Page 17 of Sons of Hellfire (Hellfire Society #1)

seventeen

Riot

A rsen’s and my little adventure bore great tidings.

I was a bit excited to come back and share all my goodies with my wife.

Maybe she would be so impressed we could go for a round two, or maybe a blow job.

When we stumbled across a decently hidden stash within the first hour, we debated about heading back then and there.

But with the four of us needing sustenance like food and water, we made the decision to keep looking.

The first stash had two water bottles, a single granola bar, and a taser gun.

It was an odd weapon, but hey, who am I to judge when I carried around a chain.

As we continued to search, we crossed paths with a small group of four men, all carrying backpacks.

Backpacks meant some supplies. Supplies we need and want.

So, with little thought, we had taken the men out, stolen their goods, and were headed back all within Cash’s deadline.

Honestly, I didn’t even break a sweat, which was a little sad. I was hoping these trials would be more of a challenge. But the only challenge so far has been convincing Ali that she’s my wife.

By the time we got back to the building we claimed, the sun was starting to set. Entering the room, I hold up the backpacks, smiling wide, like a knight presenting the dragon’s head he just slayed. “Daddy’s home.”

Arsen, who entered before me, spins on his heel and glares.

“Shut the fuck up, you idiot. Ali is still asleep.” I frown, leaning to the side to look for myself.

Sure enough, there’s my Ali, curled up into a ball on a ratty old blanket.

Cash’s hoodie is being used as a cover and the knife she was holding earlier; she’s cuddling it.

If I didn’t know she was already perfect, I do now.

“Awwww… She looks so cute.” I whisper, but Cash snorting has me turning in his direction.

“Yeah, like a kitten. All cute and cuddly, but the moment you wake her, she will strike, and that kitty has sharp claws.” I grin ear to ear at that because he isn’t wrong. “How did you guys do?” he asks, nodding to our bags.

“Not bad, found one small stash, but the backpacks are from a small group we crossed paths with. We haven’t checked them yet.

” Arsen replies, heading for where Cash is seated with the two bags he was carrying.

I waver for a second, wanting to head in Ali’s direction, but Cash is probably right.

Waking her could end badly for me, and I don’t think another stab wound will help our relationship any.

With that wise decision made, I move towards the guys before we start to take inventory.

H ours later, and I’m midway through my lookout shift.

Ali is still passed out across the room, only tossing and turning here and there.

Cash and Arsen are napping as well while I take post near the window.

The fire in the middle of the room burns with low flames and embers.

Enough to give off some warmth in the enclosed space, but not enough light to give away our positions.

We barred the door with an old metal chair we found in one of the other rooms, but with the entire town wasting away, it wouldn’t take more than a strong wind to knock over the actual door.

Add in the grime build up on the windows; not much of the firelight can be seen, regardless.

The sun sits just past the horizon, the early morning light flickering over the far-off hills.

As I’m scanning the outside area for movement, for like the millionth time, the crackling of a loudspeaker echoes around the town.

Cash, Arsen, and Ali all jump up, weapon or fists at the ready.

I tap my ear twice, then point to the window in a listen outside motion.

All three move closer as my father’s voice comes through, a voice filled with cold excitement.

“Attention participants. Congratulations on surviving day one of the trials.” There’s the sound of clapping, only making me roll my eyes.

The drama. “The official kill count is roughly one hundred and forty-three. Very impressive. With that being said, we’ve decided to change the rules a bit.

” I frown, turning to look at my brothers in arms in confusion.

Did they know about a rule change? The rules have been set for generations.

“Moving forward, only five of you may leave the arena alive. Last night, instead of additional supplies being added, we’ve placed weapon caches around town.

The only catch is they are placed in chests with time locks on them.

” He lets out a chuckle, the sound crackling over the speakers and sounding more like white noise.

“You only have an hour to access them. But that’s not all.

A surprise is roaming the town, so be quick.

Good luck, volunteers and remember that the last five standing will become rich beyond their dreams.” He lets out another dark chuckle that is abruptly cut off when the sound of sirens ring out.

The sound even sending chills down my back.

“What the fuck is all that about?” Ali says, her green eyes bouncing between the three of us in accusations.

“Believe it or not, we don’t have a clue. The rules to the trials haven’t changed since the original game. This makes little sense to any of us,” Arsen tells her, but she is already shaking her head in denial.

“You,” she points at Cash. “You said you three come from the twisted fucks that created this fucking hell. And you’re saying you had no idea that they were only going to let five of us walk out of here alive.

” Ali’s mask fell off sometime in her sleep, allowing us to get a full view of her perfect face.

And I can’t lie, a barefaced, angry-looking Ali is hot.

“We are telling you the truth. We didn’t know anyone was going to change the rules.

But it makes sense the more I think about it.

I’ve had my suspicions that our families are trying to pit us against each other.

Why? I have no idea. Our great-great-grandfathers started the Hellfire Society together.

It’s always been our families managing business together.

But lately, it’s felt like something more has been going on,” Cash explains, and I nod along.

He isn’t wrong. The last time we talked, the night before the trials began, we realized all of our families had said something along the lines of rumors or suspicions they have that the other families are making moves against them.

But none of it makes sense. We are a triad business adventure.

Without one of us, the other two will fall.

No matter what contingency plans they have in place.

It only works if we all carry our weight equally.

“Well, maybe your fathers are assholes and want to get rid of you. It wouldn’t be the first time a father sold out their own flesh and blood.

” A look passes over Ali’s face, but before I can figure it out, it’s gone.

