Free Phoenix by Cecilia London Page B

didn’t know why she’d been expecting him to say anything else. Caroline felt rotten enough for not even thinking about it – about them – until now. Further proof of how much of a shitty parent she truly was. “I know they didn’t make it,” she said, trying to clear her head. It didn’t work. She stared down at the table, her eyes burning.
    Caroline let out a small cry and reached for the scarf and stuffed animal. She didn’t care what shape they were in. She had to touch them.
    Murdock pulled them back. “Oh, we can’t have that. No touchy. You just get to look.”
    “No,” she said. “No! Give them to me!” She threw herself on the table, trying to get to the scarf and the plush toy. Powell and Fischer yanked her down roughly on the metal chair, but she pushed away from them, continuing to try and claw her way across the table, stretching toward the items.
    “Those are mine! They belong to me!” Caroline’s screams echoed through the room as the men dragged her back to the chair.
    Fischer pulled his gun out and put it to her head. “Don’t move.”
    Murdock pulled the scarf up by its edge, and the animal by its tail. “Disgusting, really. I should probably be wearing gloves. So much blood. I don’t want to get any diseases.” He tossed them back on the table, stepping back with a triumphant look on his face. “I’m sorry, Gerard. Did those mean something to you?”
    She was going to lose it. She’d tried so hard to hold on as tight as she could and she had to let go. She had to get out of there before she completely fell apart. Caroline shoved her chair back, the sound of metal against tile screeching in her ears. She looked up at the men across the table, who were all watching her. Jack had started talking again and she hadn’t bothered listening. Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered. She didn’t care about the repercussions if she missed the rest of the orientation. Hopefully the apartment she’d been issued was hers to keep, because she needed to be alone. For a very, very long time.
    She could build up that wall. Build a goddamn fortress. Of stone and mortar, not metal and glass. Thick. Impenetrable. Indestructible. Designed so that sad and happy thoughts were no longer allowed inside. Meant to keep everyone and everything at bay. And she was going to start doing it right fucking now.
    “I’m sorry,” she said, wishing her voice didn’t sound so weak. “Please excuse me.”
    She set her eyes toward the floor and scurried out the door.
    *              *              *              *              *
    Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.
    Jack resisted the urge to pound his fist on the table. Caroline had practically left a trail of dust behind her, she’d scooted out of that room so fast. Well, that guaranteed an end to whatever bullshit orientation session he’d planned. It didn’t matter. He needed to go after her to make sure she was okay.
    She’d snapped at him again. He hoped a night of rest would set her right, but it hadn’t. They’d all but had a giant blowup in front of the other men. She’d never aired their dirty laundry in front of others before. What had changed?
    She hates your guts. That’s what.
    He hadn’t wanted to have the discussion he dreaded in front of them and had purposely left the topic untouched during their argument the night before. One more thing that didn’t need to be rehashed. One more thing he tried to forget. And dammit, now his wife was God knew where doing God knew what with her questionable emotional state.
    He cursed under his breath. He should have found a way to change the subject. To keep her from having to hear that in a crowded room. It hadn’t been necessary. Caroline’s four compatriots were all glancing at each other. Gabe started to get up but Gig cleared his throat and put his hand on the other man’s shoulder, bringing his gaze briefly to Jack’s. An out. A signal. A clear message for