Inferno (A Hotter Than Hell Novel Book 7)

by Holly S. Roberts

  We causally stand up and walk toward the pool’s gate, which leads out into the main yard. Melina carries a chair, which we’ll need to get over the wall. Conspicuous much? We couldn’t come up with a better idea, so after we leave the pool behind, we start running. There’s a section of fence that we’re shooting for, but when we clear a large plotted area of oleanders, our attempt is thwarted. Alex is standing at the fence with his blasted arms crossed and a not-so-nice expression on his face.

  We come to a halt, breathing heavily.

  He holds up his hand in a stop motion. “Don’t say a damn word. Whatever you’re planning isn’t happening.”

  Damn, damn, damn, we’re fucked. Even though it’s stupid, I look around for a place to hide. Melina has the same idea. With nowhere to go, we’re screwed. Melina’s shoulders drop in defeat.

  From the corner of my eye, I see a large vehicle slam partially through the brick wall a hundred yards from us. “Down,” Alex yells and takes us both to the ground, covering as much of us as he can with his body. The first noise was a loud crash but there’s no doubt the second is an explosion. The ground shakes beneath us and debris rains down even from so far away. Nothing large, thankfully, or Alex would be hurt.

  Men start running into the yard and chaos ensues. “Dammit. Get back into the house and to the safe room,” Alex shouts over his shoulder because he’s now up and running toward the huge whole in the block wall with his gun drawn.

  A loud whistle makes us look toward the front gate, which is locked but unguarded as the guards run toward the explosion too. Sofia is outside the gate waiving us over. Melina grabs the chair and we’re off and running again. I ignore Alex’s shout and place my hands beneath Melina’s ass and push as hard as I can. She makes the top of the wall, half hangs from the other side and puts her hands down for me. I jump on the chair, and she slides from the wall pulling me. When we tumble to the other side, the entire front of her body is one huge scrape with patches of welling blood. Ouch.

  “Hurry,” Sofia yells.

  She’s in the driver’s seat of a huge truck with the passenger and back doors open. Melina ignores her injuries and we both run like mad women. My ass is going to hurt so bad when this is over and that pain will all come from Alex’s palm or God forbid his fucking belt. If he doesn’t throw me out first, that is.

  After we slam the doors, the tires peel rubber. Alex runs after us and though I can’t hear what he’s saying, I know it isn’t good.

  “The house is under attack. Should we really be leaving? They need us,” Melina shouts over the tire noise.

  The heat of the moment might have made us do something really foolish, but we need to stick with the plan.

  “The men can take care of themselves. Mak and Cori need us,” Sofia says before I can answer.

  Fuck. Leaving Alex in this situation isn’t at the top of my list either. Sofia is right, though. The men can take care of themselves. With us gone, they’ll handle the explosion and come after us as soon as they can.

  “Why did you drive in so close? I thought you would wait out of sight like we agreed.” Melina asks Sofia.

  “The driver of the SUV suspiciously picked up speed as he approached the house and I didn’t like it. Thankfully, I charged after him. He jumped out of the vehicle before impact and I may have accidently run over his ass.”

  “Accidently?” I ask with a wide grin.

  “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Do we have Fernandez’s address?”

  “Affirmative,” I say. The women all turn and look at me and I shrug. “Affirmative seemed like the proper word.” I wait for their nervous laughter to end before continuing. “I plugged the address into Google maps before we left poolside.” I activate the map. “Google says hang a left.” Melina passes my clothes to me and we both wiggle and squirm to get dressed properly. For Melina it’s a T-shirt, jeans, and athletic shoes. For me it’s pure slut items, including high heels that she pilfered from some women at the clubhouse. The sizes aren’t perfect for either of us, but they’ll do.

  I quickly text Mak and let her know we’re on our way. I don’t mention the explosion or hole in her wall. We need to end this shit today and the last thing she needs is more to worry about.

  It’s time to find Fernandez. Payback will be a fucking bitch. Five bitches to be exact.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Madison

  After Celina sends me a text saying the women are on their way, I call Caleb into my office. He’s been mister grumpy since my earlier visit with Cartwright and I think Moon gave him a verbal ass whooping. Unfortunately, his mood won’t be improving anytime soon. We picked up Cori’s car from her apartment after my talk with Cartwright. She left the building and she’s waiting downstairs for me. I’m not sure where all the men assigned to guard me are stationed, and Cori has more coming and going privileges than I do.

  “I want to go over security. I don’t want any of my girls in danger.”

  “What do you need to know?” His lips are still a firm line and I know he hasn’t forgiven me.

  “If something major was to happen here, I’d like to know where the guards are located.” He nods and I continue. “Cori and I checked the safe room earlier and there’s a spider in the far corner. No matter how pissed off you are, there’s no way we’re going in there with a spider.” I can only hope there’s no inflection in my voice that gives this bullshit story away. The last thing I’m afraid of is a little spider, especially one that doesn’t exist.

