Page 5 of Sons of Hellfire (Hellfire Society #1)

five

Riot

I think I’ m in love. Is this what it feels like when people say love at first sight?

I watch as the little beastie flies out of the back of the SUV.

Fists swinging into this dude’s face. The force of her impact sends them both flying back, but the tiny little slip of a woman doesn’t slow her assault.

No, she almost doubles it as she straddles the big guy, a man twice her size.

I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest, and my dick might explode if I can’t have this woman.

Just as I’m about to swoop in and ask this woman to marry me, the second guy, Mike, rushes forward and slams his foot against my future wife’s head. She goes soaring to the side, her limp body hitting the gravel and sliding to a stop. Oh, Mike has a death wish .

Cash must see my intent to murder this fucker because an arm reaches out to stop my step forward. My eyes snap to his, the anger I was feeling towards Mike now shifting to Cash. How dare he stop me from killing my prey. “Not now. Play it smart.” I narrow my eyes, debating my options.

On one hand, I’ll feel better killing Mike for hurting my little beastie.

On the other hand, if I kill Mike here and now, Arsen’s father will be pissed. He’ll call my father, and then I’ll get a longgggg speech about the Parker name being one of cunning skills and not having to get your hands dirty. Blah blah blah.

“Fine.” I grind out. Turning my disdain back towards Mike, who is helping his useless friend up. The friend is now holding his face, blood gushing from his nose. I grin at that. My little beastie packs a punch.

“Fucking feral bitch.” He curses, turning in the direction of my unconscious woman. Then he signs his own death warrant. He suddenly charges before sending his foot into her stomach. She groans out in pain but is still out cold.

Before either Cash or Arsen can stop me, I duck under Cash’s arm and rush forward.

I might be big, a beast as some say, but I’m fast. Before either of the fuckers can process what is going on, my knife is out and gliding across both their necks.

A gurgling sound can be heard half a second before two loud thumps of bodies hitting the ground follow.

I smile; looks like I chose option two. What’s a little speech about not killing the help, anyway?

Cash lets out an annoyed sigh, and Arsen lets out a curse, but I ignore them as my eyes land on my future wife.

I crouch down, my eyes traveling over her still body as I reach forward, pushing a lock of loose hair out of her face.

My finger caresses her soft skin, and I know I’m a goner.

The little beastie is gorgeous. Long black hair that fades to pink is braided back.

She appears on the shorter side, but I’m 6’6”, so that’s not a surprise.

She’s dressed in a loose AC/DC crop top.

The fabric shifted up to show the edge of a black lacy bra.

Jean shorts and ankle-high combat boots adorn her bottom half, but it’s the tattoos that cover her body that catch my attention.

Her skin is decorated in shades of black, each piece separate but somehow still tied to the next.

She’s a work of art, and I want to keep her.

My eyes drift back up but pause when I notice her skin doesn’t appear smooth under all that ink.

Reaching forward, I run my hand down her side, the skin raised, like it’s been scarred.

Something akin to pure rage sinks beneath my skin.

Who would dare hurt a creature such as her?

No matter, I will get her to tell me, and I will hunt them down and bring their heads as a wedding gift.

I nod to myself, liking that idea as my eyes return to her face.

She’s frowning now, her pouty lips swollen with a slight cut. I don’t like that. Seeing her blood.

“I want to keep her.” I say, my words a finality in my mind.

“You can’t keep her, Riot. She’s not a pet.” Cash calls back, and I can practically see him roll his eyes in my mind. “Plus, she’s already been tagged as a volunteer.” His added words don’t make me feel any better.

I don’t want her in the trials. They are dangerous, and my future wife shouldn’t have to kill someone to survive.

She should only have to kill for fun. Like I could take her on a murder date.

We could go have dinner, watch a movie, hunt someone, and then after killing together, we could go get ice cream.

I wonder if she likes ice cream and scary movies.

