Heaven to Hell (A Naughty Box Production Book 1)

by Rue Volley

  With a jerk, I pulled and yanked free from Lester’s grasp, having no idea which direction to go. In my mind, it didn’t matter. Falling from a cliff or into a pit full of rattlesnakes would’ve been better than being kidnapped. Step by step, I propelled my way forward, into the unknown. Bits of hard gravel dug into the bottoms of my bare feet, piercing the skin, but I didn’t care. Every ounce of pain would be worth it if I could escape.

  “Get back here!” a voice yelled in the distance. The sound of miniature rocks crunching was becoming louder behind me and I knew that being barefoot and blind slowed me down. A large rock connected with my shin at the same time a body hit me from behind, forcing me to the ground, the wind knocked out of me.

  “Let me go!” I snarled, head-butting Lester in the skull, a lucky shot.

  “Son of a bitch,” he shrieked as he backhanded me with a blow I wasn’t able to see coming. “Start the car!” he yelled, punching me in the stomach.

  Stars exploded behind my eyes in the darkness, and the rest of my body was exhausted and pained from the fight, doing its best to struggle, but I was losing the battle. Quickly.

  An engine roared in the distance, becoming louder with each step across the sloping ground underfoot as Lester dragged me along. For the second time, I noticed the air was hot as it caressed my bare legs—too warm. The throaty rumble of a vehicle filled the air, and it was only trumped by one other sound. With a click, I heard a pop. Instantly, I knew my fate. Hyperventilating, there was nothing I could do to reverse the situation. Succumbing to the realization I was Lester’s pawn, I was shoved into the trunk of a car, forced to be folded in half while the paneling overhead was slammed shut.

  “No!” I screamed, my throat raw.

  In the darkness, I could hear my breath echoing inside my head between yelps. Calming down wasn’t a rational option, and I knew it was only a matter of time until I suffocated. Remembering back to TV shows I’d watched in my previous life, I thrashed and kicked, fighting to gain cognizance of which direction I faced. Kicking out a taillight so someone could see I was being held captive was key. I was sure of it!

  Unfortunately, that feat was easier envisioned than performed. The car ride was swift with sharp turns, tossing my body about the trunk as if I were a rag doll. Just when I thought I’d righted my position and knew which way I was facing, I tumbled again. My bare shoulder slid against the harsh carpeting, and I winced at the pain. A fresh set of twinkling spots blazed behind my eyelids as my head slammed against the side panel of the car.

  Every second was agonizing, and it felt like hours as I scrambled to find a way out, an escape, an exit. Failure. With my hands tied behind my back, a gag in my mouth and a blindfold, I was a sitting duck, waiting for whatever Lester decided was in store for me next.

  Panic was setting in and I knew I’d pass out if I didn’t calm down. The confined area felt small, too hot, and as if I wasn’t getting enough air. I was doomed to die for a second time, this time as the victim as a kidnapping…or worse.

  God, help me. Please!

  Suddenly, the sound of rapid gunfire made me squeal, a trail of tears leaking from the corners of my eyes. The car rolled to a stop atop gravel, and then there was nothing.

  Anxiety won the battle as much as I fought it off. I waved my white flag and passed out.

  Darkness.

  4

  “I said talk into the microphone.” A deep voice echoed somewhere around me. The sound blared in my ears as I tried to put the words together in a way they’d make sense.

  My hands were bound so tightly behind my back my fingers throbbed, and I was sitting in a chair, my head drooping forward with my dreadlocks tickling my legs. My muscles ached and screamed from the constancy of the uncomfortable position, and I fought back tears.

  I lolled my head, trying to open my eyes as I moaned. My lip was split, inflated, and I could taste the metallic flavor of blood on my tongue.

  “Suck it,” the voice commanded again.

  I lifted my head and squinted in time to see an erect, veiny penis two inches front of my face. A generous amount of pubic hair did nothing except make him look extraordinarily inadequate to every vagina on Earth.

  Reflexively, I shied backward and grimaced.

  I braved making eye contact with the man who stood over me, making my way up Lester’s lanky frame, his ratty pants bunched down around his knees as he jutted his hips forward, his dick slapping my cheek. “I motherfucking paid for you, and you’re gonna suck my cock when I tell you to. Got it, bitch?”

