everyone. It's interesting seeing how everyone mixes.

There were lots of fights in the beginning, as to be expected, but they eventually found a common ground.

The idea is to rebuild as one unit, that way we're not both fighting a war.

"Move it, girl." A large brute of a Russian man says as he shoves past me.

I whip around and grab his arm before I twist it and pin it behind his back, slamming him against the wall. Some of the men are still stuck in their misogynistic ways.

That's fine. I can teach them.

The man grunts in pain as he tries to free himself.

"If you ask me nicely, I might let you walk without a broken arm. Can you ask me nicely, big guy?" I whisper in his ear

"Fuck you." He spits.

I twist harder and he yells in pain.

"Ah! Fuck okay, please. Please I'm sorry." He starts.

I grin to myself at his pathetic display of submissiveness.

"I'll admit, that's better, but—" I twist his arm until I hear the satisfying snap, "I don't ask twice and I don't give second chances. Let's think about that next time, yeah?"

The man screams and writhes in pain as I let his arm go.

"Y-yes ma'am. Sorry ma'am." He dips his head and scurries off, his arm clutched ti his chest.

I regather myself and head to Nikolai's office, he'll need to know about this. I bound up the stairs and knock on the door.

"Nikolai, baby it's me. Can I come in?"

No answer. Fuck.

He's been faking being okay, but the cages really fucked him up. I open the door and see him crouched by the window, his head in his hands as he rocks back and forth on his haunches.

"Oh, baby. Come here."

I turn and lock the door behind me before reaching him. I get behind him and warp my arms around his frame before leaning him into my lap. His body fights against my touch for a moment before he lets himself relax into me. His breathing comes out in spurts and heaves as he tries to calm himself. I bring my lips to his ear.

"Name five things you can see, Nikolai."

His brows furrowed for a moment before his eyes flick open and he looks around the room.

"Desk, window, chair, computer, you."

"Good. That's really good. Okay, four things you can hear."

"AC, people walking, cooking downstairs, your voice."

I drag my fingers through his hair and his eyes close in appreciation.

"Three things you can touch."

"The floor, the window," his breathing comes out easier now and he flips us so that I'm straddling him and his back leans against the window.

"You." His hands come up to my thighs and I rest my forehead against his.

"Two things you can smell."

"Tommy's awful cooking, your perfume."

"One thing you can taste."

His eyes find mine and a smirk crawls across his handsome face. He presses his lips to mine and our worlds quiet down. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer. Our lips glide against each other before he pulls away.

"Everything always seems to end with you, my love." He whispers.

I grin and bite my lip. His thumb comes up to it and gently pulls it out of my teeth.

"I love you, Nikolai."

"I love you most."

"You have to talk to me about these things, baby. We can't do this alone."

"I know. I'll talk I promise."

I nod my head and we both get up.

"Oh, yeah one small thing."

He looks at me with an arched brow that sends butterflies through my stomach.

"I broke a man's arm like 15 minutes ago."

He chuckles at the floor before looking up.

"Did he deserve it?"

I grin and nod my head.

"Alright then. Sounds like he's an idiot."

He walks to me and grabs my hand before leading me out the door.

"Let's go get these fuckers in order."

I stare forward with a newfound determination and purpose. His hand in mine has never felt more secure than it has in this moment. We both have a long road ahead of us, but we'll get there. I know we will.

We have to.

For them.

The end y'all!

Sorry for such a long wait. I started a new book called Fallen Angel! Go check it out!