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Chapter 46

Author: Holly S. Roberts
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
My money, or more accurately, Moon's, is gone two hours later. He hasn't sent another text and I'm finding it impossible to sit still. The ladies are taking bathroom breaks and stretching their long, shapely legs. It's a little after midnight and the women look the same as they did when they walked in the door-gorgeous, rested, and dressed to the nines. I'm grumpy, tired, and dressed to kick some ass that I seriously hope doesn't need kicking. Moon's ring tone startles me.

Heading home. Keep your eyes open.

His aunt is in the car with him, so I understand that he can't talk. I think about his message for a minute and decide if he thought trouble was imminent, he would be a little more forthcoming. He's being cautious and I'll be the same. He gets another smiley face.

The women wander back into the room in ones and twos. They decide it's movie time, so we head to Moon's mini theater that's on the other side of the hallway. The teasing continues about me and Moon while I do my bes
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  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 47

    The movie ended about twenty minutes ago and we haven't decided on another. I'm standing in the hallway stretching my arms when the front door opens. Moon sees me and his long legs stride in my direction without stopping. "Hi, baby," he whispers in my ear as he hooks his arm around my shoulder and pulls me tightly against him. His eyes are dark and stormy. I'm thinking the meeting did not go as well as planned. I give him a tight squeeze and notice Danita's glare of death over his shoulder.Too.Damn.Bad.Moon is disheveled. His scruff is scruffier, his tie and jacket are off, and his shirt wrinkled. It might be two-thirty in the morning, but Moon always looks like he just walked out of a GQ cover shoot. This is a different man than the one I've grown accustomed to. Moon doesn't look or speak to anyone after he greets me. He keeps his arm wrapped tight and leads me upstairs and straight to his bedroom. I give a tiny wave goodbye to the ladies below who are watching us before we'

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 48

    There are so many things to discuss, but I'm too shaken to ask questions. I need time to absorb the revelation that I have fallen in love. I drift off to sleep with no solution to the equation ex-cop meets crime boss equals love. A slight noise beside my head wakes me. I open my eyes and see a blurry glass of orange juice. The side of the bed dips when Moon sits beside me. He's dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of ragged shorts that look like sweats that have been cut off above the knees.His gentle voice is hard for my foggy brain to comprehend. "I'd like you to take a run with me."A run? The man is crazy. "What time is it?" I ask groggily."Six."This means we've had two and a half hours of sleep. I have no idea why I smile. There's just something normal about this. My new normal, I guess. "You're fucking killing me, you know that, right?" His laughter slides over me. This is a normal I can live with."I won't be around today and we need to talk. I also need to work off some pent

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 49

    I take my personal phone from my pants pocket to check e-mail. I'm dressed in my normal BDUs with another loose T-shirt to cover my gun. The e-mails waiting are mostly junk with the exception of a possible client. The woman's name is Shirley and she references one of my first clients. I shoot back an answer asking when and where we can meet.The car approaches the Sunnyslope area, and I give Philip Terry's address. I also decide being driven around isn't all bad. I'm in the middle of a hot game of Tower Defense on my cell when a message slides across the top of the screen that I have incoming e-mail. It's my prospective client, and I reply that four o'clock works perfectly in my schedule today. We pull into Terry's parking lot, and I open my door as soon as Philip parks the car. He takes his chauffeuring services seriously because he hustles around and gives me a glare after he lifts his dark shades.I shrug and walk to the door, which Philip beats me to and opens before I can. "You

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 50

    "That's a joke, right?" Philip asks."No. It's not a fucking joke. I can't think of any better way to get food poisoning and ruin a perfectly bad day than to have a mega-burrito from Manabertos." I swear if Philip doesn't pull in, I'm jumping out.He swings the car into the parking lot and I tell him to go around to the drive-thru. "I heard a rumor that all the cats go missing in this neighborhood.""I heard the same rumor about dogs," I deadpan back.He pulls up to the window. "And you're still eating one of those things?""You plan on stopping me?"He orders a mega-burrito and two large sodas. "Be sure to get lots of napkins," I tell him because the burritos leak out a gallon of runny fat and God knows what else.Philip thrums his fingers on the steering wheel. "We're not eating in the car. We can go to the park or something. I'll never get the smell out if you open the bag in here.""Do I need to remind you that it's over one ten out there?"He turns, lifts his sunglasses

