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CHAPTER 45
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 46
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 best to k
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’re hi
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 up
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 a
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, and give
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 51
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 arou
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 52
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 53
Seven months laterWe’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 act
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Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 333: Extra Scene
I rolled over and yawned, my arms coming from beneath the soft white cotton of the bedding and bumped the hard body next to me. Moon’s hand went into my hair and he moved his leg between mine and something very hard hit my belly making me smile. The smile lasted a few seconds before I covered my hand and jumped from the bed trying to get to the toilet before I lost the contents of my stomach. Yep, that was sexy. This time the hand in my hair pulled it back away from my face while I heaved my guts. He didn’t say anything and just waited for me to finish. It was horrible and at the same time endearing because I loved him so much. I stood and leaned back against his body. “Crawl back into bed and I’ll grab tea and crackers,” Moon said gently. I wanted to bitch and moan about the morning sickness but held it in. When I had my shoulder injury that took me from my career as a cop, I had a small amount of control. I could do my physical therapy and ice as needed and it worked. There was
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 332
Duke The wedding night was at the cabin and our honeymoon at the property. We had a week to ourselves. Cori laughed when I carried her over the threshold and straight to my bed. “Do not touch that dress,” I typed into my phone before checking the house was secure and I could fuck my wife for the first time. Her laughter followed me. When I walked back into the room, she was waiting exactly where I left her, smart woman. She opened her legs wide, the stilettos going to either side of the bed. A bit of red showed. The dress was fucking perfect. I crawled between her legs and pushed the yards of black lace up higher in the bed and snagged the red G-string with a finger. The garter wasn’t in my way. Cori sat up suddenly and stopped my exploration. “You spoke your vows.” I smiled even though my dick throbbed. “Thank you,” she added and lay back. I planned to fuck her until she couldn’t walk or talk. I didn’t remove the red nothing lace. I lazily fingered her, then took a long, slo
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 331
CoriIf I weren’t lying down, I would have fallen. Of all the things she could say, it was the last I expected and I couldn’t hide my shock.“No, I’m not pregnant yet but we’ve decided to try. We’re leaving and starting a family. Alex and Celina are taking over Moon’s operation.” She turned to Celina. “I’ll call it Alex’s operation eventually.”“Are you sure?” I asked softly.I was having trouble processing.“I’m absolutely positive. I thought I never wanted children but when Moon brought it up, I knew I was wrong. I want Moon’s babies.”“As in multiple?” I asked in horror.Children wasn’t something I ever wanted. I was not a rug rat fan and could tolerate Sofia’s rug rats for a limited time only. I thought Mak and I were on the same page.“We’ll decide if we want another after the first.”“Congratulations,” I offered, my voice uncertain.Melina started laughing.“You’re taking it how I did. The last thing needed in this world is a mini Austin.”I could most definitely second that.“O
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 330
CoriLife slowly returned to normal, though my new normal was much different than the old one. Things changed more after the cast came off and Duke could ride again. That’s when I became a true biker bitch.I blinged the shit out of my newly purchased black wardrobe and made that shit look good. I had standing orders from the other old ladies too. The club whores and I had a talk and we seemed to be on good terms. My end of that conversation was short.“Keep your hands off my man and we won’t have a problem. Touch him, even when I’m not around, and you’ll lose a fucking nipple, we clear?”They were fine with it. I understood their world. Respect was key. I had no problem with their choices as long as they respected me and my man.Dax’s club was a community of misfits and I fit in like I never thought I could. They didn’t care that I arrived in five-inch stilettos, looking like I was heading to a ritzy club. They accepted me as Duke’s old lady.Duke spoke to Dax and arranged a week off
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 329
