Heaven to Hell (A Naughty Box Production Book 1) Read online

  This Book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ©Text Copyright 2014 Hot Ink Press

  Individual Authors hold copyright for their works, as noted on each contribution.

  Cover By Rue Volley

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual events, or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  Featuring:

  Hale's Angel

  Michelle Clay

  Lead Me Not

  Olivia Harper

  Dirty Wings

  Felicia Fox

  The Eternal Kiss

  Tracey H Kitts

  Hell's Indiscretion

  Josephine Ballowe

  The Fallen

  Trixie Taylor

  VOID

  Pyxi Rose

  Eve

  Rue Volley

  Keys to Heaven

  The Purgatory Series – Book 1

  Sympathy for the Devil

  The Purgatory Series - Book 2

  Shyla Colt

  Running With the Devil

  The Purgatory Series - Book 3

  Wayward Love

  The Purgatory Series

  Shyla Colt

  Hale's Angel

  Michelle Clay

  ©Text Copyright 2014 Michelle Clay

  Chapter One

  The portal spit him out in a dirty, stinking alley behind a brick apartment building and a garbage can caked with maggots and rancid trash. He stumbled forward, leaning a shoulder against the warm bricks until he could get his bearings. The sun hadn’t quite gone down yet, forcing him to squint at his surroundings. Hell was much darker than this place, much more murky and depressing. This place hurt his eyes. His stomach tilted and he spat out the bile that rose in his throat. This was one of the hardest parts of traveling through the realms. It always left you feeling disconnected and sick to your stomach.

  “Find the witch and kill her,” his master’s voice echoed in his ear. "It's time for her to pay her dues."

  Pushing away from the brick wall, Hale emerged slowly from the alley. Hell only knew where he’d ended up this time. Flipping the hood of his jacket up, he shielded his eyes from the dying sunlight and stinging dirt. Everything seemed so hot, dusty, and dry. Dirt and cactus seemed to be the constant decoration around here. Arizona? Texas? Did it really matter? He’d do the job and move on to the next like he always did.

  The streetlamps blinked on as he passed beneath them. The sky was painted a swirl of burnt orange and bleeding pink as the sun dipped below the horizon. There were shops and businesses on both sides of the street, but most looked like they hadn’t been open for years. It was picturesque and depressing in an old-timey, never-caught-up-to-modern-times kind of way. It was just another dying old town that would be swallowed up by one of the cities that crept closer as its population grew and ate up more land.

  Two blocks over, on the main road that exited off the highway, things were a little livelier. A few cars were parked alongside the street. Several of the local teenagers were hanging out near a rusted lamp post, talking big and dealing what looked like pot. Across the street, a middle aged couple hurried toward a rundown diner. A few other businesses were lit up, but nothing really held his attention.

  Hale walked aimlessly for a bit, just getting a feel for the rundown town. He’d just passed a junk store when his skin began to tingle. He looked left then right. Not a single soul was on this dark street. He jogged across to the other side and peered through the glass of a beauty salon. Someone was inside and the prickly feeling had grown tenfold. The witch he searched for was inside.

  Using the demonic magic within him, he darkened the closest streetlights. Even though no one else was this far down the street, he still wanted to be stealthy. The object of his desire was inside this building and she was all alone. Perfect.

  He twisted the knob and the lock slid open with a soft click. The bells tinkled above the door to announce his presence.

  “Hello?” he called in a friendly, nonthreatening tone.

  A redhead with tall, Texas hair and too much makeup rushed into the room. She looked startled. “The shop is closed.”

  Her big breasts bounced with each step she took toward him. A pentacle pendant sat centered between them. It caught his eye and he found it difficult to look away.

  “Door wasn’t locked,” Hale said with a raise of an eyebrow.

  The woman wore a long, bohemian dress that hugged her curves until it reached her hips. Then it seemed to come alive and flow as if it were made of shadows and darkness.

  She must not recognize the immediate danger she was in. Either that, or she was sizing him up. “I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the evening. Would you like to make an appointment for tomorrow?”

  Hale licked his lips then cast a quick glance at one of the barber chairs. He knew what women liked and he knew how to get a reaction. Keeping his voice low and full of gravel, he said, “Just passing through, honey. I won’t be here tomorrow.”

  She sighed then bit her lower lip. Shifting her weight from foot to foot, she tucked a wisp of bright red hair behind her ear. Each time she moved, her boobs jiggled and Hale envisioned a too small bra struggling to contain the ginormous globes. He was about ninety eight percent certain they were fake. He followed their every movement then licked his lips, letting her know he noticed and liked what he saw.

  His master had called for her execution, but he didn’t say Hale couldn’t have a little fun with her first. All he wanted was this woman’s miserable soul. He didn’t care what Hale did with her flesh.

  The buttons of her dress strained as she moved toward him. "I guess I could give you a quick cut. Take the hood off and let me see what we’ve got to work with.”