  I ground my teeth and pursed my lips.

  "Did you think we wouldn't be able to find you?” another male voice asked, running his open palm up my thigh.

  I blinked, the world spinning around like a carousel as the edges of my vision tried to melt away again. Stay awake. The excuse for a cock had blurred into two, and I was certain my pleasure wouldn’t be doubled. As I took slow, deep breaths, the indistinct double dick had become one again, but it wasn’t any more desirable.

  “She looks like a scared little bitch, Alejandro, not a freaky fuckfest,” Lester said. “She’d better fucking be worth it when I get to bang her sweet cunt.”

  "Chill, dude. You’re going to freak her out before any of us get to fuck her.” Alejandro laughed as he crouched down in front of me while toying with the blade of a knife. His eyes were dark and teasing, like he was playing a game of cat and mouse—I was his prey. “Did it hurt?" he asked.

  I remained silent, the sound of blood whooshing against my eardrums as I assessed my surroundings. Dilapidated room. Sirens. Stained walls. Broken windows. Garbage on the floor. Fast food wrappers. The smell of something dead…or rotten. All of it was a far cry from Ascension.

  “Did what hurt?” I seethed, forcing the words out.

  "You know, when you fell from Heaven," the corner of his mouth twitched upward as if he’d just told the punch line to the world’s funniest joke, “or should I say Ascension?”

  Ascenscion. My heartbeat hastened and I wondered how this guy knew my secret too. As if my body tried to communicate with me, the space between my shoulder blades itched.

  "Do you know how much we paid for you?" He gripped a handful of my hair and forced my head backward until I had no choice but to look him in the eye. His breath smelled of old steak sauce and heavy garlic.

  I swallowed, fighting the urge to vomit.

  "You have a lot of time to make up for, " Alejandro replied as he breathed against my face. "And trust me, you will make up for it," he reached down and touched my bare knee with the point of the blade, trailing the tip toward my inner thigh and I pressed my legs together, “over and over.”

  "Leave me alone.” My wall of confidence was dwindling as I fought in a tug-of-war to hang on to bravery.

  He shook his head left and right. “Still not going to tell us your name, sweetheart?"

  I fought against my restraints, fumbling for the corner of the thick twine, coming up empty handed. It was useless. I was unable to loosen the ropes that bound me. In return, I spat in his face, just as I’d done to Lester. "Fuck you."

  “So, it’s going to be like that?” His eyes widened, bearing hatred as he reached up and wiped away the dripping liquid with one hand, while his other gripped my leg like a vice, and I wondered how much more pressure my thighbone could endure without breaking.

  I forced my eyes closed and took a deep breath to escape the pain. Don’t let him see he’s winning, Genesis.

  With a jerk, he stood up and walked toward the exit of the room.

  Alejandro paused near the doorway and looked back toward me. “I’ll just start calling you ‘fuck you’ then. C’mon, Lester. ‘Fuck you’ needs a time out.”

  Lester glanced down at his jerking erection. “Awww, man! I was just about to—”

  “Now,” Alejandro demanded as he walked out of view.

  Reluctantly, Lester slumped his shoulders and buttoned his pants. “Motherfuckin’ cock blocker. Haven’t been lai
d in weeks. My arm’s sore,” he muttered. Looking back at me once, he grinned. “I’ll get my turn to shank your ass. Don’t you worry, ‘fuck you’.”

  “Lester!” Alejandro shouted.

  “For fuck’s sake, I’m right behind you!” Lester rolled his eyes as he hurried toward the door, slamming it shut behind him.

  I was officially alone.

  From where I sat, I sobbed out of frustration and anger while I fought against the ropes. I was disappointed in myself for getting in a dire situation. I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve let Cade walk me home. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks, dripping from my chin as they splattered against my bare thighs. With my ankles tied to the legs of the chair, standing to walk my way to freedom was impossible. It was only a matter of time before Lester or Alejandro returned and did unspeakable things to me. Cade! Where are you? Help me, please!