Cori“How is Mr. Grumpy today?” Mak asked. She had her overprotective Pitbull at her side. I hadn’t seen Two-dogs since I arrived with Duke. I contained myself to the kitchen and Duke’s room. Two-dogs stayed out of Gabriella’s domain because the two of them stayed at war over what was permissible and what was not. I secretly thought Gabriella slipped the dog treats when no one watched but I had no way to prove it. I guess her new kindness made me think she was something other than Attila the Hun. I needed to watch those stupid fantasies.With assistance, Duke had made it downstairs for this morning’s physical therapy. He refused pain meds afterward and fell asleep exhausted. It gave me time to do something normal. I’d quietly left the room and gone to the outside patio to escape. The heat, even with the water misters, would make it too hot to stay for long but it was nice to be outside.I blinked at Mak who carried a towel. She took the lounge chair beside mine.“He’s sleeping. I’m es
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 328
DukeMy biggest problem was boredom. It almost went hand in hand with people poking and prodding constantly. I didn’t live at the clubhouse for a reason. If it weren’t for Cori, I would have found a way to escape Moon’s place the first day. Maybe. I was fooling myself. The ability to lift a spoon to my lips was pushing things.I remembered little about what happened at Wild Fur. Between blood loss and the damage to my stomach, I should have died in oblivion. Things were foggy since waking too. I remembered telling Cori I loved her. It just came out. I hadn’t practiced speaking in years. It was something I did when younger when no one was around. I never felt comfortable with the sound of my voice and eventually decided it wasn’t necessary. That was true until Cori. There were things she needed to hear. Cori hadn’t asked me to speak since it happened. I doubted she even understood what I’d said.My grandfather took me in when my dad went to prison for almost killing me. They were the b
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 327
CoriThe air in the room was soft if that were even a thing. There were four rows of chairs. There was a podium at the front. No crucified Jesus hung from the wall, only a large framed needlepoint with writing.“Enter in peace and leave your sorrow.”I sat in the front row and bowed my head. My prayer was to Jesus.“I’ve never asked for anything.”Tears gathered in my eyes and turned to sobs. I couldn’t go on and fell apart. So many thoughts tumbled through my head. I was the whore of Babylon. If there were a man who would hear me, it would be Jesus.“Please,” was all I managed the next time I tried.The quiet settled over me and I inhaled in and out slowly. Within a few minutes, I wiped my tears. The room, like Duke with his silence, gave me peace. It also gave me strength.I went back to ICU and held his hand again. He wouldn’t die because I wouldn’t let him. I spoke to him quietly and assured him all would be okay. I spoke of silly things. I had to keep the connection so he knew I
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 326
CoriIt took us more than three hours to get back to the city and another hour through rush-hour traffic to get to Wild Fur. Moon sent his men in first and stayed with me in the SUV. Alex and Austin were with the other women at his compound. Moon didn’t want them here. He’d also left a vehicle behind with four men on Duke’s property to dispose of the bodies.The men cleared inside the Wild Fur quickly. There were two female employees cleaning and handling inventory. The place didn’t open until eight at night. They weren’t harmed and they were assured they could leave after we found Duke. The men hadn’t located him when they cleared the building. Moon and I entered and were shown the entrance to the basement.A light had been turned on. It looked no better than the club upstairs. I saw a rat scurry along the wall. Moon found the hidden door within a few minutes. He pried it open and we entered the dark room.The smell of excrement and death hit us.Death.I couldn’t breathe.In the sha
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 325
CoriDuke never left my thoughts. If he was dead, so was I. My life changed that fast. We hadn’t known each other long and it didn’t matter. He was everything I wanted and most of all he was someone who loved me for who I was. I knew he loved me. He shared his silent world and refused to take advantage when he could have. From the time his arms wrapped around me in the car after my escape from Fernandez, we belonged together.My past didn’t matter to him because he lived in a world where endurance and hard work were part of life. Duke and the men like him respected survival.Moon brought more firepower than required and the guns we’d pulled from the cave weren’t exactly needed. I decided to stick with Duke’s weapons because he made sure I was familiar with them. A piece of him was with me.Our plan had been to ambush the vehicles a mile before the entrance to the property. Alex moved the attack to the house. I wasn’t worried about Cartwright’s men knowing the location. None would leav
