Trouble in Hell (Hell Night 1)

I nod and ignore the tightness forming in my sternum. “Yes. She’d want me to pass it on to someone who would benefit from it.”

“Thank you.” She rolls up to her toes, and I bend my head to meet her lips. The kiss is over before it really begins. “You’re a good man.”

I don’t know about that, but I’m glad she thinks so.

She turns back to the wall. “How old were you in this one?”

I move my eyes to the one she’s referring to. “Seventeen. I just got my motorcycle license that day.”

That was a good day. JW was jealous because I got my motorcycle license before him. I’m sitting on the bike, one hand gripping the handlebar. I have my helmet on, but the visor up. My lips are tipped up into a smirk. Mae took the picture at the perfect moment, because I had just lifted my hand to flip JW off. She didn’t catch it until after she snapped the shot, and I got an earful from her and a threat to ring my neck.

I take a pull of my beer and watch Remi as she looks over each photo. She gives each one her full attention, her brows pinched in concentration, as if she’s trying to memorize them all.

After a few moments, we go to the back patio so I can start the grill.

“It’s so beautiful and peaceful out here.” She lets out a sigh and relaxes back in the chair, looking out across the flat wooded area behind the house.

“I don’t get to enjoy it as much as I’d like.”

Opening the package of steaks, I lay them down on the grill then close the lid. I take a seat and snag the arm of hers to pull it closer. She eyes me in surprise at the move, but then twists her head back.

“That’s a shame. I don’t think you could ever pull me away if I had a view like this.”

“You get used to it after a while.”

One side of her mouth tips up as she glances at me out the corner of her eye. “I doubt that.”

I lace my fingers over my stomach. “Judge said you ran into Caroline earlier today.”

She’s quiet, so I look over. Her brows are lowered and she’s chewing her bottom lip.

“I did.” Her eyes slide to me again. “She’s a real bitch.”

I bark out a laugh, not expecting that to come out of her mouth. Her eyes smile as she watches me. I snap up my beer, down half of it before thumping it back down.

“What did she say to you?”

She shrugs. “Told me to leave town. Said that bad things happened to those who aren’t wanted here.”

She says it like it’s no big deal. I want to wrap my hands around Caroline’s throat and squeeze all the air from her lungs. Anger burns bright in my limbs. She’s got no right to threaten anyone, and to know she’s using threats that could cause questions, makes the fire burning inside me white hot. I’ll be paying her a visit sometime soon.

“Just ignore her,” I tell Remi. I grab her hand and lace our fingers together. Feeling her skin against mine cools some of the ire inside me. “You’re right. She’s a bitch with a bit of bitter mixed in. We’ve been over for a year and she’s still not accepting of that fact.”

I get up and flip the steaks, then retake my seat.

“You said your brother’s in the Air Force. What will you do once you get there?”

Placing her elbow on the arm of the chair, she rests her chin on her hand and lets out a small sigh. I hate to even think about her leaving, but I’m curious to know what she’ll do once she’s there.

“Before I left Magnolia, I owned my own graphic design business. I was set to take a few months off until after I had Elijah and got settled, but with the repairs to my car, I’ve had to dip into my savings. I’ve recently taken on a couple of clients to replenish it.”

I nod and stretch out in my chair, my legs falling to the side as I get comfortable. A question pops in my head, and I wonder if she’ll give me the truth this time instead of an evasive one.

“Why are you moving to Colorado?”

I watch and gauge her reaction. She peeks at me sideways, but doesn’t directly look at me.

“I’ve already told you. My brother—”