  Feeling helpless, I glanced up toward the cracked window, the fingerprint-smudged pane displaying a blackened sky with a series of dull stars flickering against the ebony backdrop. The outside gave away little else in regard to illustrating where I sat, except that it was night. With every avenue I could imagine exhausted, I fought back a fresh round of tears and decided there had to be another way. My wrists burned, the flesh raw as I tried desperately to loosen the ropes, but each drop of liquid pain I shed would be worth it if I prevailed. The thick, stiff material sliced deeper into my skin with each attempt at freedom. Failures. Each and every one.

  To be honest, I had no idea how much time went by. All I was willing to concentrate on was one mission—gaining use of my hands.

  A short while later, I heard voices at the end of the hall, footsteps becoming closer. Lester walked in holding a tray with a sandwich. The corner of the bread was blue and the glass of milk was cloudy, leaving its contents a sickly gray. With a gleam in his eye, he set the food down next to me and licked his teeth before taking a bite. “Hungry, ‘fuck you’?”

  “Go to Hell,” I snapped.

  Lester looked at me, and the smile dropped from his face. “If you only knew…”

  At that moment, I wondered if Cade knew where I was. Was he looking for me? Was he still being eaten alive by his sister, Rena? My days of clubs and spending time with Andy and Cade were over. Stop it! I had to force those thoughts aside. Regardless of where Cade was, it didn’t matter. Not anymore.

  The sun had set, and it felt as if it had somehow set on my life too.

  * * *

  The next day, I was brought rotten food.

  I was brought spoiled milk.

  In turn, I denied all of it. Losing track of time was maddening, and I was becoming so weak and tired.

  Lester entered the room again and I looked up at him, my stared laced with hatred as he made his way toward me with another moldy sandwich. My impure thoughts of killing him were interrupted by a knock at the main door as he gripped me by my bicep. “C’mon.”

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  Without speaking, he untied my feet and forced me through the doorway toward an open living space. A cloud of lingering cigarette smoke and the potent odor of marijuana filled the air. The room I was forced into was equally as decrepit as the rest of the house. Garbage. Broken furniture. A giant oil stain on the carpet. Even the ceiling had bowed with the scar of an ancient water leak; the evidence was an orange ring shaped like three quarters of a cheese pizza.

  Pizza. So hungry.

  Focus!

  The brief taste of freedom was short-lived as Lester shackled me to the wall with a combination lock. My heart pounded simultaneously with a knock on the door.

  “Early motherfuckers,” Lester muttered as he leisurely walked toward the entryway.

  I craned my neck, but couldn’t see from where I stood. Yanking on the thick shackles that bound my wrists was useless. Something has to give!

  Lester leaned against the doorframe. “What’s up, Colton? I thought Zeke was comin’ too?”

  “He’ll be here in a minute. Had to make a call or some shit.” Colton rolled his eyes.

  “Probably linin’ up a cock socket for tonight.” Lester laughed as he made a thrusting gesture with his hips.

  In turn, Colton laughed. Lester moved out of the way, letting him through the doorway.

  I studied the wide man named Colton across the room and immediately shivered. He exuded evil, something so dark I could almost taste it in the back of my throat. Bitter. Vile. Greasy blonde hair rested atop his head, and it hung down to his shoulders, emphasizing his nonexistent neck. His gaze fixated on me from across the room, saggy cheeks pulling his mouth downward into a permanent frown.

  My throat felt dry.

  “Is that her?” Colton asked Lester, his words lowering into a hushed whisper as he licked his lips. “Angelus lapsus?”

  Lester sighed and rubbed his scalp. “That’s the meat wallet. If you ask me, she ain’t worth the money.”

  “Hey.” A third man walked into the room, jamming a bulky ring of keys into his pocket. He was medium height with olive-toned skin and a generous amount of dark stubble on his jawline. His eyes were a velvety chocolate brown as they flicked over to me. “That her?

  “Yep.” Lester nodded and put out his cigarette on the wall. “If you weren’t outside lining up a whore for tonight, you’d have already figured that out.”

  The room fell quiet for a moment.

  I studied Zeke, and my heart hastened in my chest. From across the room, I could sense mystery behind his eyes, and I couldn’t stop staring.

