Phoenix

Chapter 27

Sergio

Phoenix's POV
That same day, we drove back to T.R.A.A.
As soon as we got there, I checked my phone for the first time in the last few days. It had been bombarded with messages from Ian, Destiny and Raven along with some other friends of Essence's. They were all extremely worried, and were either asking why they haven't seen either of us for the last few days, or asking about what knew information I got about Essence's whereabouts. I text Ian back, telling him to gather everyone at the main hall at 8, when everyone would be done with their courses.

My father had left my mother and I in charge of the case, as he had an academy to run and meetings to attend to. Anaïs had to be left with someone trust worthy and who would keep an eye on her. After agreeing it'd be better to leave her with a female, my father gave Raven and Destiny the day off so they could babysit her.
She seemed to warm up to them quickly, seeing as as soon as I walked into the room, she immediately shot out her hands towards Raven and tugged at her purple streaks.
Raven turned out to love babies, as she gladly accepted her as Destiny made a face of adoration staring at the two.

We were currently going down the stairs to the underground "dungeon" beneath the office building. Down there it seemed to be yet another office floor, where people went about their work, when in reality it was actually a room full of trained security guards who patrol the secret entrance to the cells. I walk past rows of office tables to the far back, where a random door stood, my mother trailing close behind, nodding at the familiar faces in greeting.

I open that door only to find a janitors closet.
We both enter and I close the door, pushing aside the brooms and cleaning supplies on the shelves. In the corner of the forth shelf from the bottom, I push in one of the bricks, and the wall tilts open. We make our way down another set of stairs and down the hall to the last room there, passing cells where sat people who dared cross us. In there Paul, the guard who brought Grayson down here, already waited for us.

Behind the glass window I saw Grayson seated with his hands cuffed behind his back to the chair, but he couldn't see us. He had his head down, muttering something to himself but I couldn't make it out through the audio. Instead, the clamor of the cuffs against the back of the chair was heard every now and then, as the aggravated spy twitched with frustration.

I had insisted to go in there alone, but both my parents and Paul said it wouldn't be a good idea as I wasn't in "tHe RiGhT sTatE oF MiND". They also said my mother could most probably either trick or pry the information out of him, using her identity as an excuse to find out all we need to know.

No phone call has been made yet. I was growing impatient by the second.

As Paul turns on the surveillance camera in the room, we walk in.
Grayson raises his head and glares at me, his eyes full of rage, before his expression morphs into a smug one and he snickers. He then turns to my mother and his eyes widen, recognition sparkling in them and his face turns into a curious one. I glance at my mother, who shared the same facial expression, scrutinizing the boy before her.

We take a seat on the other side of the table and remain silent for a few minutes.

_ "You gonna speak or are we gonna have a fucking tea party?" Spits Grayson. With the anger accumulated in me, it didn't take much to tick me off.

Slamming my fists against the wood, I get up and lean over the table, taking the rat by its collar.

_ "LISTEN HERE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" I roar.

_ "Phoenix!" My mother's stern voice follows mine and I immediately sit back.
"What relations do you have to the Italian Mafia?" Was her first question.