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 51

    I have Philip take me by a convenience store so I can wash my hands and grab some mints. I don't need to run off my client with Manabertos breath. The address is on the west side of town, so we head in that direction. Philip hasn't said anything more about his work for Moon and I haven't asked additional questions. I have a lot of guilt over Harry Dandridge. Philip adds another perspective, which helps.The house we're looking for is in an upper-class neighborhood in an orange tree grove. All the houses have orange trees and all the houses are Navajo white with red tiled roofs. They aren't as close together as most communities, thus the upper-class appearance and feel."You're staying in the car," I tell Philip."No can do," he replies. "Tell your client I'm your sidekick.""Why? Because the little woman needs a big man to take care of business?"He gives a loud, "Ha," before telling me, "One of the best cops I ever worked with was a woman. She had an uncanny knack for ferreting o

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 52

    Once more I'm jerked up by my hair, this time adding pressure beneath my elbow until I'm standing. My teeth chatter, which I'm guessing is because I've gone into shock. I'm brought out of it quickly when Kennedy cruelly twists one of my nipples.This isn't happening. I think of Moon. His voice. His smile. His laugh. I ignore what Kennedy is doing as he twists the other one. He doesn't take it any further than that. He thankfully wraps a towel around me and dries me off with quick proficiency. There's a knock at the door and a set of yellow scrubs are thrust into Kennedy's hand when he opens it."I'll cut the tape from your arms and legs. If you fight, you can go out there naked. Do you understand?"I lower my head and play the subdued little girl. "Yes," I mumble as I seethe.He cuts the tape from my ankles first. It's really hard not to kick him in the face while he's down and pulling off the tape. I bide my time swearing to kill him if given the opportunity. He stands, turns me aroun

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 53

    I have no idea how much time goes by. I'm caught in a world of death. Estephon's voice finally breaks into my thoughts."Señor Moon. How do you like my film? Your lovely lady enjoyed it, no? She will die next. This will make a good addition to my collection, no?" His voice has been repulsively pleasant to this point. Now it hardens and he bites out commands. "You have two choices on how your puta dies. You will deliver the money within the hour to the address I sent earlier. You and your men will leave the state tonight. The next video will be of your lovely senorita. I will have her cleaned up so she looks nice for the party, no? You choose how she dies. That is all I will give you-a bullet or the knife. And because I am a generous man, you may say goodbye."The phone is thrust against my ear. I take a breath and control myself. "Moon..." I'm trying not to hyperventilate.The sweet sound of his voice flows through me. "I love you, baby. I'm sorry."He's not coming for me. "I love you,

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 54: Seven months later

    We're driving up to a mountain cabin that Moon purchased near Flagstaff. It's our getaway, and we both need a break for a few days. Gomez isn't with us and I get to play Moon's bodyguard. Gomez doesn't like that much, but we don't care. He's left in charge of the main house.I'm now a working member of Moon's organization. The lines I've crossed can never be undone. I've accepted that. I have never regretted killing Kennedy. Bodies have a way of disappearing in Arizona. His is only one of many, including Estephon's.Philip was buried in Mexico in the village where Maria, Moon's mother, grew up. A Catholic priest presided. Al burned in an airplane accident, and his body was buried at a private funeral that I wasn't invited to. I have no idea how Moon pulled off a plane crash with the pilot and Al dead. I never asked. Maybe he has someone on the payroll inside the NTSB. Like the identity of undercover cops-it's need to know and I'm good with that.I'm no longer an active PI. Terry calls

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  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 302: Madison

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  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 301: Moon

    Part of my heart-stopping fury recedes when I pull Madison back into my arms. Her entire body is shaking and she's still clutching the knife I handed her. Alex takes it from her hand after I scoop her into my arms and cradle her against my chest. I breathe in the scent of her hair and try to gain more control.This woman is everything. She's the reason I wake up in the morning. Everything I hold dear is wrapped up in her. Cori meets my eyes and she tips her head in acknowledgement. When she turns away, Duke is standing behind her. He pulls her into his arms and walks her toward the front room. He stops when Goose is dragged closer by one of Dax's men and places himself between Cori and Duke. Duke casually pulls his gun and fires, striking him between the eyes. Goose blankly stares at the ceiling by the time the sound of the gunshot fades from the room. Cori spits on Goose's body before Duke leads her forward. Alex gives orders to clean up the bloody mess."Please take me home," Madison