  Hale tilted his head backward and allowed the hood of his jacket to fall away. His dark blond hair fell around his face and he smiled as Red’s eyes widened. She found him attractive, he could see it in her eyes and the way she’d drawn in a quick breath. He was also willing to wager she hadn’t realized he was a demon yet. Her senses must be pretty rusty or maybe they were just clogged by all the damned dirt that covered everything out here.

  He crossed over to the seat by the sink then flopped back in one of the chairs. "So what do you think?"

  She ran her fingers through his hair then sighed. “Please tell me you don’t want to cut off all this gorgeous hair.”

  “You don’t think I’d look good with a buzz cut?” he teased as he pulled her hands away.

  “Honey, I think you’d look good no matter what style you choose.” She looked at him, really got a good look at his eyes, and that’s when her magic sputtered to life. Wisely, she didn’t attempt to use it, but it was there, just below the surface should she need to call upon it.

  Hale eased back into the seat, feigning relaxation. He peered up at her through lowered lashes as she leaned over him. Her heartbeat was thundering loudly in her chest, only she wasn’t just frightened. Red was turned on. Her fingers stroked through his hair and she still
hadn’t turned on the water yet. Each time she leaned forward, she pushed those boobies right into his face. She wanted it. She even placed one of her knees on the chair next to his hip to brace herself. She leaned over him and smiled. This close, Hale could smell her desire.

  And right here was where the fun would begin. This horny little witch was in for a great big surprise.

  “We better get started.” She leaned over to reach for the faucet and Hale took that moment to seize her wrist.

  His amber gaze glared up at the startled redhead. “I’ve been sent to collect the debt you owe.”

  “No, it’s not fair!” Red jerked away from him and stumbled backward. Her eyes were wide and her chin trembled. "I need more time.”

  “You can make this easy or fun.” Hale stood and malice showed on his face as he neared her.

  Red’s hands folded to form a steeple in front of her chest. She began chanting the same words over and over, but Hale couldn’t discern what it was. Sparks of electricity arced from her fingers then crackled through her hair. Her features twisted into something wicked as she took a step forward then thrust her hands outward.

  All the voltage she managed to work up flew from her outstretched hands and struck him square in the chest. Hale braced himself and even laughed as the static burst across his chest and shoulders. The witch had been wearing an expression of defiance, but it now melted into panic.

  “My turn.”

  Red yelped then turned to flee. She’d barely taken two steps when his magic slammed into her. Her body flew like a ragdoll, limbs tumbling and twisting until she struck the farthest wall. She slid to the floor then scrambled to get up.

  He allowed her to run to the back door before he grabbed her and yanked her back toward him with his magic. She skidded across the floor as if an invisible hand had pulled her by the hair. She stopped at his feet.

  Red turned her face up to him. She was crying now, begging for mercy and trying to make a deal.

  "I believe that’s what got you into this mess.” Hale gripped her by the arm then hauled her up onto her feet. “And I’m afraid that leaves you with nothing to bargain with.”

  Red gripped his hand and turned her tear soaked face toward him. “Please, there must be something I can do?” She looked absolutely broken as she began unbuttoning her dress front. The tops of her creamy breasts came into view. “I’ll do anything you want.”

  Hale let go of her and she crumpled to the ground. She continued to sob and beg for her life. She reached for him, the tips of her fingers scrabbling at his boots.

  “Let me help you up,” he sneered. With just a twitch of his finger, her body jumped up like a marionette. The witch stood immobilized beneath his spell.

  She swayed on her feet and bared her teeth at him. “Does this get you off, demon? Is this how you get your kicks?”

  “Not really,” he ran a finger across her collarbone all the way down to where the pentacle pendant lay between her bared breasts. In a quick move, he plucked it up then snapped the chain. Once it was secured in his pocket, he turned away from her. “I’ve just come for what my master is owed.”

  “Take it then, just get it over with!” Red yelled at his turned back.

  Hale pulled the sleeves of his jacket up then clenched his fists. He flipped the hood up, took a deep breath, then turned to face her.

  Red was in mid-obscenity as his fist plunged through her chest. Her eyes widened, her mouth formed a surprised “O”, then her body sagged. Using his free hand, he shoved her backward and watched as her body slid to the floor. Her heart, a black and shriveled thing, lay in his palm.

  Hale laid the pendant atop the gelatinous, rotten organ then said the invocation that would send the foul thing to his master. In a blink of an eye, it was gone. All that remained was the gooey black substance that had leaked from the mushy organ.

  Hale took a moment to wash his hands, taking note that there were only six marks on his arm instead of seven. He turned to regard the witch in silent thanks. Instead of the attractive redhead, she now appeared as a wrinkled, white haired old crone. Her tits were still perky though, thanks to an excellent plastic surgeon.

  As he moved through the salon, he set it aflame. After all, if you deal with the devil, you’re bound to get burned.

  Chapter Two

  The bottle of Jack slipped from his hand. It tumbled and sloshed the remaining liquid out onto the floor. Sirens wailed nearby and the sound of feet pounding up the stairs above woke him. The woman in the room directly behind his screamed at her lover in a foreign language for what seemed like the hundredth time. He’d have to think twice about bringing chaos and disorder to the rooms so close to his. Or at least leaving directly afterward.

