Phoenix

PHOENIX PIPER STONE CONTENTS Terms Used Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Epilogue Afterword Books of the Montana Bad Boys Series Books of the Eagle Force Series Books of the Kings of Corruption Series Books of the Sinners and Saints Series Books of the Benedetti Empire Series Books of the Merciless Kings Series Books of the Mafia Masters Series Books of the Edge of Darkness Series Books of the Dark Overture Series Books of the Club Darkness Series More Mafia and Billionaire Romances by Piper Stone Books of the Dangerous Business Series Books of the Alpha Dynasty Series Books of the Alpha Beasts Series More Stormy Night Books by Piper Stone About Piper Stone Copyright © 2023 by Stormy Night Publications and Piper Stone All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Published by Stormy Night Publications and Design, LLC. www.StormyNightPublications.com Stone, Piper Phoenix Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson Images by VJ Dunraven Productions, iStock/vuk8691, and iStock/DNY59 This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. TERMS USED Burnout—Fires set to burn areas between control lines and the main fire Crown Fire—A fire burning hot enough to continuously spread through the tops of trees Firebrands—Large embers or chunks of burning, airborne material Fire Devil—Whirlwind of fire Firestorm—A mass conflagration of fire, a blowup Fusee—Railroad flare use to light burnouts and backfires Helitorch—A firing device on a helicopter that is capable of starting a fire Jump Ship—Smokejumper aircraft Mud—Aerial fire retardant dropped by aircraft Zullies—Missoula smokejumpers PROLOGUE Brothers in arms. Bad boys, cowboys, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. We’d been labeled delinquents, incapable of redemption. And we’d gone our separate ways. Heroes. Monsters. Sinners and saints. Above all we were men honoring our country even while a terrible secret loomed just below the surface. There were those who would never forget, praying we’d never return. Others would stop at nothing to prevent us from doing so. We were intent on finding salvation by protecting those we loved. But demons from a single act would never allow us to forget. Six men determined to right the wrongs from our past. Six men prepared to do what it took. No matter the cost. Together in life. Together in death. CHAPTER 1 Phoenix “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Maverick’s voice was muffled, the sound lost completely as an explosion of fire erupted in the forest. “We’re surrounded on all sides!” Gage yelled from behind. Fuck my life. I stood staring at the fire as wind carried embers high over the thick canopy of trees. I’d always been mesmerized by fire, the beautiful blue hue mesmerizing. Even now, the heat oppressive, I couldn’t break away from the intensity of sensations rocketing through me. “Riggs. We have to get the hell out of here.” Houston snapped as he flanked my side, holding his arm over his face as the thick, acrid smoke rolled in billowing clouds. When I said nothing, he grabbed my arm, trying to lure me away. “No fucking way.” I jerked from his hold, anger burrowing deep inside. “No one will be left on this mountain. Do you fucking hear me?” I lunged forward through the wall of flames, a furnace blast of heat stealing my breath. After jumping over several fallen limbs, I glanced up at the canopy of trees as the fire exploded all around us. How the fuck had this happened? There was no sense calling out, the bellow of my voice unable to filter through the raging fire. Already disoriented, I turned in a full circle, struggling to concentrate. Where the hell did you go? Why? Why had this happened? I heard another sound behind me and ducked seconds before another limb fell from thirty feet above. I jerked to the right, but it wasn’t fast enough, the limb crashing down on me. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Scrambling, I crawled away, slapping my smoldering jeans. When I noticed a figure just ahead, I bolted forward, tackling Colt to the ground. “Jesus. We’re can’t get through this,” he yelled, panting as I rolled him over, dousing the flames as he kicked out, almost frantic. “Stop. Breathe. I got you,” I told him, pitching him over one last time. “This is crazy. We can’t do this,” Colt moaned. “Yeah, we can.” I was no longer so certain. Ricardo appeared from the shadows, struggling to move forward. Wheezing, he dropped to his knees. “I can’t… I tried… No. Use.” I was frozen for a few seconds, agony tearing through me. “We have to. I can’t. I won’t.” “Fuck, no. Get out of here. I’m not coming back until Belle is found. Do you fucking hear me?” Before I had a chance to head deeper into the forest, Maverick tackled me from behind. “No! We’re not losing you too. We’re getting the fuck out of here.” “No. No…” Gasping, a crackling sound dragged my attention. I blinked furiously, shoving the horrible memory aside. I couldn’t do this. Not now. Not here. Fuck. Fuck… Get your head out of your ass, Riggs Wentworth. That’s what my father would say. Shaking, I allowed anger to sweep through me as wild as the fire raging in the distance. Fuck the images. Fuck the past. Fuck everything. The anger burned deep inside, my muscles aching from tension and self-hatred. I hoisted the ax, slamming it against the fallen limbs. Then again. And again. I moved from one broken limb to another, the remnants tumbling in the wide ditch we’d created. Still, there was no relief from the pain, an anguish