Free Relentless Flame (Hell to Pay) by Jillian David

the plate.
    “
Merde!
You imbecile.”
    Uh oh. Not the right tactic. Dante balled a fist on his thigh and pressed his leg to hold it still.
    “What information do you have?”
    Dante gripped the seat with his other hand until his fingers ripped the fine leather. “About what, my lord?”
    “You’d better not be insubordinate. I’ve killed people for less.”
    Draw no attention to Hannah.
    “Well, I have plans to procure another kill for you soon. Unless you have a criminal selection in mind for me to stalk?”
    “I question your ability to focus.”
    “That’s never been an issue in the past, my lord.”
    “Have you met anyone new recently?”
    Protect Hannah.
“I meet people all of the time. So many, I cannot recall.”
    “Any new ladies?”
    Dante gave his best hearty chuckle and leaned back in the booth. “You know me, boss. I meet ladies constantly.”
    The eyes burning across the table had narrowed to two red glints in an abyss of blackness. Smoke, like from a volcano, drifted from Jerahmeel’s fingertips. “Don’t play games with me, my pawn. You’re distracted because of a special lady.” Before Dante denied the words, Jerahmeel continued. “She’s special all right, more than you realize.”
    “How do you mean?”
    “This Hannah you’re after, leave her be. Look for your entertainment elsewhere. Pay attention to your work.”
    Dante’s blood congealed in his veins. “Why should you trouble yourself with a mere mortal, lord Jerahmeel?”
    “My minion reports some interesting abilities with this one. Healing, I believe.”
    How could he have known that so quickly? “Who cares if she can heal? You’re more powerful than any mortal. Why bother with this woman?”
    “She reminds me of someone I know. Someone I want.”
    Damn that minion, Brandon.
Hannah had attracted Jerahmeel’s attention. No human withstood Jerahmeel’s ... attention for long. It took every ounce of Indebted strength Dante possessed to remained seated across from his boss, his jailor, his deceiver.
    “Surely she is no threat to you. Simply ignore her.” Unfortunately, his powers of persuasion had little effect on his boss.
    Jerahmeel waggled manicured fingertips in the air, then inspected his unmarred cuticles. “You are to stay away from her so I may do with her powers as I wish.”
    The hell you will.
    “Why?”
    “It’s not for you to question but to obey. Perform your Indebted duties in a timely and efficient manner. Understand?”
    “Sure, but what can she mean to you?”
    “I’m not certain yet, but I want to claim her for my future purposes. I will consider the possibilities and make a decision soon.”
    Kristus
. Sand had started to slip out of the hourglass for Hannah.
    “Ignore her, and I will maintain the possibility of releasing you from the contract.”
    “The Meaningful Kill?”
    Jerahmeel took a sip of wine, his thin lips glistening with the darker red of the merlot. His red tongue darted out to trap a droplet.
    Dante’s stomach wrenched. That mouth, those spidery fingers weren’t going anywhere near Hannah.
    His boss nodded. “You have to stay in my good graces to have a chance of escaping the contract.”
    “Then I will do exactly as you ask.” Except not. He’d do anything necessary to protect her from this nightmarish creature.
    “Reject her and she lives.”
    In the hell of your creating? No way
.
    “Of course, my lord.”
    He waggled his fingers. “Now leave me. I fancy a crème brûlée tonight.”
    Any hunger Dante might have experienced was obliterated by the image of this disgusting creature eating dessert. Dante slid out of the booth, dipped his head, and beat a hasty retreat from the fine dining establishment.
    What the hell was he going to do?
    Could he simply walk away from Hannah and leave her fate in the hands of Jerahmeel?
    • • •
    In the morning light, cracked paint on the walls of the living room emphasized Hannah’s broken life. Hah. Living room. Not a lot of