Heaven to Hell (A Naughty Box Production Book 1)

by Rue Volley

  My shoulders heaved as I sobbed; I’d held in the emotion for so long. Everything was coming to a head as the walls of my internal dam burst. Glancing at the positioning of the sun, I knew I was expected back in Ascension before the gates closed, but I wasn’t ready. Instead, I settled back against the fluffy surface of the cumulonimbus cloud and let my legs dangle over the edge as the sun’s warm rays hit my body, a pitiful attempt at medicating me.

  My breath hitched as I tried to calm down. Without looking, I knew a thick path of mascara had bled down my face, and my foundation had left a valley of color trailing to my chin. Even if I could just close my eyes for a few minutes to escape, it’d all be worthwhile. I wouldn’t have Eliza jumping down my throat about my decisions and kissing my ass…on everything. I wouldn’t have Sterling’s piercing stare devouring me as if I were a piece of meat. I wouldn’t have a terrifying hearing at the forefront of my mind. If I could just sleep!

  I reached down and ran my palms over the wisps of cloud, feeling the coolness as it sifted through my fingers like grains of sand on a moonlit beach. Closing my eyes, I thought back. Oh, how I missed sand along with so many elements from my previous life. Freedom spoke so loudly to me, and I knew it was what I craved most—like a drug. Everyone surrounding me was happy to be waiting in Ascension, anticipating the plunge to have their fate decided for them. Everyone except me.

  Plunge.

  Before I could realize what happened, I felt a hard jolt in the ribs as my eyes shot open. Instinctively, I flailed, grabbing for anything within reach, but there was nothing but a thin puffy layer beneath me. I reached upward, my hand connecting with the edge of the cloud. My fingers dug into the spongy material as my feet dangled, and I prayed it wouldn’t disappear into oblivion.

  I squealed and tried to focus, but my foremost concern was not falling to my death. Who was I kidding? I was already dead. Regardless of what was rational, fear rode through me like a herd of wild stallions.

  With the sun glinting behind him, I saw the darkened features of a man’s silhouette, but it was still enough to make out Sterling’s clenched, square jaw. His hazel eyes dotted with flecks of forest green were thin veils to the thundering hostility harbored behind them, and his lips were pursed in a thin, tight line.

  “Sterling!” I shrieked.

  “Listen up, you conniving little bitch.” He sneered. “I’ve had enough of your bullshit.”

  “What are you doing?” I screamed, knowing there was no one around to hear my pleas for help. It was my own fault for not returning to Ascension. My protection was gone.

  “You’ve made a mockery of me, and it’s going to stop. Right here. Right now.”

  Fear thrummed through me with the bitter taste of adrenaline tingling on my tongue. "What are you doing?" I asked through bared teeth, feeling my grip weakening. "Help me! Eliza! Anyone!"

  "Help you?” He snorted. “You've gone against everything in Ascension…in the empire I’ve been asked to help build. Every instruction? Every rule? You’ve obliterated them as if you’re some special exception.”

  “Exception?” I squeaked, one of my hands slipping as it broke free from the cloud. “Knock it off!”

  “Now, you’re truly going to be special,” he said with a wicked grin. “One of an elite group.”

  “No!” I screamed, watching him lift his foot, the sole of his shoe barreling toward me as it jammed against my knuckles. Hard. Even a spongy cloud wasn’t enough to soften the blow.

  Sterling stomped a second time, crushing his heel into my knuckles, my fingers shattering beneath the weight.

  Even in death, indescribable pain flooded me. Blinding stars exploded behind my eyes while instinct told me to let go, my fingers refusing to function.

  Deep down, I knew he was pissed off that I didn't act on his sexual advances. I could see vile revenge spelled out on his face as he ground his teeth. He could have any woman in Ascension he wanted, but he pined for the one he couldn’t have, and I was paying the ultimate price for his only failure.

  "You’ve said it yourself. You wanted to see what it's like,” he nodded toward the earth below, “down there these days. Consider this a gift. From me. To you.”

  "That wasn't what I meant, and you know it!” I swiped for his foot with my free hand, missing by eight inches.

