Hellraiser (The Devil's Own #2) (20 page)

Melissa

We all pause and Jada walks towards her wearing a worried expression. Hell, Jada has probably been more of a sister to Millie than I have lately. I feel terrible; I forgot all about her troubles with the church.

“Talk, Millie. Now. I’ve been patient enough.”

Her eyes dart around the room. “Okay, but it doesn’t leave this room. Swear to me.”

We all give her our word and she drops onto the seat. I continue to make the burger patties, frantically throwing in spices.

“Okay, so I told you I witnessed my priest murder someone?”

I nod. “You did.” The mushy hamburger meat sinks into my fingers.

“Well, it was one of the sisters.”

“What!” I exclaim, dropping the food back into the bowl.

She nods, swallowing before continuing. “He was always so sweet, Lissa,” she says, looking toward me but knowing that the girls are listening as well. “It was unexpected. I don’t know what’s going on, but since then, he’s been chasing me. It’s why I came to you. I had nowhere else to go.”

“This,
father
,” I spit, walking towards her and placing my hand on her knee. “What’s his name?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. He’s old, really old. He’s new. He came in after Father David passed away from a heart attack.” She crosses herself before kissing the crucifix which hangs around her neck. I force back an eye roll. “One night, I was walking out of my room and into the community room when I saw him down in the parking lot. He killed her, shot her point blank right between the eyes, and although I was a distance away, I could feel the life being pulled out from her. I stifled a scream, but he had heard me. His face snapped up to the window and I stepped back frantically. I rushed back to my room and grabbed some clothes before sneaking outside. I dodged armed officers who were searching for me, Lissa.
Armed officers
. Why were armed officers in our church? They had bulletproof vests on that read, in white writing,
‘In man we trust’
across the back.” She wipes the tears from her cheek. “Anyway, I managed to lose them. I hid behind the first dark alley I came across and removed my habit before climbing into my jeans and tee. I had nowhere else to go, so I jumped on a bus and came straight to you.”

“Shit,” I whisper, standing. “This is fucked.”

“It’ll be fine, he was probably just some sick and twisted old man,” I tell her, trying to convince myself.

Jada peers up at Meadow, who swallows before a fake smile appears on her face. “Exactly. I wouldn’t worry about it,” Jada assures her.

I walk back to my duties, running through what she just told me. There’s a chance that her priest was, in fact, a dirty old man who was corrupted, but the armed guards don’t sit well with me.

“You’ll be safe with Jada,” I mutter, peering up at Jada.

Millie’s eyebrows pinch together. “Why?”

“Because—“

“Because I’m a bad ass,” Jada interrupts, her eyes widening on me. I roll my eyes and go back to the patties.

***

It’s a little after three p.m. when Hella walks out of the clubhouse as the girls and I head towards Meadow’s car. My heart lodges into my throat at the sight of him. I blame that on the fact that I haven’t seen him all day. He smiles when he sees me and, damn, if I’d need new panties. His eyes are dark and mischievous, but when he smiles, his dimples pop and his straight white teeth beam from beneath his soft lips. He’s his own brand of love potion.

“Hey!” I say, pausing.

He pulls me under his arm and presses his lips to mine. “Here.” He dishes out his keys and takes a single key off. “Go straight home. Meadow will most likely not be drinking, so she can drop you guys off.”

What? Why’s Meadow not drinking?

I was about to ask when he kissed me again, his hand finding my ass where he gives it a tight squeeze. “I’ll see you later, baby.”

“Wait!” I yelled. He turns, his eyebrows raised in question. “Stay the fuck away from the club whores, Hella.”

His smile returns before he walks back to me, his fingers finding mine as his other hand grips around my chin. “Look at me.” I bring my eyes to his, defeated. “I will never,
ever
, do anything to hurt you, Melissa. And my man-card will probably be revoked tonight because I can’t see myself so much as batting an eye at any other women, got it?”

I swallowed. “Okay, got it.”

He kissed me again before walking back into the clubhouse. I turn to see the girls all watching us, their jaws to the ground, all except Millie.

“What?” I say, walking to the back door, pulling it open, and sliding beside Millie.

“That was so bizarre,” Meadow adds.

Jada interrupts her. “Actually, it’s really not. He’s been all about Melissa since she got back.”

“Really?” Meadow asks, astounded. I roll my eyes from the back seat as Jada continues, “Yup, he’s been all kinds of overprotective. They full-on got all over each other in front of Millie and me last night!”

“I’m right here, guys,” I mutter, but they continue with their play-by-play of mine and Hella’s…whatever the hell it is.  I sigh, realizing in between everything, I forgot to have that conversation with him. It will have to wait until tomorrow. I hope.

Melissa

“It’s beautiful out here,” I say to Meadow as she plunks down onto the picnic blanket she has set up under the tree at the back of their yard. “It sort of reminds me of Hella’s.”

They all pause and Meadow begins pouring wine into our glasses. “Heard you’ve gotten quite cozy there,” she taunts.

I take the glass from her and take a large gulp. “Yeah? Well I heard that you weren’t drinking tonight, spill.”

She pauses, giving Jada her glass. I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s about to get shamelessly drunk. Because thoughts of girls hanging all over Hella dries my mouth out like the Sahara desert, the wine helps.

She smiles shyly. “Fuck it.” He hands fly up in defeat. “I’m pregnant!”