  “Shit, not again.” Pressing the heel of his hand against his forehead he grimaced at the red and blue swirling lights on the ceiling. He really needed to find a better place to crash. This shitty roach motel had lost its allure. He'd wreaked havoc on its occupants for the past two days and frankly, he’d grown bored. This started out as business, not pleasure. Hell, there still wasn’t any pleasure to be had.

  Kicking the empty bottle aside, Hale moved over to the window and squinted through the dusty blinds. It looked like the motel owner had found the dude hanging in room eighteen and called the police. It was past time for Hale to roll.

  That marked soul had been such a disappointment, really. He was so ready to do himself in, Hale didn’t even have to plant the suggestion in his head or lift a finger. One mention of his cheating bitch of an ex-wife and the guy was already tying the damned noose. No fun there. The only bonus was that the dude had a sweet set of wheels and a full tank of gas.

  Keys dangling loosely from his fingers, Hale walked across the busy parking lot. His fingers caressed the black and chrome motorcycle with admiration. The Harley was a fine machine. Its previous owner had taken great care of it. He walked around it, appreciating its beauty and craftsmanship. The license plate might pose a problem if the cops were to run it, so he gave it a little tap. The dark shapes reformed to make different numbers and letters. As he smoothed his hand over the tank, a smoky grey swirl rose and tinted the surface. Within the metallic black paint, if you looked closely enough, minute fissures that looked like webs cracked the paint. No one would have a ride like his.

  Hale’s master had given him a new task, but the details were still a bit sketchy. Supposedly, there was a small town north of here, nestled between two bigger cities. Its location was claimed to be a magnet for the blackest of souls. According to his master, two of Hale’s targets would be close by. If he hurried, he might be able to catch them before they ventured further into Austin or San Antonio.

  He threw a leg over the saddle and started the engine. It rumbled to life as he rubbed a finger across the dark marks that blemished the skin of his right arm. A low growl escaped him as he pulled the fabric of his jacket down. Five more souls to go and he’d be free. It sounded easy, but Hale wasn’t a fool. The master was a trickster and would certainly try to find a way to keep him in his employ.

  Hale did not know how long he rode the machine or how far. He simply pointed the cycle down the interstate and flew as fast as the bike would go. He dodged cars and zipped around bigger vehicles with a sense of determination. He’d gone through San Antonio some time ago. All that was out here on this stretch of interstate was a lonely car or two and an occasional deer alongside the road.

  Ahead, right off the exit, was a neon sign that read Devil's Den. The D had burned out and the buzzing sign now read evil’s Den. That made it sound even more interesting. He downshifted then coasted off the exit. Wherever he’d ended up, it was the middle of nowhere. A small town, mostly kept alive by the interstate and the truckers who passed through. There was a small motel down the road a ways and a convenient store. An all-night diner was lit like Christmas and, of course, the Devil's Den bar. Sleepy little houses sat away from the interstate just up the hill, only a few had lights on at this late hour. T
here was even a trailer park behind a car wash. The owner had attempted to keep the two properties separated, but someone had pushed down a section of the chain-link fence.

  Just beyond the fence, he spotted a shadow moving low and fast. His senses prickled as he killed the bike’s engine. This was almost too easy.

  Keeping to the shadows, Hale slunk around the backside of the car wash Just on the other side of the brick wall, he could hear the target rattling the change box. The guy grunted a curse then pulled a screwdriver from his back pocket. Wedging it in the machine, he attempted to pry it open to steal the coins inside.

  Hale flipped up his hood moments before he stepped into the guy’s line of sight. He knew his eyes flashed red just before he burst the light overhead. The screwdriver fell from the mark’s hand and rolled toward the drainage grate. It faltered there a moment then fell through.

  The guy backed against the wall and squinted in the darkness. “What the… Hey man, I wasn’t doing nothin’.”

  “Time’s up, friend. I’ve come to collect the debt you owe.”

  A nervous laugh escaped the guy. “What are you talking about?”

  “Five years. You asked for five more years and that’s what you got.” Hale stalked closer.

  The man stretched a hand out to guide himself along the rough brick wall. The other hand was held out before him, making a wide sweeping arc to keep Hale at bay. He couldn’t see Hale in the dark, but it was obvious he knew the demon was close by. “What are you, Hell’s repo man?”

  “Something like that.” Hale tucked his hands into his pockets and watched as the man scuttled away like a cockroach. “You wanted a couple more years and he gave them to you. It’s time to pay up.”

  Instead of taking it like a man, the guy whined, “It was a trick.”

  “She got the time you asked for.”

  “She’s been in a fucking coma,” the man’s voice cracked on the last word.

  Hale shrugged. It didn’t matter if he thought it was a shitty deal or not. He had a reputation to uphold and a job to do. “That’s the breaks of the game, buddy. You didn’t specify if you wanted her awake or not. Now it’s time to settle your debt.”