Inferno (A Hotter Than Hell Novel Book 7)

by Holly S. Roberts

  With quick determined movements, I struggle out of my skirt and toss it over the tub onto the floor. Burning to death is not in my plans and I need to play this safe and make him think he’s won. He stares down at me through the slits in his red, obese face. His mouth, with flabby damp lips, curls slowly into a smile and walrus comes to mind. Add two tusks and he’d make a great addition to the Phoenix Zoo.

  I shimmy from my wet panties and unclip my bra, tossing them out of the tub to join the skirt. For some, nudity might be a problem, but I got over it a long time ago. As a cop, I worked closely with mostly men. Not that I walked around nude, but there were times we geared up for high-risk takedowns and flashes of skin were more normal than not. When your life or someone you’re trying to rescue has theirs on the line, skin isn’t important, or so I tell myself now.

  After I’m completely naked, Fernandez wrenches my arm up and jerks me out of the tub. “It’s time to see your friend.”

  I only cover my breasts and between my legs so he thinks I care. I awkwardly stumble along beside him because his hand is gripping my arm to the point of snapping the bone. Comply, I tell myself. Rebelling won’t help get Cori out of here, so I do my best to keep up as he leads me through one of the most disgusting places I’ve ever seen. Dead animals with beady eyes follow us. Fernandez’s home with his prized taxidermy collection burned down. This must be his replacement. The hunting trophies give me the creeps and now I realize Fernandez’s eyes look exactly like these animal’s eyes. Dead.

  He turns a corner, slips his hand in his pocket, and removes a set of keys when we reach a padlocked door. I keep my eyes down, playing the good little girl for now. When the lock is removed, he pushes the door open and shoves me inside. “I’ll be back soon, don’t miss me too much.” He slams the door in my face before I can say anything.

  The whimper behind me makes me spin me around. I see Cori curled up on a mattress, her hand wrapped in a bloody towel, eyes closed and pain in every line of her face. Whatever that fucker did to her, he’ll pay. I approach the bed and go to my knees when I’m close enough to touch her hair. Cori’s beautiful black skin is paler than I’ve ever seen it. “Shh,” I whisper. She opens her dark eyes. She’s one of the most beautiful women in Arizona, if not the country. Tall, thin, perfect breasts, and a great ass. Those body characteristics only enhance the entire picture, and it’s her amazing cheekbones that look like they’ve been surgically sculpted that really draw you into her beauty. Curled into a tight ball, she appears small and helpless, which is not the Cori I know.

  “Mak,” she says in a throaty voice before her eyes search fearfully behind me looking for something or someone. The fear in her voice isn’t like her at all. Cori is one of the strongest women I know; badass should be her middle name.

  “What can I do to help?” I ask without touching her. I don’t know the extent of her injuries and I know she would put up quite a fight if someone tried to hurt her. I also know that Fernandez wouldn’t go easy on her.

  “He… he…” Tears slide down her face, falling on the sheet beneath her. She holds out her hand and pushes the bandage off with the other. A small cry escapes her when the towel sticks to blood, but I don’t think the noise she made was louder than mine.

  Her index finger is missing below the first knuckle of her left hand.

  Fuck.

  “He’s sending it to Moon,” she rasps between sobs. “They… they… cut it off.”

  My face sinks into the bedsheet while I try to control the scream building in my throat. I slowly lift my head. “I’m sorry,” I whisper through tears. It’s such a waste of words because sorry doesn’t come close to how I feel. The women at the escort service depend on me to keep them safe. I’ve failed.

  Cori’s gruff laugh surprises me. “Be sorry you did what Fernandez said. Moon will kill you.”

  I offer a half-smile and watch her grimace again as she covers her hand. The towel is completely inadequate to use as a bandage. I glance around the room. There are two single beds, one occupied by Cori. The room is large, at least twenty feet by twenty. In the corner, there’s a door that I’m guessing leads into a bathroom. Against the wall by the bathroom door is a metal cabinet on wheels. I walk closer and the top of the metal cabinet looks like a surgical counter and is covered in blood. I open the cabinet doors and find the area beneath the cart completely empty.