  “Message must’ve been lost in translation.” He gave one final bone-crushing stomp against my hand before he pulled back. “I tried to give you everything.”

  Involuntarily, I retracted my fingers, the sensation of gravity taking over as I plummeted. The wind rushed against my body, the ability to breathe absent. Swiping at the air was useless, but I tried to scrabble for anything. In a sense, the feeling was liberating. Sterling had made the decision for me, and my previous words were coming back to bite me. He literally nudged me off the precipice. That feeling of freedom was quickly overshadowed by terror as I watched the world below zooming toward me.

  Mid-descent, I felt a flutter on my back as I remembered my only chance at a saving grace. I tore at the braided spaghetti straps of gold and white on my dress, feeling the buds of black wings below the strands of sheer material. They were tiny; however, they were also my only hope at survival.

  "C'mon!" I cried out as I tried to extend them away from my back, shutting my eyes as I willed them to cooperate. No luck.

  "Please!" I sobbed as I reached behind myself, trying to coax them away from my body. Pain seared through me as I pried and ripped at them, feathers tearing free. "Fucking come on!" I screamed as I saw the ground becoming impossibly close, vibrant greens, browns, and blues a blotchy blur. No one could endure that type of fall…unless you were already dead.

  With one final attempt, the wings complied, stretching, but in their undeveloped state they couldn't support my one hundred and twenty-two pound frame. However, I did feel them break, the bones crunching as they tried desperately to slow me down.

  The last thing I remembered was a body of glassy water glinting against the fading sunlight. As my flesh greeted the shimmering surface, it was like hitting an ice-cold, cement wall as I slapped against it. Hard.

  I was officially “a Fallen”.

  2

  Six Months Later—

  A sheen of sweat clung to me like a second skin while a cloud of lust and cigarette smoke permeated the air of the swanky club. The dance floor was crowded with bodies gyrating against one another to the beat of seductive music. Pounding. Pulsing. Sweaty. Friction. Bright lights flickered against the darkness, and it left the illusion of people dancing in short, choppy movements.

  Cade’s intense sapphire gaze locked with mine as the crotch of his faded, blue jeans greeted my thigh, each movement mimicking the heavy bass in the background. His hands slid around my waist, tugging my frame against him as I studied the flecks of caramel color in his irises.

  In the city, Cade Williams was the epitome of gorgeousness according to many women, and he was also untouchable. Ladies watched from across the room as he guided me around the floor, dominating each step. Muscles strained against the sleeves of his button-up shirt, the white linen making his tanned complexion appear even darker. Black stubble dotted his jawline as he licked his thick lips. That night, he only had eyes for me—the other untouchable in the room. In a sense, we were each other’s safety nets.

  I smiled and ran my fingers up my torso slowly, a sly smile spanning my face as he concentrated on my movements while I touched myself. Eyes were on us, but I didn’t care. For six months, Cade had been my sanctuary and my guardian angel. Considering the role I’d once played “upstairs”, it was ironic. I arched backward, my thick blonde dreadlocks falling away from where they rested against the bare flesh on my low back as the world turned upside-down for a moment.

  As one song ended and another began, Cade tugged my hand and righted my posture. “Want to get a drink?” He leaned toward my ear.

  “Yes! Please!” I shouted against the music.

  With a smile, he twirled
me once and lifted my hand so it rested on his shoulder as he led the way off the dance floor.

  The bar was packed with only one available stool.

  Cade gestured for me to sit down. I hopped up and rested my elbows on the glossy oak surface, finding myself still moving to the beat. We hadn’t been at the club long, but liquor already ruled my body, a tingling sensation affecting my legs and thoughts.

  “It’s about time.” A bartender swung a long, platinum blonde ponytail over his shoulder. “What’ll it be?”

  “Leg Spreader, Andy!” I shouted over the music.

  “Top shelf!” Cade added, running a hand through his long black hair. “Make it two…add pineapple juice.”

