Page 13 of Fall of Hellfire (Hellfire Society #3)

ten

ALI

T hree days. Three long days of these men tending to my every need.

You would think any woman in the world would be in heaven, right?

NOT! They are driving me crazy. I can't even get out of bed to pee without one of them rushing to my side like I might collapse if they aren't there. I know they feel a little guilty for how I look right now, but I’m the one to blame.

I'm the one who had the great idea to go to my father's office for more information.

I made that choice, not them, but they won't listen to logic right now.

They are basically treating me like a broken doll, like I might have some type of breakdown at any minute.

They aren't wrong; it's possible, but I’m fine.

My swollen shut eyes have healed enough that I can finally see out of them.

The first day was rough since it hurt to even think, but with each day that comes, I feel like I get another piece of myself back.

While I was in the bathroom this morning, I finally got the courage to look at my reflection.

To say that I was shocked was an understatement.

I don't even look like myself. The whites of my eyes are a bloodshot red, and my lip and cheek both have a nasty cut, but the biggest shock is my skin color.

I look like a busted-up rainbow of colors.

Yellows, greens, purples, and blues color my once creamy pale skin.

I look like something out of a horror story.

From what I saw of my body, it doesn't fare much better; there is not a single inch of me that Ethan didn't mark.

Half the cuts I don't even remember getting, and the ones I do remember, the guys won't let me see yet.

Arsen keeps it wrapped with gauze, and the few times it bled through he made Riot or Cash distract me before I could get a glimpse.

With the way they are reacting to it, it must be pretty bad, but it's my body and I should see what the asshole did.

On the flip side of those feelings, a small part of me is afraid to look.

I know it's a cut; I was semi-conscious when he was digging the blade in, but I can't recall how bad it was.

I mean, it throbs in pain every time I move, but can it really be that bad?

So far the guys have kept me in this room and in bed.

I know there is a second bedroom and a living room, but every time I’ve attempted to get up, one of the guys is there, talking me back into bed.

Honestly, I haven't had the energy to fight them on it, but today I feel rested.

I still feel like I was a test dummy in a car accident, but with the pain pills every few hours, it's not too bad. Plus, I’m used to feeling sore from fighting.

It's just my thigh that has the most pain, but I can't be babied all the time.

Plus, today I need answers. They told me what happened after Shane found me and how Ethan sent a small team after me, but we made it out and they didn't. Now I need to know what we've found out since then.

They all went out that day to gather information we could use, and I need to know if my flash drive was useful.

All three guys are in the living room area.

Arsen is in the kitchen getting some type of soup ready for later, while Cash reads through a stack of papers and Riot sharpens a knife.

Oh, my little psycho hasn’t changed. Currently they think I’m napping, and I was, but my sleep has been awful.

It's like my subconscious wants to torture me more in my sleep.

Every time I close my eyes, I can feel the tip of a blade sliding across my flesh, hands groping me, grabbing at me, and whispered promises of pain to come.

I haven't told the guys, shaking off their concerns by telling them it's pain that wakes me, but I have a feeling they will find out sooner or later.

Ever so slowly, I scoot to the edge of the bed.

I'm wearing nothing but a large t-shirt that comes down to my knees as I set my feet on the wooden floor as quietly as I can.

Keeping my eyes trained on the doorway, I carefully stand, biting back the cry that catches in my throat when I put pressure on my bad leg.

I take a second to breathe through the pain before taking a step forward.

All I need to do is get past the doorway and then stand my ground.

Easier said than done when I can barely stand as it is.

I keep my movements slow, hoping Arsen doesn't turn around as I inch closer to my goal.

One step, two steps, almost there.

Right as my foot crosses the threshold of the door, the floor creaks and all three men snap their heads up. Ugh. Just my luck. A chorus of "What are you doing up?" "Do you need something?" and "You should be in bed!" sounds, making me glare at the room.

"No." Three semi-stunned faces stare back at me.

"I am not a broken little girl that needs to be coddled.

Yes, I was beaten to an inch of my life, but stop treating me like a wounded animal you found on the side of the road.

" Three sets of eyes widen at my words, but I continue to stand there, not backing down.

Honestly, I didn't even mean to let that all slip out, but oh well.

"Now yes, I’m still in pain and moving slower than I want, but I will not be bedridden any longer.

No more of you three whispering in here or rushing to my side when you hear me shift in bed.

I want to know what you have found out and what the plan is moving forward.

" I pause, letting out a breath. "Understood?

" I finally add when none of them say anything but stare blankly at me.

Riot is the first to snap out of it; he stands coming towards me.

I glare, thinking he is going to try and take me back to bed or tell me I’m being ridiculous, but he simply lifts me up and takes me to the couch, placing me next to Cash.

Winking, he kisses the top of my head and whispers, "Yes, wife," then moves back to where he was seated.

I sit there, now feeling somewhat awkward before Cash clears his throat.

"We're sorry. We never meant to make you feel like that.

We just wanted you to heal and feel better before we dumped even more on you.

" I can understand that. So maybe I might have overreacted just a bit.

"I know," I whisper. "I'm just going stir-crazy. I feel so, so - I don't know. I just don't want to be in that room anymore." I tell him, and he nods, a look of understanding donning his too handsome face.

"Well, now that Ali is up and moving, she will need some clothes.

We also need a few other supplies and some more food," Arsen calls out from the kitchen; I give Cash a small smile before turning in Arsen’s direction.

I take a second to also finally glance around the room.

I was told that Shane let us use his family cabin.

He told them he used to use it to hunt, and I can tell.

A few dead animal heads, mostly deer, hang off the walls.

There's a small fireplace in the corner near where Riot sits against the wall.

A window sits on the wall next to the front door, where I can see a thick green forest. It's early to mid-morning if the sunlight is anything to go by.