I can hear the guys loading the now dead bodies into the trunk of the SUV. I should probably help since they are my bodies, but my beastie has all my attention .

“Riot, can you carry your new pet inside and place her in one of the cells?” Arsen asks, and I growl out.

How dare he want her in a cell? Does he not realize who she is?

My future wife. The mother of my children.

“Riot, if she’s not in a cell, our fathers will get involved.

Do you really want her to catch their attention?

We already have to explain why these two are dead.

We can blame her, and they will leave her alone.

You know they want a bloody show, but if they found out you did it because of her…

” He doesn’t need to finish his sentence to get his point across.

My father is a twisted, sick fuck, and he would use her to hurt me if he thought I cared.

No, Cash and Arsen are right. The trials start in a week.

I’ll be able to see her again and keep her safe.

I can wait a week. Maybe. Probably. I pull out my phone and take a few quick pictures.

Something for my spank bank because I would never cheat on my wife for a cheap piece of ass.

Then, with as much tender care as I can manage, I tuck my arms under her body and lift.

I take us in the direction of the garage; Arsen follows behind, opening doors as we go, before we reach a set of stairs that lead underground.

The temperature shifts, as does my irritation that I am forced to leave her here .

“Place her in this one.” Arsen says, leading us to the back of the room.

There are a few caged cells lining each side of the wall.

A few men and women are already filling them.

Her cell has a small cot against the wall that I softly set her down on before glaring at my brother.

“She will be taken care of. I promise.” He assures me.

I give him a nod before leaning forward and kiss my woman on the forehead.

“I’ll see you soon, my little beastie.”

T he guys still made me get rid of the bodies, which was annoying, but whatever.

It gave me a few minutes to jerk off to my future wife.

I don’t even know who this woman is, but I want her.

No, I need her like the air I breathe. I’ve never believed in fate before, but that’s exactly what this is.

Who would have thought the first year I get to attend the Hellfire Trials this woman shows up?

A small raging fire that makes me want to burn alive just to feel her fury.

Oh, I bet she is a wildcat in bed. Just the thought causes my dick to get hard again.

This is going to be the longest week of my life .

When I finally get back to Arsen’s house, I make my way to his bedroom.

He and Cash are lounging across his living space, playing a video game as I walk in.

“It’s done.” I call out, heading for the open pizza box on the coffee table.

I grab the beer that’s waiting for me and plop down next to Cash.

He nods in acknowledgement but stays focused on the racing game they are playing.

They finish the round quickly, and the moment it’s over, Arsen pulls out a signal jammer and turns it on. A heavy feeling settles over us all. None of us really want to play in these stupid Hellfire Trials, but none of us really have a choice.

“Have any of your fathers brought up the trial next week?” Cash asks, examining us carefully. I don’t know why he bothers; none of us would lie to each other. Even if we tried, one of us would know; we’ve grown up together and are thick as thieves.

I nod, and from the corner of my eye, I see Arsen nod as well.

“Is it just me, or does it seem like our sperm donors are playing a game of their own? James tried to imply that both your families are rumored to plan a takeover of sorts. He told me that if I had a chance, I should take you both out at the trials. Spouting his usual bullshit that the Grants should have more power, but that he would never make a move himself.” I burst out laughing at his words.

Cash's eyebrows shoot up at my outburst.

“Were we in the same conversations?” I scoff, remembering my own sperm donor’s words.

“They want to run us out of our own empire. If they don’t have heirs, they can’t rule.

But yeah, my father wasn’t as sneaky with his words.

Good ole Henry told me I should take you both out first, before you could take me out. ” I let out another chuckle.

“Mine was along the same lines.” Arsen adds with a thoughtful frown.

Cash hums in response. “It seems our sperm donors have all pitted us against each other. But why? What is their end game?” I shrug at his questions, not that I think he wants an actual answer from me. So, I reach forward to grab another slice of pizza, then take another sip of my beer.

“The real question is, should we play their game?” And will I have time to play with my little beastie?