  I turned to Cade and shook my head no. “You know I can’t afford top shelf—”

  “Shhh.” Cade held a finger to my lips and winked. “It’s not everyday my best girl turns twenty-four.” He turned back to Andy and pointed to the upper shelf of alcohol on a mirrored wall behind him.

  Andy nodded as he snaked bottles of rum, tequila, and gin in a single movement. The redheaded woman next to me murmured about wanting to give Andy a tongue bath, and I snickered, knowing the truth.

  “Cade, I…”

  “Come on. We’re having fun,” he said with a wink. “Birthday girl, remember? At this rate, maybe you’ll get lucky tonight.”

  I playfully slugged him in the shoulder. “You wish.”

  He grinned. “You are smokin’ hot, but we both know safety nets never work out.”

  Andy set two drinks in front of us, his blue eyes staring at me. “This one’s on the house, baby.”

  I bit my lip at his generosity. “Andy, you don’t have to do—”

  His warm hand rested on top of mine as he rubbed the knuckles Sterling once shattered. “I don’t have to do anything. I want to.” His lips curled upward into a playful smile. “Besides, I didn’t get to hang out with you on your birthday. The least you can let me do is buy you a drink.”

  I’d known Andy for four months, and he was stubborn—just like me. We’d spent a lot of time together outside of the bar. In a sense, he was my male counterpart and one of my best friends.

  “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” I grabbed one of the martini glasses full of yellowish liquid and raised it toward my mouth.

  “Nope.” He popped the “p” sound before turning toward the next customer.

  Cade stopped me before clinking his glass against mine. “To my saving grace on her birthday and to spending many more together.”

  I felt a tinge of red spread across my cheeks, but it was short-lived as the feeling of being stared at sent an ice-cold shiver up my spine. Moment fizzled. From my peripheral vision, I glanced to the right. “Is that Rena?” Shit.

  Cade sighed as he looked at the table in the corner. “Sure is and Matteo’s with her.”

  I groaned and tipped my head toward the ceiling. “Why me?”

  “C’mon. Let’s get this over with.”

  I hesitated. By walking me across the room, he was about to present gasoline to fire. With my stomach full of dread, I hopped down off the bar stool with the drink clutched tight in my hand and reluctantly followed him over to a table where two people sat.

  “It took you long enough to notice I was here,” Rena said as she tossed tresses of charcoal-colored hair over her shoulder. She crossed her legs slowly, her leather skirt inching its way up her fishnet-covered thighs.

  Cade glanced at his watch. “I wasn’t aware I should look for you every time I went to Envy.”

  She crossed her arms and pursed glossy, pink lips that contrasted against her tan skin and her dark eyes. Her stare was menacing and it didn’t go unnoticed. “I’m not surprised. You two looked pretty cozy out there to me.”

  Cade set his drink down on a thin cardboard coaster. “It’s called ‘dancing’, Rena. What’s your problem tonight?”

  “Nothing.” She shook her head, clearly annoyed.

  “She’s just mad she hasn’t been laid in a month,” the man across the table downed a shot as a grimace crossed his round face, “except for that stick that’s been lodged up her ass since the day she was born.”

  Rena shot him a glare and placed her palms on the table. “Fuck you, Matteo.”

  “You two fucking is a visual I didn’t need.” Cade shuddered. “I’m going to the bathroom, Gen. Be right back.” He pointed at Rena and his nostrils flared. “Be nice.”

  Rena didn’t reply.

  “Yeah, well I need a refill.” Matteo looked down at his empty shot glass. “Want anything, Rena?”

  She shook her head no as she looked me over from head to toe, her expression unreadable, like a calm before a storm.

  “Can I talk to you for a second, Genesis?” Matteo slurred as he rubbed his oversized red nose, and I noticed it offset his tiny eyes.

  I took a deep breath as I watched Cade walk away. “Sure.”

  Matteo was quiet, and I still wasn’t sure how to read him. I’d only met him on a few occasions, and Cade said he kept to himself. Our conversations were superficial, and I assumed he didn't like me.

  I followed Matteo, Cade’s co-worker, as he stumbled his bulky frame a few feet away to a corner of the room where the music was slightly less intrusive. “What’s up?”