  I check the bathroom next. Flipping on the light, I glance around. It’s bare, with dingy white walls and dark spots on the ceiling. There’s not so much as a towel hanging from the racks. I spot a roll of toilet paper on the floor beside the toilet but that’s it. Not even soap. Cori will die of infection if shock doesn’t kill her first. I need to remain calm and come up with a plan. Stepping out of the bathroom, I walk to the window beside her bed and push back the heavy drape that isn’t allowing light through. Disappointment swamps me when I discover the window is boarded up and nailed shut. I suck in a long, slow breath to keep my cool. I’ll work using the single bulb hanging from the ceiling.

  Cori moans.

  I walk around the bed and take possession of the floor again. At least the room has cool air coming in from a ceiling vent. It’s over one-hundred and ten degrees outside and being stuck in this room without air conditioning would kill Cori within hours.

  “Let me take a look,” I say softly. I need to see if there’s any redness on her hand indicating an infection. I really don’t want to look at it again. She’s my friend and seeing the reason behind this kind of pain isn’t easy. Her whimper makes me rest my palm on her forehead to check her temperature. Her skin is damp but cool to the touch, which is the best I can hope for at the moment. Carefully, I move the cloth on her hand aside. The wound isn’t pretty and the crusted blood and swelling only make it worse. After gently resting her hand beside her, I turn to the other bed and remove the bottom fitted sheet, which is the only thing on it. Using my teeth, I tear the cheap material into strips. I take them into the bathroom and run hot water over one of them.

  Cori’s eyes are closed and her breathing heavy when I return. I push a piece of hair from her sweaty face. “This will hurt but we need to get it as clean as possible.”

  Her half-closed eyes don’t move. “It doesn’t matter, just let me die.”

  I grab her chin and tip her face up until she opens her eyes looks at me. “No one is dying but that fucking piece of shit who did this to you. Don’t even think it, Cori. We’re getting out of here, I promise.”

  My entire being is filled with dread. I need to keep my promise. Neither of us have a choice.

  Chapter Three

  Current day…

  Moon

  I stare at the men around the table. Since opening the box, my head has realigned and I’m thinking halfway clearly. Fire burns from my toes to the tips of my fingers. I flex those fingers now. This rage is worse than hunting for the men who killed my mother and father. It doesn’t matter that the finger inside the box didn’t belong to Madison. I need to unleash everything I’m feeling on Fernandez.

  He’s taken the one thing I value more than any other. The void inside me at having Madison in his hands is almost indescribable. It’s an absence of logical thought and an animalistic need to draw blood. I will kill anyone who stands in my way.

  Alex, who is barely holding onto his sanity, will look for someone to beat to death with his fists. It won’t need to be Fernandez, just one of his lackeys, and Alex will gain a semblance of control even if only temporarily. I’ll gladly hand him the first son of a bitch we find who can lead us to my wife and allow Alex to work his bloody magic. The hell I unleash on Fernandez should have him burning from the inside before I’m within a mile of his location.

  “My club is here for you with whatever you need,” Dax says into the quiet of the room. I had no doubt the president of the Desert Crows Motorcycle Club would come to our aid. He’s a good man and Madison loves Sofia, his wife, along with their twins, Macey and Jonathan. I glance at the man sit
ting next to Dax; him I’m not so sure of. He’s Dax’s new bodyguard. The man stands almost seven feet tall and looks like the Jolly Green Giant minus the green and especially minus the jolly. His name is Duke and there’s something strange about him. It could also be my paranoia going into overdrive since Madison’s disappearance. Dax’s man will prove himself or he won’t. I’ll kill without a second thought if he betrays Dax’s trust. “Thank you, Dax. I value your friendship.” He nods. I can tell by the hard look in his eyes that he’s ready for whatever comes our way.