A single couch and coffee table are placed closest to the fireplace, while the kitchen area is along one wall.

There's a fridge, stove/oven combo, sink, and small two-seater kitchen table.

A second bedroom sits next to the one I just left, and a basic bathroom setup sits shared between them.

Everything is wood and rustic and kind of homey feeling.

"Okay, Ri and I can run to the town if you want to loop Ali in on what we have found so far." My eyes snap back to Cash's already staring at me, and I smile. He returns my smile as Riot lets out a groan of annoyance.

"Why do I have to go? She’s my wife, I should get to stay with her," he whines, making me let out a giggle, which then makes me flinch at the pain that shoots through my stomach. Ugh. That hurt. So, no more laughing.

“If you go, you could get your “wife” presents,” Cash adds, rolling his eyes as he gets to his feet, placing the pile of files back on the coffee table.

He turns to me with a slight frown before moving to the room and returning with a blanket that he gently places around me. I give him a grateful smile.

Riot finally stands, shoving his knife into his pocket before coming towards me again.

“I’ll bring you some sweet treats.” He winks before leaning in and placing an ever so tender kiss on my lips.

My lips chase his as he pulls away, smirking down at me before looking up at Arsen.

“Feed her,” is all he says before moving to the front door, following Cash out as he calls out over his shoulder.

“Take care of our girl. We won’t be long. ”

Arsen lets out a chuckle as he brings me some pills, a water bottle, and a steaming bowl of soup.

Taking the pills and water, I quickly down them before Arsen sets the soup on my lap.

“You eat, and I’ll talk.” I nod my head, already lifting the spoon to my mouth and moaning at the burst of favors exploding over my tongue.

I hadn’t eaten a lot over the last few days, mostly sleeping and trying to heal, but now I realize I’m starving.

Arsen reaches for a stack of papers and a laptop before getting comfortable next to me, grinning as I start devouring the soup he made.

“Okay, some of what I’m going to tell you won’t be pretty.

” I give him a dry look, making him shrug.

“I’m just letting you know beforehand. I’ll start with what Cash found out.

I slurp at my tasty soup as Arsen starts showing me different files and explaining what some of them mean.

Apparently, the guys found out all of their fathers were trying to backstab each other.

Each having side deals that weren't approved by everyone in the society.

Cash's father, James, has been in dealings with a few businesses that have been helping him skim money off the top of their deposits.

He has several accounts that the money is distributed into that are under aliases.

Arsen continues on to explain that Riot was Riot and got information but no physical evidence.

Henry has been making additional deals with the cartel to the south.

Ordering more drugs and guns than prior transactions but only reporting the normal amount.

Then selling the extra for two to three times the price to people desperate for product.

This is all coming from guards he had a "conversation" with, but I've seen Riot talk, no doubt the person told him everything he knew.

Lastly, Arsen explains how his father had more clubs than he knew about.

He also started connecting dots and thinks his father was having men and women kidnapped and sold on the side for an easy payout.

That made me sick to my stomach, and I thought all the soup I had might come back up, but it wasn't nearly as bad as what Arsen told me next.

Standing, he takes my now finished bowl and takes it to the kitchen before bringing me a new water bottle.

He has an odd look on his face, like he's uncomfortable or disgusted.

But why? I take a few sips, eyeing Arsen nervously.

His entire demeanor has suddenly changed, and it's giving me weird vibes.

He went from his normal cool, collected, and clinical-like self to quiet and hesitant.

I can tell there is more he wants to say, but when he busies himself with organizing the files on the coffee table, the room falls into an uncomfortable silence.

I take a few more sips of the water before having enough.

I'm a part of this and I need to know everything, even if it's not something I want to hear.

How bad could it be? Did one of them find out they have a secret baby mama? Jealousy shoots through my chest like a spear. I don't know if I would be okay with something like that.

Or maybe they found out something about me? But I've been an open book with them so far.

The deafening quiet gets to be too much and I sit forward, trying to catch Arsen's gunmetal grey eyes.

When he finally glances in my direction, I give him a point look.

He lets out a bit of a dramatic sigh before turning and facing me.

Gently he grabs my hands, and the nerves from moments ago spike tenfold.

"What?" I ask, my palms getting sweaty as his eyes focus on me like he is looking for something. What, I have no idea.

"I was hoping the others would be here to help tell you this," He starts looking down at our intertwined hands.

"Arsen!" I snap when he doesn't continue. "Just tell me already. Delaying it will only make it worse. Plus, I’m a big girl, I doubt it can be worse than what I've recently been through," I try to joke, but he flinches at my words. I narrow my eyes at that reaction.

"Look, Ali, maybe now isn't the best time t-" He tries to state, but I'm having none of this dodgy bullshit.

I rip my hands out of his and glare. "Don't you dare finish that sentence. Just fucking tell me already." I know I'm probably being a brat, but I just told them not to treat me like a child, and here he is using kid gloves to "talk" to me. Fucking men.

"Fine, but I tried to warn you." I shrug, still glaring at him expectantly.

"When I went to the club to get information, I spoke with one of the girls there.

She told me about a Mr. E." My shoulder immediately tense, dread plummeting to the bottom of my stomach.

The soup is now boiling at the bottom of my throat, threatening to roil at any minute.

"We connected the dots that this Mr. E is Ethan Black, but what helped us realize it is that she said he has had odd requests lately.

He wants girls to wear wigs that are black and pink, and he calls the girls Ali when he is fucking them.

" He cringes at his own words leaving his mouth, but the room starts to spin as the rest of what he was saying fades to static.

My nightmares suddenly become living ones, as the sensation of hands touching me, groping me, and clawing at me like bugs crawling across my skin causes the bile to rise.

Oh god, I'm going to be sick.