Lahat ng Kabanata ng Hotter Than Hell: Kabanata 271 - Kabanata 280

The escort service Cartwright runs is in the older Encanto area of Phoenix known for its lower rent, shady dealings, and dead bodies. The location goes hand-in-hand with his workforce of women. They would probably do better standing on a street corner. He provides services for a less discerning clientele than what Elegant Escorts has. If you want to get laid cheaply by women with drug habits and missing teeth, Cartwright is your man.The office is in a strip plaza off the main road. The four of us enter with Alex in the lead, me next, then Dax with Duke last. I've figured out what was bugging me about Duke. His eyes and ears take in everything. He's smart and alert, but his unusual quietness gives off a strange vibe. But with his size and dislike of men who hurt women, I'm glad he's on our side.The older dark-haired woman at the front desk looks up and quickly hits a button on her desk phone. "Moon, Gomez, and friends are here to see you and I don't think it's a pleasure call," she sa

The drive across town from Cartwright's place is intolerable. I pay no attention to Dax and Duke speaking softly in the backseat. I called for backup from my men as soon as we hit the highway. My team will arrive a few minutes behind us. We aren't waiting. There's a feeling deep in my gut that says I need to get to Madison quickly and that's what we're doing.The outskirts of Phoenix are filled with agriculture. Houses in this area aren't the cookie cutter homes you see in the city, they're sprawling homes surrounded by mile after mile of everything from corn to nut trees."We're a mile away," Alex finally says when we take another corner practically on two wheels. I look at the navigator, which shows two more turns. My eyes are glued to what is in front of us as Alex takes the next right."The women," Alex yells before I catch sight of them.They're running up the road away from where we were headed. I don't wait for the SUV to stop when I jump out and grab Madison. I scoop her into m

Cori's been provided a room on the third floor so she can recuperate here. Carlo thinks it will take some time. After Cori's fingers were delivered, we placed them on ice but there was too much tissue damage during the original transport to my house and they can't be reattached. I'd send Cori to the best plastic surgeons in the United States if they could save her fingers.My cell buzzes and I answer quickly."Boss?"It's Cal. "Yes?""They got away. Neither man was at the house. We've searched it from top to bottom looking for clues but have nothing. Where do you want us next?"My hand grips the phone tighter and I'm lucky it doesn't crumble beneath the strain. "Burn the place down so Madison and Cori's DNA and fingerprints aren't found if the police show up then come back to the house and we'll make a plan.""What about the body?"Madison never told me who the blood belonged to. "What shape is the body in?" I want to know how she killed him."His throat's been cut and his groin is shr

"Stop your fucking whining. He's dead, get over it. The bitch killed him and all you have left is revenge. I feel the same way about my sister. Both of them will pay along with their men."We're in a dump of a motel room in a shithole town called Casa Grande, which is far enough away from Phoenix that Moon won't look here for a while. I need some time to regroup and I also need a man with Goose. One who can drive because this piece of shit never learned. How you live in the United States without driving is fuck-all ridiculous."She'll pay," he says while clenching his fists and opening them repeatedly."Yes, she'll pay, blah, blah, blah and so will the black bitch with her. Your cousin was a dickhead for getting himself killed by a woman to begin with. Learn a lesson from this. Never trust whores. They're good for a piece of ass and that's it."Goose is too stupid to understand I disrespected his dead cousin and only hears what he wants. "We'll get them both and get your sister back."

His hands, his voice, his smell, the slick sweat drenching him, and last... the violation of my body. The nightmares come each time I fall asleep. When I'm awake, a dark fog twists inside me, suffocating my thoughts. There's no room for good memories and I can't escape the bad.I lie in bed, eyes open so I don't fall asleep, and try to find the courage to come out of this. I'm strong. I'm a fighter. I should be first in line to hunt down Fernandez. If I had enough energy to leave the bed, I would go back to the service and try to return to normalcy. Without me or Cori, I can't imagine things are running smoothly. Our newest receptionist has been there since Melina went back to California, but she is in no way equipped to handle a full-on female tantrum, which tends to happen when I'm away. Just the thought of it makes me tired. It's so much easier to stare at the ceiling and hope for a better tomorrow.Moon allowed Two Dogs into the room earlier. His soft fur and sloppy kisses helped f