  Both Colton and Zeke were watching me. I was in a room that swam with testosterone, but there was something different about the two new men who entered the equation. The energy felt imbalanced. Dark and light. Heavy and weightless. Black and white. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

  For the first time, I noticed something from the corner of my eye—a card table covered with green felt. These assholes are going to play cards while I’m tied to a wall? I yanked on my shackles, greeted by the sound of bulky chain refusing to give.

  The phone rang.

  Lester pulled his cell from his pocket and scrutinized the screen with a frown before flipping it open. “Damn it, Alejandro. What?” After a series of grunts, head nods, and hand gestures, he hung up the phone and tensed his grip around the device. Even from across the room, I could see his knuckles whitening.

  “’Sup?” Colton asked.

  “His car took a shit downtown on Villa and Main. I gotta get him.” He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fuck, I can’t leave beefbox here.” He gestured toward me.

  “Colton, you go.” Lester jutted his chin upward toward his wall-shaped friend.

  “You know I don’t drive, man. Besides, you don’t trust no one with your BloodBeater.”

  Lester scowled and punched the wall, leaving a fist-shaped hole in his wake through the flimsy layer of sheetrock.

  Zeke flopped down on the couch and crossed his feet on the ottoman as he glanced up at Lester. “You go. I’ll stay here. She’s one bitch. How bad can it be?”

  Lester looked thoughtful as he rubbed his hands over his face. “I don’t know, dude…”

  “C’mon.” Zeke stretched his arms out across the back of the couch, clenching his jaw. “You’re the one who says I don’t carry my weight since Hux hired me. Let me prove it.”

  “Carry your weight? Is that some kind of joke about my size?” Colton raised his voice as he cracked his knuckles.

  “Calm your shit down, bro,” Zeke replied.

  Lester narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. “For fuck’s sake.”

  Zeke held his hands up in protest. “Look, it’s your call, man, but we all know Alejandro. He’s going to be pissed as fuck and filet someone if no one comes to get him soon.”

  Lester slumped his shoulders in defeat. “Fine.” He grumped, grabbing his car keys from the counter as he headed toward the doorway. Twice, he paused to look at me. “Behave, ‘fuck you’.”


  Colton zipped his sweatshirt over his beefy frame, affixing the hood atop his head. “Hold up. I need some more weed. Dealer’s just around the corner from where Ali’s waitin’.”

  “This ain’t no grocery trip, and I ain’t your taxi,” Lester snapped and then paused. “Just get in the fucking car.”

  Colton slammed the door shut behind him and fresh fear materialized. I had a new stranger on my hands.

  From the couch, Zeke watched me staring at him in silence, studying me from head to toe, a smug smile crossing his face. There was something about him that kept my gaze on him; it was almost captivating. I couldn’t explain it, but I continued my efforts at unraveling what he was hiding. He didn’t fit in with Lester or Alejandro, and he sure as hell didn’t fit in with Colton. He was attractive, clean, and…different.

  “So, what are you going to do to me? Rape me? Beat me? Kill me?” I swallowed.

  “That depends. Do you want me to do any of those things to you?” he replied, his expression unreadable.

  The answer was unexpected, and I didn’t know if he were kidding. I felt my heartbeat hasten in my chest and a fleeting thought left me wondering what Zeke would look like without a shirt. “I’d like you to die,” I snapped, blinking rapidly to flush away the fantasy.

  “Been there. Done that.” He leaned forward into an upright sitting position, resting his elbows on his knees, his black construction-style boots immaculate.

  “What…what does that mean?”

  “That means you don’t always know who you’re dealing with,” he replied.

  He stood up and walked across the room to the poker table and grabbed a box of cards, peeling the cellophane wrapper from the case. I watched as he tipped the contents into his hand, shuffling them from one palm to the other. “What’s your name?”

  I let out a slow, deep breath as I studied his stature, practically able to make a mental roadmap of his muscles beneath his shirt. “Your friends call me ‘fuck you’.”

  He walked toward me until he was inches from my face. “Who said they were my friends?” His voice lowered as his eye locked with mine. “And I didn’t ask what they called you. I asked your name.”