  My eyes roam the room again. Alex is beside me looking like he’s ready to jump out of his chair and strangle someone. My other men—Blevins, Juan, Jose, Matt, Colby, and Caleb, who is Madison’s driver, are the men I trust most, and they’ve proven their loyalty multiple times. Other than Caleb and Colby, who is my driver, they’re my house guard and under Alex’s guidance. He hired and trained them years ago. They are men of action and sitting here with Madison in danger isn’t their idea of handling the situation. We have that in common but we all know we need to be on the same page. They’re good men, trained to plan ahead and keep to that plan unless shit hits the fan. They’re also fans of Madison’s and they’re taking her disappearance personally, especially Caleb.

  None of the men in this room will like what I have to say next. We’re wasting precious time with every minute we sit at this table, so I spit it out. “I’ve been compromised,” I say. Alex stiffens beside me and I keep talking before he can argue. “If pieces of my wife’s body start arriving, I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back. That means every person in this house is in danger.”

  Alex slams his hands on the table. “That’s bullshit.”

  I expected his outburst and give him my full attention. “If we don’t find my wife very soon, I’ll give him anything he wants, including this organization.” I stare into Alex’s hard eyes. “As my friend, I need you to do what’s best for everyone. Not just me.” I pull my gaze from his seething expression and address the other men in the room. “Alex will know if the time comes that he needs to take over. If he gives that word, you will follow him to hell and back like you follow me. Is that clear?”

  Their gazes travel to Alex, who they call by his last name, Gomez. He’s my enforcer and my best friend. We’ve been through too much together to have a slithering rattlesnake take it away. Alex looks straight ahead, acknowledging nothing. He’ll do it, but he’ll be pissed off that we didn’t discuss it. Too damn bad. He should have had me step aside as soon as Cori’s finger was revealed in that box. He knows I’m right.

  The men around the table slowly give their assent. Alex remains silent. With that settled, I turn to Dax. “I need eyes on the ground and information. Contact your friends in California and see what they know about Fernandez. Nothing is unimportant and time is our biggest factor. The women will want part of this action and Celina will be in charge of compiling the leads you find. I’m hoping Sofia will help too.”

  “My old lady’s in. I had to threaten her to keep her home today,” Dax adds with a grimace. Alex and I understand. Celina, Alex’s woman, almost took his head off when he refused her entrance into this room. I’m hoping placing her in charge of information will lighten her anger at Alex when the meeting is over. We need her help.

  The door opens. Celina peeks inside and then enters. Dax’s man jumps to his feet, his hand on the knife at his waist before Dax grabs his arms and pushes him back into the chair. Celina’s hands go to her hips like a seven-foot giant is nothing she can’t handle. Completely ignoring Alex’s angry expression, she gives us her opinion. “If you think you’re keeping me out of this, you’re wrong. Mak and Cori are my friends. They’re in danger and we need everyone we trust in on your plans. That includes me, the women at the escort service, and the Desert Crows old ladies. I’m the women’s emissary and if you get rid of me, they’ll all be piling in here to speak their minds too.”

  Alex grimaces beside me and I don’t blame him. To work as an escort, you need a set of balls and each of the women there have them. The Desert Crows old ladies, especially Sofia, are in a league of their own and kick ass when it’s needed. Celina is the same and she’s also been trained by Alex. I stand up and walk around the table to the only empty chair and pull it out. For the first time, Celina’s gaze goes to Alex and she gives him a death stare while she stomps to the chair I offer and takes a seat.

  “I’ll gladly handle the women disseminating the gathered information.” She shrugs when Alex shakes his head. “What? I listened at the door before I got up enough courage to barge in. Stop with the glares so we can move on,” she tells him. There are scary men in this room, but my money is on Celina if shit goes down. She has no fear of her man and I have a feeling she’s the only person who could handle him if he flipped out.

  Alex huffs and crosses his arms before meeting my eyes and ignoring Celina. I’ve moved back to my chair but don’t sit. I place my palms flat on the table. “We’ll find Madison and Cori. When we get to Fernandez, I want him alive. He’s mine.”

  “Not if I get to him first,” Alex grunts.

  Alex doesn’t understand what I’m saying, so I clarify. “I need you, mi hermano, but if you get between me and Fernandez, we’ll finally see who beats who.” I hope the look I give him with that statement sinks into his thick skull. I nod at Celina. “Think of her in the hands of a madman like Fernandez and you’ll understand. Madison is my woman and I will have my revenge. The longer we sit in here discussing this is wasted time, so we’re moving on.”