  Caleb sighs and gives me a you must me kidding look.

  I give him my own sigh. “I need to be sure Cori is safe here. She’ll have a hard enough time as it is and she shouldn’t be worrying about Fernandez getting to her again.” I may be laying it on a bit thick, but he seems to buy it. Cori could run this place with her hands tied behind her back. I’m not very good at the damsel in distress routine and it’s easier to pass it off on her.

  Caleb exhales a long breath. “We have four additional men here today and I don’t know how long they’ll be assigned. You should talk that over with your husband.”

  That’s not happening anytime soon. “I’m assuming we have extra guards on this floor in the monitoring room. I’m good with that, but I think we need at least one stationed downstairs at the entrance to the building. Across the street in that little café maybe?”

  Before Caleb can roll his eyes over my security recommendation, his cell phone rings and he pulls it from his pocket. “It’s your husband,” he says after connecting the call.

  He listens while looking at me, but then his expression changes. “She’s sitting here in front of me.” He takes a deep breath. “Fuck, I’ve got it covered and I’ll get her in there now.” He ends the call and stands. “There’s been an explosion at the house. Moon wants you in the safe room.”

  “An explosion?” My heartrate goes into overdrive.

  “No injuries and they’ve caught one of Fernandez’s men. Melina, Celina, and Sofia apparently drove away while the place was in chaos. What’s going on, Mak?” He says this as we’re walking to the safe room.

  “I think I know where they’ve gone,” I say truthfully. How the hell could there be an explosion at the house?

  Caleb opens the safe room door, which is kept unlocked for quick access.

  “I’m not going in there with the spider,” I say stubbornly. Caleb actually rolls his eyes this time. I step back and let him pass. “It’s in that corner,” I point. “It’s huge.”

  Caleb walks to where I’m pointing, looking around. “I don’t—”

  I slam the door and immediately use the app on my phone to electronically secure it. I don’t have much time because all Caleb needs to do is make a call to the control room down the hall and they will override my code. I take off for the stairs. I arrived at work today in a skirt and blouse, but I keep workout clothes on hand and I changed into them before calling Caleb into my office. It’s not unusual for me to exercise in the gym here
, so he didn’t blink at my change of clothes. Running in high heels is never fun and I’d probably break my ass trying. I’ve only recently met the challenge of walking in three-inch heels and I know running is beyond me. Give me police boots to run in any day.

  I rush through the stairwell door and charge down. We’re on the eighth floor and there’s a good chance I’ll have one of Moon’s guards waiting when I reach the bottom. When I round the last set of stairs, I draw my gun. I won’t shoot one of our men, but one way or another I’m getting into Cori’s car.

  “Don’t think I won’t shoot you,” Cori yells when I open the door. She has the same idea as me and has her gun pointed at Juan.

  He takes a step toward Cori knowing she won’t shoot him and I go low and plow into the back of his knees. I barely keep my balance at the impact, but it’s enough that Cori and I can run for the car. She jumps into the driver’s seat, throws the car into drive, and takes off with spinning wheels while I somehow manage to grab the swinging door in the backseat and slam it shut almost on Juan’s fingers.

  “How’s your hand?” I yell from the back. Adrenaline is pumping through me.

  “I can drive, but I think you just broke my eardrum.”

  “Sorry,” I say lowering my voice. “There’s been an explosion at the house. Moon has one of Fernandez’s men and they’ll know the monster’s location soon if they don’t already.”

  “Same plan?” she asks.

  “Pick up the speed, we need to hurry,” is my answer.

  Fernandez is staying in Cave Creek, which is located in the north valley and is not a quick trip with the area traffic. I dial Celina’s number. “Where are you?” I ask as soon as she answers.

  “We’re about a mile from Fernandez’s location waiting for you at the Mickey D’s.”

  “Did you plan on telling me about the explosion?” I try to keep the irritation from my tone, but it still comes out snappish.

  “Oh crap. I didn’t want to worry you. It was the outer wall and Sofia ran over the guy who ran his car into the wall.”

  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 twenty minutes. Sofia parked as far from the store as she could. What’s worrying me is Moon’s ring tone hasn’t blared from my phone. He’s either too pissed off to talk to me or he’s dealing with the fallout of someone crashing into and dynamiting his wall. He’ll forgive me, I tell myself and add a short prayer to that effect. He needs to know I’m not the type of woman who sits on her hands and doesn’t handle situations. If I hadn’t been kidnapped, he would be working harder to bring Fernandez down. He hasn’t left the house since I returned and he’s usually on the front lines with his men. What happened to me shook him and I understand his fear. Just the thought of losing him drives me insane.