My hand flies up to my mouth. “REALLY!” The girls congratulate her with a hug.

She nods. “Yeah, I was supposed to keep it quiet until I had passed the first trimester, but I can’t keep it in any longer.”

“Oh my god!” I whisper, downing the rest of my drink and gripping onto her hands. “I’m going to be an aunty! Have you told Phoebe?”

She shakes her head around her joyful laughter. “No, not yet but I will now.”

“You better!” I say, taking a seat back on the picnic blanket. “She will kill us all if she’s the last to find out. She’d even give Jada a run for her money.”

We all laugh and Jada shoves me in the arm. “My target includes two balls and cock.”

We all crack up again and Millie shuffles uncomfortably. She’s gotten better with our banter, I’ll give her that.

I throw my hand up as I fish my phone out of my pocket. “It’s mom,” I say to Millie. “I texted her earlier to see if she could swing it.” Sliding my phone unlocked, I answer the call.

“Mom? Hi!”

“Hi, darling. How are my two precious little girls?”

“Someone there, huh?”

“Father Delany,” she answers casually.

I stifle a laugh. “So, you down or what, woman?”

“I’d love to. I can be there three nights from today.”

“Three nights? You sure you’ll have enough time?”

“Oh, sweet deluded child,” she whispers and I choke on my drink.
There’s
my mother; I was worried for a second. “I have plenty of time and I can organize a lot from here. Roger needs me to attend a charity event. Usually I’d say no, but it’s a pink ribbon cancer event.”

“How depressing, but I understand. I’ll see you then?”

“Yes, dear. I love you so much.”

“Oh, quit the shit, mom. I love you, too.” I laugh before hanging up. “She said she’ll do it!” I exclaim to the girls, placing my phone onto the ground. “She’ll be here in three nights.”

Three hours into our “wedding planning”, we accomplish all of nothing because we’re too busy Googling baby names. We make our way back in the house, all curled on the living room floor while Meadow flicks through all the names.

“I don’t like any of these,” she announces, disgusted.

I laugh. “You could call him Mini-Beast if he’s a boy and Mini-Meadow if she’s a girl?”

“Well done, Melissa. I’m proud of your food for thought right now.” Meadow gestures around the room dryly, closing the laptop as Jada and I pick up our bottles of wine. We’ve gone past the classy stage which requires drinking out of glasses; we’re now at the straight-from-the-bottle stage.

“Okay,” I slur, my phone vibrating on the floor. “Wait! I need to answer this.” I slide it open, but it slips from my grip, dropping to the ground. I begin laughing, and Jada bends down to pick it up, only for her to drop it too.

Shit, we are way too drunk.

“Hel—“ I clear my throat, attempting to sound sober. “Hello?” That wasn’t much better.

“Really?”

Hella’s voice seeps into me, sending light shivers all over.

“Really what?” I whisper secretly.

“Really you’re that drunk?”

I laugh. “Sorry, you must have the wrong number. You’re searching for someone who gives a fuck, which I don’t.”

“Melissa,” he growls.

My face straightens, all laughter stops. “Sorry, I was kidding. What’s up? Yes, I’m a bit drunk.”

“I need you,” he groans from the phone.

I swallow, sobering a little. “Okay, I’ll get Meadow to drop us off now.”

“At home.”

“Okay.”

Then he hangs up. I look at my phone and Meadow’s eyes search mine. “What, Melissa? Has something happened?” She looks worried. I realize it probably doesn’t look good from their side.

“Nah, Hella just needs his dose of me. Can you drop us off now?”

Her shoulders slack, relief washing over her. “Yes,” she breathes. “Yes, I can do that.” We pull up to the house I’ve grown so used to seeing and I push open the door, tumbling out.

Meadow laughs from the driver’s seat while winding down her window. “Girl, you better eat some bread.”

I laugh, clicking my fingers at her, and say, “Gotcha, I shall do that,” before saluting her. When she starts reversing out of the driveway, Jada pops out of the back window, lifts her shirt up, and screams, “Tits out for the boys!” I burst into laughter just as the front door opens and Hella leans against the doorframe in loose grey track pants that slack around his toned waist. The headlights of Meadow’s car light up Hella’s body and my mouth waters at the sight in front of me. His hair is covered by a blue and white flat baseball cap, which is sitting backwards on his head, and his chest is bare, showcasing all his tattoos and rippled muscles. His hands come to his chest as he smirks. “You checking me out?”

I giggle. “Maybe,” I answer before walking towards him. I fling my arms around his neck and inhale his scent. “Mmmm, you smell good.”

“Yeah? You smell terrible. Come on, taking you to bed.”

“What?” I say, stepping inside as he closes the door. “I thought I was coming home to get some ass. Now I feel cheated.”

He laughs. “Baby? I’m not into fucking drunk girls. Come on. Shower, then bed.”

“Food!” I retort, ducking under his arm and making my way to the kitchen. I pause. “Never mind. We need to go shopping. Your cupboards are about as dry as Millie.”

He lets out a loud laugh, displaying those two perfect dimples. “That’s not very nice, baby. That’s your sister.” He leads me up stairs. It takes him around thirty minutes to get me in the shower. There, I use a loofa as a microphone while I bat out The
Cranberries’
“Zombie”
to him loudly over the sound dock.

Yeah, I should never be left unattended at this level of drunk.