  Alex nods after giving Celina a quick glance. “He’s yours, mi hermano.” We’re brothers by experience if not by blood and we both know it.

  Still unable to take my seat, I lay out the plan. “Fernandez may have gone back to California or he might be close by. Someone knows his location. He likes to hurt women. He uses prostitutes and kills them. If he’s back on his home turf, Austin’s connections will alert us.” I keep my gaze traveling around the room meeting each person’s eyes so I’m sure they understand. “Austin and Melina will be here tomorrow. Melina might have information that leads us to her brother’s location. Every piece of data we collect will go to Celina no matter how small or inconsequential. Austin’s men will be at our disposal if we need them. For now, they’ll help fortify the house with additional manpower.” With a quick look at Alex, I finish what I have to say. “Help me find my wife so you don’t have to take over.”

  Alex only scowls.

  Chapter Four

  Madison

  I don’t sleep. Every time I’m almost out, Cori whimpers. It’s been roughly eight hours according to my internal clock since I was dumped into this room with her. She’s running a slight temperature and she threw up bile earlier. We’ve had no food or water and I had to bring Cori tap water from my hands and cajole her until she drank it. I’m lying on the scratchy mattress without benefit of a sheet. I grimace at the ceiling, which I can see clearly because the light above us never turns off. The damn switch by the door doesn’t work. If my only complaint was a scratchy mattress to sleep on and a bright light, I’d be in good shape.

  Another groan from Cori makes me roll over and face her. From the sound of her slow, shallow breathing, she’s asleep and I don’t plan to wake her. I stand up and walk to the metal cabinet, ignoring the blood on top again. I’ve already searched it but can’t stop myself from doing it again. Nothing is inside but a metal shelf. I would slam the damn door shut in frustration if the sound wouldn’t wake Cori. I have nothing to defend us with in the entire damn room. I rest my ass on the bed and look around for the millionth time. There must be something. After a frustrated huff, I lie back on the mattress.

  Moon fills my thoughts. I know he’s crazy with worry right now. I can’t bear to think about Cori’s finger being delivered to our house and what Moon must have thought when it arrived. Fernandez would want Moon thinking the finger was mine until he opened the box and I’m sure his plan worked. Not that Cori’s
finger is better than mine. I actually wish it were mine. Cori doesn’t deserve this. She only lives on the outskirts of our dangerous life. She doesn’t warrant maiming or death because of Moon’s organization.

  The door jiggles as a key is placed into the lock. It slides open and Fernandez enters. The younger man who injected me with drugs in the car is behind him with his hand on a gun at his waist. He’s stretching his neck as far forward as possible and staring at my body. Give me a chance and I’ll have that gun. Just one chance. If it means I spread my legs open so he has a better view, I’ll do it.

  Fernandez carries a tray and rests it on the end of my mattress. It looks and smells like soup, which makes my stomach rumble.

  “Be sure she eats too.” He nods toward Cori who I can tell is awake now from her near silent breathing, but she doesn’t open her eyes. “You’ll both need your strength.”

  He walks out and the door shuts with finality even though we know he’s coming back. “The slime is gone,” I tell Cori.

  Her eyes open, the whites replaced by redness. Her lips quiver as she tries to talk without success. I carry the tray closer and lift one of the bowls. It’s chicken noodle soup, which might help her stomach. I rest on the side of her bed and wait for her to sit up higher. She moans and her eyes close for a moment when she forgets she’s injured as she tries to use her hand to push herself up.

  “He’s going to kill us both,” she finally manages to say.

  I lift the spoon with soup dripping back into the bowl and move both the spoon and bowl closer to her chin. She gives me a look and I know what she’s going to say before she says it. “If you hold the bowl with one hand, you can’t eat with the other, so I’m doing this. Shut up about it and eat.” I place the first spoonful to her lips and she sips and then swallows some noodles with a slurp. “Fernandez will draw this out as long as he can but never forget Moon is coming for us.”