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 300: Madison

    She steps forward and Fernandez spins and tries throwing a punch at my head but misses. He moves quickly even with a bullet through the foot and gets between Cori and Sofia's rifle. Melina takes the opportunity to bring her gun down on the back of his head. He stumbles and I kick the tibial pressure point in his good leg. He drops and I kick Celina's gun away from him. She grabs it and aims it at him as he wiggles around like a flopping fish. I hand Melina my gun and slam down into his back with my cuffs primed. I practically pull his arms from their sockets in order to secure his hands behind his back while he's stunned."Help me get him up on the kitchen island and I'll cut off his fucking clothes." We drag him back to the kitchen minus Celina who stays at her post, which is the front door. He struggles but it's not enough for four women on a mission.The sick feeling in my stomach stays and I turn slightly and rub tears from my eyes. Not a minute has gone by that I haven't thought a

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 299: Madison

    We park a half mile from the home. Melina and I run up the street, carrying the post driver between us because it's so damn heavy, and check out the property. Like the house he kept me and Cori in, this one is away from other homes and on a nice sized piece of property. The desert foliage on the north side of the area gives us a good vantage point to see the back door. I call Celina."Send Cori north to our location. The front door is on the south side of the house and you'll have about twenty-five yards from the truck to the door. Sofia will be your driver and leave as soon as you're inside. She'll park and meet us. We'll come through the back five minutes after you enter." We covered all of this in the car, but it helps me to go over the plan out loud again. "Give Cori ten minutes to get in place before Sofia drops you off.""Cori just took off. We're set," Celina says before ending the call.After Cori meets us, we stay low and wait for Sofia to text me that Celina is in the house.

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 298: Moon

    Alex brings the car to the front. Austin jumps into the back and I take the passenger seat. I told the men to put Gabriella in our safe room until everything settles. She can cuss them out in Spanish, I don't have time. Sirens can be heard in the distance and we need to be completely clear of the house before they hit the street that leads to my private road.I've also notified additional men to meet us at the warehouse. As soon as we have Fernandez's location, we'll be moving out quickly. It suddenly occurs to me that Dax is totally out of the loop, so I dial his cell."You're fucking kidding me," he practically yells when I tell him his wife ran over a man and picked up the women. "I'm on my way." Another call comes in and I look at the display. It's Caleb."Start heading here with reinforcements," I tell Dax quickly. "I'll call as soon as we have a location. It won't be long."The man in the trunk is moaning loudly. There are metal plates over the taillights and nothing he can do to

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 297: Moon

    Madison is up to something. The strange feeling persisted while she dressed and then at breakfast. Sending her off to the service without me was nearly impossible. The fact is, I need to get my head out of my ass and take care of Fernandez once and for all. The thought of him taking Madison again is eating me alive.While she's at EE, I can focus on what it takes to keep everyone safe. The Frontera Cartel is out of the picture and now we can focus on one man. I have everyone but our outside security in the conference room. Austin joins us too."How do we bring him out in the open without risking one of our women as bait?" I ask the men. It didn't matter how much Madison complained, there was no way I would give into her plan.I've never reached my current level of frustration as we debate the best scenarios. Alex hasn't said a word since entering the meeting, which surprises me. When I look at him, his eyes are on the door leading to the hallway."What has you worried?" I ask him when

  • Hotter Than Hell   Chapter 296: Madison

    The women with Celina give whoops and atta-girl shouts. I can't help smiling. "We'll be another thirty minutes. There's a building supply store not far from you and I need you to pick up two metal fence post drivers." I never worked Cave Creek as a cop, but one of the officers lived there and loved having barbeques, so I'm familiar with the area."We're on it. Meet us in the parking lot."I disconnect the call and decide to join Cori in the front. I wiggle between the seats and then lean back and exhale after I attach my seatbelt. "I'm worried Moon could beat us there."Cori puts her foot on the gas and shoots forward on the freeway. The 51 is one of the lighter trafficked freeways if you're not driving it during rush hour and we're pushing the witching hour. It's the most direct route from central Phoenix to the north valley and we're in luck because it's wide open. If that luck continues, highway patrol won't have units in the vicinity.We make it to the building supply store in twen

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