I make a mental note to look into her past because the way she just spoke sounds like she knows from experience .

The room falls silent, and when I look up, expecting Cash or even Arsen to deny the claim, I realize none of us can say for certain. Does it make sense that our fathers would want to kill us off? No. We are the heirs to the Hellfire throne. Without us, there is no one to take over.

“Let’s discuss this later. You heard your father, Ri.

We have less than an hour to find a weapon cache.

And who knows what surprises they left for us.

Remember, this trial was designed to test us more than anything.

” Cash says, moving to grab a backpack. Most of the backpacks had water, snacks, and a few first aid or survival items. We only found one other knife, but at least everyone has a weapon now.

Ali and Cash will both carry blades, Arsen has a baseball bat, and I have my chain.

“Wait!” Ali holds up her hands. “If these ‘games’ are to test the three of you, why the hell should I be seen with you all?” It’s a valid question on her part, but also a dumb one.

Does she really think I would let my wife wander around an area full of criminals and hunters alike?

Does she not remember what we saved her from just yesterday?

What could have happened to her if we hadn’t showed up?

I open my mouth to tell her all that, but Cash beats me to it.

“Listen here, Ali cat,” she sneers at his new nickname for her.

“If it wasn’t for us, you wouldn’t be here right now.

Those men yesterday weren’t going to just have some fun, get their dicks wet, and leave you.

No, not when it’s the last one standing.

One less person alive means a bigger payday for whoever is left.

Unlike those pieces of trash, we have morals.

Women and children are crossing the line.

” He steps forward into her space, and when she doesn’t step back, only squares her shoulders, I grin like a madman getting front-row seats to a once-in-a-lifetime show.

I wish I had popcorn. “I thought going slow was our best bet, letting you come to us, but I’ve changed my mind.

Let me make something perfectly clear to you.

” He glances over at Arsen and me with an unspoken question.

We both nod in agreement; this needs to happen.

Cash grins. “The three of us have decided that we all want you.” Ali’s head jerks back in surprise, maybe horror, but Cash continues on.

“You are legally married to Riot, remember? Which means there is no escaping us now. If you run, we will chase. If you hide, we will seek. You belong to us now, and if you want to make it out of here alive, you will behave. Then when we make it out of here; alive, you’ll be rewarded like a good girl.

” I watch Ali for her reaction to Cash’s blunt words, but she gives nothing else away except for the gasp of surprise moments ago.

After a tense minute or so, our feral woman grins.

“You’re going to regret this, but I’ll play.

For now.” I rub my hands together excitedly.

When Cash told her she was ours, I thought I would be jealous.

I called dibs first, after all, but it did the exact opposite.

I’m as hard as stone right now. Reaching down, I readjust myself, knowing we don’t have time for a quickie, not that our woman is in a giving mood anyway. We have caches to raid and men to kill.

“I call partners with my wife.” I say, my hand shooting into the air like I’m waiting for a teacher to acknowledge me.

Ali rolls her eyes but shrugs, mumbling an annoyed “Whatever.” Bending down, I grab the extra backpack and hand it over to our girl.

“There’s not much, but there’s some water and snacks to hold you over.

” For a long second, she just stares at me before grabbing the bag and giving me the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

It’s like Cupid just shot an arrow through my black heart. Fuck, that smile is dangerous.

“Five minutes, then we head out.” Cash tells us, taking out his own water bottle.

From my peripheral, I see Ali making a face and mimicking Cash in a quiet tone.

The drink I just took shoots from my nose as I let out a laugh.

Coughing, I try to cover my laughter. The others ignore me, but Ali smirks before grabbing a granola bar and quickly scarfing it down.

Once we all had some type of nutrients and water, we geared up.

Without a word, we head out. Cash and Arsen move to the left while Ali and I take the right.

Twenty minutes later, we still haven’t found a weapons cache or another living soul.

We turn the corner to an old library. Old books and torn-up loose pages spill from the front.

Broken glass litters the ground as we keep moving, but a sound from the next alleyway has me pausing.

Moving as one, and like we do this on the regular, we shift so that our backs are against the old building and listen.

Multiple footsteps are getting closer. A tap on my shoulder has me glancing back at Ali, who is grinning as she lowers herself to a kneel.

I frown in confusion before I spot a small mirror in her hand.

It was one of the items we found in the pack last night.

Slowly, she inches in front of me and places the mirror so that she can see around the corner.

Suddenly she jerks back, eyes wide as she stands, pulling out her blade as she drags me back until we are further from the alley.

“What is it?” I whisper .

“Trouble. Ten or so men, tactical and armed. I spotted a few guns, so they came to play. Is this the surprise your father mentioned? If so, I hate to think about what you get on holidays.” I snort. If only she knew.

“Guns are not permitted.” I say as if that fixes our problem.

“Oh really. Want to go tell them that?” She glances over back towards the alley. “We don’t have a choice. I have a feeling these guys are here to help downsize the pool, so what’s our move?” She has a point and is probably right. Slowly, my lips tick up in a grin.

“Well, only one thing to do.” In a flash, I reach forward, grabbing Ali’s face and smashing my lips to hers.

She is frozen for half a second before she is kissing me back with just as much ferocity.

Pulling away, I’m almost left breathless.

“Ready?” I ask as Ali’s lust-filled eyes focus.

She nods, a wickedly evil grin matching my own.

Before either of us moves, Ali speaks, her words stunning me before what I think is my heart skipping a beat. “I bet I can kill more of them than you.” The challenging twinkle in her eyes confirms everything I already thought. Ali is perfect for us.

“You’re on.”