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CHAPTER 36
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Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 37
My apartment is cramped, hot, and lonely. I guess it’s always been this way, I just never noticed it like I do now. I turn the thermostat to its normal I’m home setting. After staying at Moon’s, the heat is unbearable within an hour.I check through my messages, glad that the cell phone from my car was waiting in the rental. Three missed calls from Terry, one from Brenda, and one from my dad. Crap. I forgot about calling my mother. I make the call. My mother is a wonderful person, but she has her moments. This is one of them. She talks my ear off for an hour while I swelter. I finally tell her I have other calls to make and need to get to work. She disapproves of my job and doesn’t ask specifics. She disapproved of law enforcement too. I’ve come to terms with it, and maybe one day my mother will realize that a boring eight to five job is not my thing. I call Brenda next.“Hey, girl, you had us worried,” she says as soon as I identify myself. “Terry was planning to call in a missing
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 38
I carefully slide behind the hot steering wheel. With even more care, I gingerly put my seatbelt on. I pull out of the parking lot and notice one of Moon’s black Caddies across the street. It pulls out and follows me.I take a few turns and enter the I-17 on-ramp. The Caddy stays a safe distance behind me until I take the Peoria turnoff and head into Ghetto Center. That’s not actually the mall’s name, it’s just what it’s known as. Off the road that circles the mall there’s a large store that’s been vacant for years. It went out of business ages ago and no one ever moved in. This isn’t the nicest neighborhood. I drive into the parking lot. The Caddy pulls up beside me and Moon opens the back door. Gomez is driving and he isn’t looking at me.I pop the locks and Moon opens the passenger door.“What the fuck are you doing?” he asks before he shifts his body inside. He’s not wearing a jacket and he’s a bit more disheveled than I’m accustomed to.I’m more than ready for this macho thug gam
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 39
After obtaining a new rental, I purchase camo shorts, a green tank top, baseball cap, water bottle, and field glasses. Of course, I have all this back at my apartment. Being followed by Moon or his thugs is not part of the plan. The tables have turned.I know the area around Moon’s home. I end up parked two streets over and hike until I find a place to sit and watch. The sun beats down on me and I do my best to conserve the water. I don’t know if Moon is home. If he is, I’m following him. If not, I’ll stay in a hotel and come back tomorrow.The sun finally begins setting and a spectacular array of light washes across the horizon. Arizona sunsets are to die for. I smile at the thought. Following Moon could get me killed. It’s the whole sick cop humor thing. I’ll appreciate this sunset like it’s my last.About an hour later, one of the Cadillacs pulls out. I have no idea if Moon’s in it and that doesn’t matter. I know my plan could take a few days before it pays off. I stand up from whe
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 40
I take the long way around to the rental car. It’s still there. I hide in the shadows for ten minutes. Nothing moves, so I finally make a dash for the car. I need to go straight to the police. I would have called already, but I worried Moon or his thugs would hear me.I slip inside and close the door as quickly and quietly as I can and lock it. My fingers are shaking and I have a difficult time getting the key in the ignition.I freeze at a voice and the cold metal of a barrel against my head. He was in the fucking back seat and I didn’t look when I opened the door and the light went on. I want to pound my head into the steering wheel.“Drop the keys and place your hands on your head.” My heavy breathing fills the car. “Moon wants you alive, but I won’t die because of a fucking puta.”Even with my limited Spanish, I know what he called me. I do as he says. He grabs my hands and a large chunk of my hair at the same time. The gun barrel leaves my head and he speaks into a phone. “Got he
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 41
We’re in the library and I’m sitting in one of two stuffed chairs staring at a wall of books. Gomez hands me a shot glass after filling two.“Tequila, drink it.”I down the glass without a second thought and he downs his. There’s no lime to disguise the taste or help the burn and I can’t stop from doing the funny twist thing with my mouth. He ignores this, takes the glass out of my fingers, and refills both. We drink another shot together.“You’ve made a real fucking mess, pequeña.”My head feels decidedly fuzzy. “I swear if you’re calling me ‘little sister,’ I’ll bite you again.”A chuckle escapes him. “It means ‘little one.’ You fucking fight like a wildcat, though.”“What good did it do me? I’m still here,” I pout. He refills my glass, we drink, and he walks over to the house phone.“Philip, bring us some chips.” I’m relieved because I need something in my stomach. My head is spinning and my belly rolling. He hangs up the phone and turns to me. “You’re safe here. Moon shouldn’t hav
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 42
I’m lifted from the chair and I let out a small groan. “Go back to sleep. I’m carrying you to my room,” Moon says. My arms and legs are useless, so I do what he says.When I finally wake up, light hits my eyes and I struggle to climb out of bed before I puke. I run into Moon’s bathroom and barely make it to the toilet. Chips and tequila are not a good combination when they come up. When I think everything is expelled from my stomach, I turn on the shower and strip off my bra and panties. Moon must have removed the rest of my clothes last night. My toothbrush is in the drawer beside Moon’s, and I thoroughly brush my teeth and rinse out my mouth.I’m never drinking again. The water burns my scrapes, but I don’t care. I wash from head to toe, including my hair. I feel horrible and that doesn’t change as I stand under the water and let it pound down on me. I have no idea how long I remain like this, but I finally realize I’m delaying the inevitable. I leave the bathroom wrapped in a towel
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 43
Gabriella cooks a large brunch, and even with a hangover, I’m ravenous. She’s especially quiet, and I notice a cautious look every few minutes as she serves us in the kitchen dining area. I wonder how much she knows. She can’t be oblivious about who Moon is or what he does.She leaves us alone after I take my first bite and tell her how wonderful it is. I’m dressed in shorts and a tee. I wore a tight shirt because I don’t have a gun to conceal. I sneak a look or two as Moon eats, but mostly I keep my head down and concentrate on the food.I have no idea what to say.I’m startled when Moon clasps my fingers. “No, I won’t keep you here against your will, baby.”I think about those words for a few minutes. He releases my hand and we continue eating.I finally look up. “What if I go to the police?”His lips make a small quirk. “I’ll lie.”He says it so easily. “Will they find Dandridge’s body?”“No.”They’ll ask why I didn’t go straight to the police the first night. They’ll ask for proof
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 44
In the afternoon, I take more ibuprofen to combat my nagging hangover headache. It has barely taken effect when Moon’s aunt arrives with her gaggle of girls. Hell, they’re not girls; I should refer to them as women. They look bright eyed and helpless, so I’ll stick with girls. Forget that they’re beautiful and elegant and feminine.I’m dressed in black BDUs. Moon sent one of his men to my apartment. Now I also have a utility belt and my favorite kickass boots. My top is a tight black unadorned tee that hugs my breasts and is long enough to tuck in. Because I’m working guard duty tonight, I’m taking it seriously. Moon walked into his room after I put my gun on my hip and pepper spray into its slip holster. He approved and we almost ended up back in bed. Moon left no doubt in my mind that he’s completely turned on by this kickass female.Currently, he’s meeting with the house security team. They’re all pulling a shift tonight, but only two will monitor the cameras while the other four o
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