  “This.” In a single motion, he leaned forward and mashed his lips against mine, his tongue immediately jabbing for access to my mouth. The feel of his facial hair was painful against my face as Matteo wound his arms around me, pinning my frame against the wall like a vice. The bitter, pungent smell of cigarettes and whiskey filled my nose and I gagged. “God, you taste good.” He moaned as he ground his hips against me.

  I wrenched an arm away from his grip and reached back to slap him across the face as I fought to shove him away with my other hand. “What are you doing?”

  His dark eyes looked into mine as he gripped my wrist mid-blow. “It seems to work for Cade. I thought I’d see what the fuss was about.”

  “You don’t know a fucking thing about my relationship with Cade,” I seethed, my chest heaving as anxiety coursed through me.

  “I don’t need a relationship, baby.” His pudgy fingertips trailed down the side of my neck, edging dangerously close to my upper back as he traced over the tattoo on my shoulder. “I just want to fuck you.” He licked his lips. “What do you say about me pounding your pink pussy with my huge dick until you lose your voice from screaming? By then, you won’t remember Cade’s name, and you won’t walk straight for a week.”

  I froze as he neared my scars on my shoulder blades that I was so cautious to hide. No one can find out.

  “I can see it on your face. You’re thinking, which means you want it too.” Matteo smiled. “Let me know when you’re ready for me to fuck you real good.”

  So much for Matteo not liking me.

  “What’s going on over here? a familiar female voice asked.

  Hell.

  Suddenly, I felt as if sharks surrounded me, my nervousness the equivalent to blood dispersing in water.

  “Nothin’.” Matteo glanced at my chest. “I was just asking Genesis if she wanted me to bring her a long, stiff drink. She looks like she could use something to swallow…errr…she looks thirsty. Right, Gen?”

  Words failed me. I remained still as Matteo walked away, looking back at me long enough to flash a devilish grin.

  I felt sick.

  And then there were two.

  “So, what’s it like?” Rena asked, popping a maraschino cherry in her mouth from her glass, tugging the stem free between her index finger and thumb.

  “What’s what like?” Irritation filled my voice, but I didn’t care. I walked back over to the table and grabbed my drink, lifting the half-empty glass to my mouth. No amount of alcohol was ever enough to handle Rena. Add Matteo to the mix? I needed a distillery.

  “Trying to get in my brother’s pants.”

  I spat out a fine mist of Leg Spreader, spraying it across the table
. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” She narrowed her eyes as she wiped her arm with a square napkin.

  “I’m not trying to get in—”

  “‘Not trying’? So, you have fucked him?”

  “That’s none of your—”

  “Bull. Shit,” she replied. “I’m going to find out what you’re hiding whether you like it or not.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. Enter shark.

  She began counting on her fingers. “You live with him rent-free. You don’t work. He buys you anything you want whether you ask for it or not. You won’t tell anyone where you came from. It’s like you don’t have a past. Something doesn’t add up, and I’m going to figure it out. Mark my words.”

  I swallowed. “Isn’t it sick and twisted you’re so concerned about where your brother plunges his dipstick.”

  “You’re nothing more than a dirty fucking whore.”

  I snorted and made a move to walk away, stopping when I saw Cade approaching. “Look who’s talking, Rena. Word around town is that you’ve slimed every man’s banana in this county.”

  She gripped my arm, her sharp fingernails digging into my flesh. “What do you do? Suck his dick every night? Fuck his brains out whenever he wants? Drop trou when he asks you to bend over so he can jam his cock in your ass?”

  Oh, if you only knew, Rena.

  “Why don’t you ask him yourself? He’s standing right behind you.” I felt my anger rising, knowing Rena knew shit about Cade’s real life.

  “Ask me what?” Cade asked, leaning over me to grab his drink. The smell of his aftershave wasn’t enough to help me relax.

  “Rena was just asking about our relationship.” I downed the rest of my Leg Spreader in a single swallow as my knees wobbled. “More specifically, she wants to know how often you hide your snake in my grass.”

  Cade’s dark skin turned a sickly green. “Rena, that’s…”