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Everyone else jumps up, arguing amongst themselves. Even the girls are yelling along with the others. It seems everyone wants to come along.

I raise my voice to be heard. “This is settled. Let's go get this over with,” I tell them, presenting my back.

I take Malishka‘s hand to leave.

One hour until Maxim is dead. As long as we get those answers.

Tick-tock.

Phoenyxx

My heart pounds in time with each step I take. I feel mostly confident, but there is still some uncertainty there.

I trust Ghost with my life; he won’t let any harm come to me. There's a tiny bit of fear, though. My PTSD seems to always rear it’s head.

Ghost and I go back in; the others parking themselves outside the door. Ghost is holding a zip-tie Jax gave him.

Maxim turns red in anger. “Wait a minute... I'm supposed to be unshackled!”

“You will be, but your hands will be tied,” I respond flatly.

Ghost moves to him and slips Maxim’s hands out of the chains, then slaps the zip-tie on so fast, it’s clear he’s experienced.

Ghost reluctantly takes a couple of steps back, but stays close to me.

Maxim stumbles forward, almost falling in his haste to get to me.

I stand my ground, refusing to be intimidated or show any weakness. Maxim lifts his tied arms to try and touch my face.

“No, you motherfucking don’t.” I dance away easily.

“You get nothing if I don’t get one last kiss, for a goodbye,” Maxim insists.

Ghost makes a sound of rage behind me.

I laugh hard. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am quite serious. I won’t say one word unless you give that to me,” Maxim says smugly.

I rush forward, grabbing him by his hair. “You do not make the orders, you piece of shit,” I growl, shoving my other hand down to wrap around his balls. I squeeze as hard as I can.

Maxim yelps but keeps his mouth closed otherwise.

I turn back to Ghost, who’s shaking his head emphatically.

Determined to get the answers we seek, I press forward to plant my lips on Maxim’s. He tries to pry my mouth open with his tongue, but I promptly bite down on it, tasting blood. I spit it back in his face.

“You’ve got less than one hour. Better make it count,” I curl my lip with distaste.

Maxim sighs heavily. “I can see that this is a fruitless mission. You won’t touch me willingly, or give me any kind of chance. I don’t see a point in dragging it out.” He pauses, collecting his thoughts. “Let me say this: I am madly in love with you, Little Bird. I'm prepared to prove that by giving my life for you.”

“You are not a martyr. You do not get to act like one!” Ghost shouts, coming up next to me.

Maxim sits down on the floor. “Ask away.”

Ghost fumbles with his phone, shooting a text to the others.

“Where is the exact location of The Camp?” I ask first.