Page 10 of Fall of Hellfire (Hellfire Society #3)

It takes us about two hours to hit the small town Shane had talked about.

The drive is silent, all of us still lost in our thoughts about what happened tonight and our concern for our woman.

Shane told us to drive right through until we hit the end of town, make a right, and take that for another forty minutes before we would hit the actual dirt road that would take us to the cabin.

As we drive through the small town late at night, I take in all the shops.

We haven't discussed how long we plan to stay here, but Ali is going to need more than a few days to heal.

That's not even taking in the mental distress she might have after this.

We don't even know what the sick fuck did to her.

Possibilities flash through my mind, but I push them aside.

If I think of any of those, I might actually go hunt the bastard down before we are ready.

I refocus on the town and spot a few clothing stores, a grocery store, an outdoor hunting shop, and a few other random shops.

There's a diner, a little casino, and a gas station as well.

The town might be small, but it will have everything we need to survive for a few weeks, if needed.

Once we leave the small town, the forest seems to swallow us whole, as the night sky darkens to a deep blue-black dotted with brightly lit stars.

The only real light out is the full moon above and the SUV's headlights.

Cash doesn't bother speeding, taking it slower now that we aren't in any immediate danger.

Plus, all the deer crossing signs are a bit concerning.

I keep glancing at the map in my hands as we near the area that should be the turnoff, according to what Shane outlined at least. Everything seems to blur and blend with the trees before I finally spot a small gap in the forest on the left-hand side.

"There," I call out, pointing as I spot the yellow indicators flashing off the headlights, just like he said there would be, wrapped around the trees marking the small one-car path.

Cash slams on the brakes at my sudden outburst of words, swerving to the side.

Curses sound out from all of us before a pained moan from Ali has us all spinning in our seats.

Arsen is hanging onto Ali with a tight grip, glaring at us with venom.

I want to snap at him for the way he is holding her, but I know it was to stop her from rolling off his lap.

"Watch your driving!" he grinds out before slowly and carefully adjusting Ali's position.

I won't lie that I've been super worried that she hasn't fully woken up yet.

Only letting out pain-filled moans and quiet sobs every now and then when jostled too much.

Honestly, I just want her to open her eyes so I can see those beautiful emerald greens flare to life again.

I need her to tease me; tell me I'm a psychopath, then let me fuck her against the wall just to prove it.

I want her to call me her husband with that little smirk of hers because she knows what calling me that does to me. I just need her to be okay.

"Sorry. It's not like there are any real signs or even light to see where the fuck we are," Cash grumbles, slowly backing up a bit before turning the SUV onto the dirt path.

I immediately grind my teeth when I realize the path is rough and uneven.

"A, hang on to her, this isn't going to be a smooth ride," he grits out, as his hands tighten on the steering wheel, the leather creaking under his grip.

"Fuck," Arsen curses before trying to readjust Ali across his lap. Somewhat unsuccessfully, as her legs begin to slip off the seat as he tries to keep her upper half from sliding off.

I can't take more of Ali hurting from us.

"Slow down and stop. Let me climb in the back to help keep her steady.

" Cash does as I ask as I get out and jog to the other side of the SUV where Ali's feet lie.

As gently as I can, I climb onto the seat, lifting Ali's legs as I go, and slip in.

Once I'm seated, I place her legs down on my lap and lay my arms across her thighs and lower legs to make sure she can't slide off. I try to avoid the now wrapped in gauze thigh that hides her carved flesh, but it’s hard when the fucker cut large and deep letters.

Every time I see it, I come up with new, creative, and very painful ways to possibly torture the fucker responsible for her pain.

Once we have her settled enough, I nod to Cash who is glancing at us through the rearview mirror. "Take it slow and steady."

He does as we follow the only path given.

Shane had mentioned that it takes ten or fifteen minutes from the main road to reach the cabin.

With our pace it takes us closer to twenty, but none of us care, since Ali hasn't made another pained sound.

Cash puts the SUV in park before turning in his seat, eyes focusing on Ali for a second before lifting to meet ours.

"A, you stay with Ali. Riot, you and I can do a once-around before checking the inside.

" He looks back down to our girl with a frown.

"Let us get some lights on and the fire started before we bring her in.

" I nod, remembering Shane mentioning a generator in the back.

As gently as I got in the back seat, I shift my body out the back door before following Cash around the back of the cabin.

Once I catch up to him, he hands me a flashlight as we start to look for the generator Shane told us about.

I decide now is the perfect time to speak my mind.

"We need to go after Ethan. We can't let what he did to our woman slide.

He is a dead man walking, and he needs to know it.

" Cash is silent as we find the small shed at the back.

He starts to fill the generator with the extra gas can beside it.

I think he is just going to ignore me when he finishes and turns to me.

"I know you're angry, Ri. Arsen and I are too, but now is not the time.

" I scoff at his response as he starts the generator up.

It makes a screeching noise, spurting a bit before finally turning over and running.

From the corner of my eye I spot a light flicker on from one of the cabin windows.

He turns back to me, a serious look crossing his face.

"Ali is going to need us more right now.

Let's come up with a plan of attack while Ali has time to heal.

Plus, we need to go through all the files and information we collected.

We start there." A part of me wants to laugh in his face and tell him the best plan of attack is to attack and kill them all, but I also know he is in charge for a reason.

That reason being he has a saner thought process than my kill-first-ask-questions-later one.

He stares at me for a long moment, cocking a brow in question like he knows what I'm thinking, and he probably does, but instead of arguing, I let out a defeated sigh.

"I'll go start the fire if you want to start bringing in the bags," I tell him, turning and heading for the front of the cabin to do just that.

Cash might have a point that we need to stop and figure out how the hell we need to move forward, but he also needs to understand I can only hold back my blood rage for so long.

And with Ali currently black and blue, it's only fueling my thirst for revenge on behalf of her.