I don’t mention it’s Phoenix’s mom because I don’t know how much Rex and Jason know, and it’s not my place to tell them. His eyes seem to say he’s sorry, but is he sorry because he got caught or because he really feels remorse?
I glance over my shoulder at Rex. “Can you take his gag off?” Rex hesitates for a moment before doing what I asked. When the gag comes off, Dr. Chamberland begins to sob.
“McKenzie, please forgive me. Please!”
Phoenix snorts from where he’s standing between the two chairs. “Why should she forgive you?”
Dr. Chamberland’s eyes shift to Nix. “I told you where she was. I helped you find her.”
My heart beats heavy in my chest and before I can blink, Nix is standing in front of Dr. Chamberland with his hand around his throat. He squeezes so hard I know it’s cutting off the doctor’s air supply.
“It was you? You sent me her rings?”
Dr. Chamberland begins to thrash, his eyes bugging so hard it’s almost fascinating when a blood vessel bursts in his eye and a bright red spot appears at the edge of his eye. I place my hand on Nix’s shoulder. “Don’t kill him yet, Nix.” Nix holds on for a few more seconds and I wonder if he’ll actually let him go, but he finally does.
Dr. Chamberland takes in huge breaths, a bruise already forming on his throat where Nix held him with all his might. Surprisingly, Bill has stayed quiet during this entire exchange. Maybe because he’s in so much pain, he doesn’t care, or he knows it’s in his best interest to keep his mouth shut right now.
Nix turns and looks at Rex. “I need a drink.” Rex nods once and walks toward the other room where the small bar is. He turns to me before he opens the door.
“Do you need anything, Miss Kenzie?”
My throat is dry, and I never got to finish the rum and coke Nix poured me earlier. “Water and the rum and coke Nix made me earlier.” Rex nods and walks into the other room. I lift my hand to push my hair out of my face, my hand shaking slightly. Nix appears in front of me, blocking my view of the two men.
“Kenz, if you need to stop it’s okay.” I smile at him.
“I love how you have always looked out for me. How you’ve always protected me. Even when I didn’t realize that’s what you were doing.” I lean up on my toes and kiss him softly on the lips. “I’m okay Nix. Yes, this is a lot. But these men have taken so much from so many women, not just me. I want them to pay, and I’m going to help.”
My voice leaves no room for argument. He nods once and kisses me on the forehead. Rex enters the room with our drinks plus a few bottles of water. Nix walks over to him to grab both our drinks, and he hands me mine. I take a sip of it, relishing the coldness in my hot, dry mouth. Nix downs his in one gulp and places it back on the tray Rex brought them in.
Nix turns and faces the men, rubbing his hands together again. “Let’s get this party started, shall we?”
Chapter 29
Phoenix
Iturn and look at the two men while the alcohol warms my veins slightly. The amount of respect I had for Dr. Chamberland completely vanished. All the times I admitted to him how worried I was about McKenzie and the whole time he knew where she was.
“Phoenix, I’m sorry,” he whispers. Tears and snot dripping down his face.
I lean over him again. “I don’t want to hear it, doc. You knew. You fucking knew I was going out of my mind and you lied to my face.” The blood in my veins begins to bubble from rage. I want to skin him and make him feel every bit of pain I felt for those months she was missing.
“I know,” he croaks. “I know I deserve what you’re going to do to me. But I loved her. I would have done anything for her.”
I stand to my full height. “My mother?” I shake my head and Bill snorts. “It looks like she’s deceived all of us. She used you.”
The truth shines in his eyes. “I know,” he murmurs again. “That’s why I finally told you where she was. I couldn’t do it anymore. I knew she was using me. I knew she didn’t love me. So, I finally told you where she was.” He sucks in a shaky breath.
I look at McKenzie. She has her hands covering her mouth as she listens to him. “Don’t feel sorry for him, love. He had a choice. I understand being crazy in love. Trust me. But not to the point that you’re hurting someone else.”
She looks at me. “I’d never ask you to do that.”
“Exactly.”
Understanding dawns in her eyes. She knows I wouldn’t do it if she asked, but she would never put me in that position to begin with. Dr. Chamberland should have known my mother didn’t love him. The more I learn about my mother, the more I loathe her.
The woman I’ve had up on a pedestal my entire life wasn’t just pushed off, she's been incinerated.
I turn my attention back to Dr. Chamberland. “What about Anna? If you felt so bad, why didn’t you do something about her?”
