Trouble in Hell (Hell Night 1)

Neither of us speaks again as he leads me behind The Hill and a small nondescript house comes into view. Even through the fresh paint and the pretty flowers hanging from hooks on the porch, it looks old. Not old as in run down, but gently aged.

Nerves scatter into my stomach when we walk up the steps. I take a deep breath and try to rein them in, but it does no good.

Trouble doesn’t bother knocking, just holds open the door for

me to enter before him. I’m glad when he smiles and the tense air of a few minutes ago seems to fade.

“That you, Trouble?” an elderly voice calls from down a hallway.

He turns and hands over Elijah before he calls back. “Yes.”

He leads the way as we walk down the hallway and enter a kitchen. The first thing I notice is the delicious smell—probably since I haven’t eaten too much today, because I’ve been so anxious about this meeting. The second is the little old lady who’s wiping her hands on a hand towel as she walks our way. Her eyes land on me then on Elijah before settling them on Trouble.

“Hey, Mae,” Trouble greets. His expression is soft as he leans down and places a kiss against her cheek.

She pulls back and pats his cheek lovingly. “You’re early, I’m impressed.”

His chuckle is deep. “Figured you’d have my hide if I showed late.”

“You need to share that knowledge with your brothers.” She turns to face me. “And who is this?”

I’m sure she already knows my name—there’s no way she couldn’t in a town this size—but I hold out my hand anyway.

“This is Remi.” He pauses a moment. “And her son, Elijah. Remi, this is Mae.” Mae’s eyes dart quickly to Trouble, and she frowns. “She named him after her father,” he finishes with a murmur.

I’m left baffled with his need to add that last part. I’m even more confused when Trouble faintly shakes his head at Mae, as if silently communicating something to her.

When she brings her eyes back to mine, my confusion must show on my face. She smiles and grabs my hand in hers. Her grip it tight. Much tighter that I would have figured a woman her age would have.

“It’s nice to meet you, Remi.” She leans forward. “And don’t worry. It was just a shock. We used to know a man by the name Elijah.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too.”

Some of my nerves settle.

“You’re a pretty little thing.”

I blush at her compliment. “Thanks.”

“Now, let me see that baby of yours.” She steps forward and peeks through the blankets at a sleeping Elijah. “Trouble, dear, go check the dumplings for me while I hold this darling baby.” Her eyes meet mine. “May I?”

I can understand why Trouble and his brothers have difficulty denying this woman. She may be old, but she’s far from weak. Neither in mind, nor spirit.

“Sure.”

I hand Elijah over and she takes a seat at the table. I follow and sit at the one opposite of her. She croons soft words and pulls the blanket away from his face to get a better look.

“Jenny said he was adorable, but she didn’t say how much.” She looks up. “You and his father must be so proud.”

The smile on my face from watching her fawn over Elijah falls away. A clatter sounds over by the stove, but it’s just a noise I barely register. Bile rises in my throat, threatening to spew all over the beautiful table cloth in front of me. A mutter curse comes right before a glass of water is thrust in front of me. I look at the glass, perplexed for a moment, before I snatch it from the hand holding it. Thankfully, it helps with the need to vomit.

“I’m sorry,” Mae apologizes, looking from Trouble to me. “Is there—”

I don’t let her finish. “No, it’s okay. The father—” I clear my throat and try again. “His father isn’t in the picture.”

I flick my eyes to Trouble and see him frowning. He only knows what I’ve told him, which isn’t much. For some unexplainable reason, I want him to know the whole story. I don’t want him to think I’m just keeping Elijah away from his father. I don’t want Mae to think that either, but now’s not the time to say anything.

From the front of the house, a door slams and it breaks the awkward silence. I snatch my eyes away from Trouble and fiddle with the edge of the table cloth. Heavy footfalls can be heard, and a moment later, another man walks into the kitchen. He’s tall. Not quite as tall as Trouble, but almost. His sandy blond hair is shaggy and the scruff on his face looks several days old. He’s also incredibly handsome.