  I pull in beside Sofia and park. We all give each other quick hugs before Sofia opens the trunk of her car. It holds a plethora of weapons and ammo. I pull out a M16 and check the chamber. It’s empty. I grab a box 45 mm rounds and start loading.

  “Who can handle this?” I wave the M16 in the air when I’m finished loading. “I’m carrying a Glock, but it would be nice if one of you can handle this baby.” The M16 is standard military issue and oh so sweet.

  “I’m your girl,” Sofia says. I give her a grin and hand it over. Melina places a loaded magazine in her Glock and I do the same. We’re in a crowded parking lot and no one around us even blinks. This is Arizona and private gun sales go down in places like this all the time. We point our weapons toward an empty field to check our sights.

  “Holy shit,” Celina says. “You have grenades in here too.” She lifts one from a metal ammo box.

  Celina is the one who’s knocking on the door to get Fernandez’s attention after we reach his location. The rest of us will bust through the back door. She’s carrying a PKO-45 pocket pistol, which she’s hiding in the waistband at her back. It’s tiny and only holds five rounds. It, however, packs a solid punch with .45 ammo. Moon gave it to me last Christmas to carry in my purse. With Celina’s skin-tight clothes, she needed something small because I refused to let her go in unarmed.

  We had quite the argument about her going to the front door at all. I was outvoted by the majority because Fernandez isn’t familiar with Celina and will think it’s his escort knocking. She also out-vamps the rest of us with her great tits and ass. The deciding factor was that she’s escorted before. Okay, one time but she has experience.

  “Those are M84 stun grenades,” Sofia says. “They won’t spread shrapnel, but we can’t be near if anyone sets one of these babies off. There’s only a one- to two-second delay, so pull this pin,” she shows us the ring, “throw the grenade as far away as possible, and cover your ears. It packs a punch.”

  I look at her in awe.

  She shrugs. “Dax is prepping me for anything. He likes the idea of me knowing my weapons.”

  “Damn that’s hot.” I need to spend some time at the range with this woman. I pick up one of the grenades. “Everyone but Celina place at least one in your pocket. We may need them.”

  “If worse comes to worst, we’ll blow up his house with him inside,” Celina says.

  I shoot her a look. “These won’t kill him and I don’t want that motherfucker dead until after I cut off his dick and balls.”

  We finish prepping and Sofia is almost ready to close the trunk, when I notice Cori watching us. She’s still unarmed.

  At my look, she waves at the weapons. “I’ve never fired a gun.”

  We all stop what we’re doing and stare. “You do know you live in Arizona, right?” I ask.

  “My brother was killed by a stray bullet in our apartment because of a gang war. My mom hated guns.”

  Holy shit. She’s never mentioned anything about a brother before and my heart breaks for her. She hasn’t mentioned her mom either. Cori has always been tight-lipped about her private life and I would never invade that privacy.

  Sofia hands her a large knife in its sheath. “You got a problem with knives?” she asks. “It belongs to Dax and it’s very sharp.”

  “The knife will work if someone can help me secure it.” She lifts her bandaged hand.

  I step closer and place my hand on her arm. “I’m sorry about your brother.” This isn’t the time or place to get personal, but I had to tell her before I got back to business. “We’ll place the sheath on your left side for a cross draw. It’s easier to pull out that way. Keep it ready to hand me when it’s time to remove that bastard’s balls, will you?”

  She gives me a firm smile. The thought of Fernandez minus his balls gives her the same pleasurable feeling it gives me.

  “Here,” Sofia says while handing us bulletproof vests. “Put them on in the truck. It won’t protect us from rifle rounds, but they’ll stop pretty much anything else.”

  I wipe sweat from my face and grab a vest. Even though we’re in the shade of a tree, the heat is sweltering. Leaving Cori’s car in the parking lot, we jump into the truck and head to Fernandez’s location.

  It’s time to kick some ass.

/>   Chapter Thirty-Five

  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 there’s a break in the conversation.

  He shrugs. “I have that strange feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me the women are up to something.” He rubs the back of his neck and gives a small grimace. “Celina wasn’t upset when I told her she’s remaining on lockdown. She was too accommodating if that makes sense.” He points at his head. “My Spidey senses are working overtime right now trying to pinpoint what the hell’s going on.” He glances at the door again.

  “Melina was acting strange too,” Austin adds and scratches his neck.

  I’m not alone in the uneasy feelings, which means something is up. “I’ll handle the meeting. You go check on the ladies,” I urge Alex. “Join him if you want,” I add for Austin’s benefit.

  “I’ll stay. That bastard needs to die and I’m tired of doing nothing.”

  Alex walks out without a backward glance. I look at my phone and think about calling Madison but decide against it. She’s been doing better mentally and I figured it was the thought of getting out of the house and back to work. Normal things. I might be wrong about what’s causing her good mood, though.