Free Hells Gate: Santino by Crymsyn Hart

Chapter One
     
    April scrutinized her reflection one more time in the mirror. Red hair perfectly in place, fastened to her head so it didn’t escape past her shoulders. Rouge on her pale cheeks to give them a little color. Light blue eyes set under darker red brows and a round face that made her appear younger than her age. It was tiring for her to get carded everywhere she went because no one believed that she was twenty-seven. Although Cindy, her best friend, said she should be grateful for the youthful look because in twenty years she would be passing for thirty when she was nearing fifty. April wasn’t so sure about that because her mother had never looked young for her age. But what was age in the long run when she had years ahead of her?
    She adjusted her black shirt, pulling it up so it wouldn’t expose her breasts. Irritation rolled through her because by fiddling with the fabric, it revealed more of her stomach than what she was comfortable with. The fire engine-red vinyl leather pants hung low on her hips. They were a little big for her since she borrowed them from Cindy, the one who was dragging her to the club. Cindy had been begging her to accompany her for weeks. After turning her down so many times, April’s walls had finally crumbled and she had given in. Going to the goth /fetish club was completely out of her league. She even hated going to bars. But Cindy’s doe eyes had worn her down.
    April leaned across the counter to re-examine her makeup and double check there wasn’t any lipstick on her teeth. Satisfied with her appearance, her gaze left her reflection and caught the postcard advertisement for the club. Set on a glossy black background, it showed a scantily clad woman dressed in red leather, holding a pitchfork and hanging off a metal fence. The devious smirk on her face made April wonder if the model was really from hell because her makeup was expertly done; she could have been a real hellion. The horns gave away that she was something more than human. The name of the club was arched across the gate and written in flames. Hell’s Gate. A shiver ran through April as she thought about what would happen at the club. She figured that she was going to meet some very strange people. But she put her preconceived notions aside. Tonight was about fun. With all the stress in her life, being able to unwind was something she needed.
    The doorbell rang. April shook herself from the path her thoughts were taking. It wasn’t a good idea to be caught up in the grief that had gripped her. Losing her mother was the hardest thing she had experienced. They had been best friends and now she was floundering.
    April ran to get the door. Outside, Cindy was dressed in a black leather skirt that barely covered the bottom of her ass cheeks. She wore a red leather bustier with a short, black leather jacket over it. Her black hair was spiked. Silver contacts peered out from under her heavy lashes. Fishnet stockings adorned her shapely legs and she wore fuck me red stilettos. The whole outfit seemed to be from a bad horror movie.
    “You’re wearing that?” Cindy’s eyes widened.
    “Yeah.” April looked down at her outfit. She ran her hands over her shirt and readjusted it once more. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”
    “You need less clothes.”
    “I don’t have anything that’s more revealing. When do you ever see me wear anything that’s less than sensible to work?”
    Cindy crossed her arms over her chest. “And that’s your problem. You got all the assets, hon. Bigger tits than me. A body to die for and gorgeous hair. But you hide it under unflattering clothes.”
    “I’m not having this discussion with you now. Either you accept that I’m wearing this, or we can stay here for the night.”
    “No way! After all the shit you’ve been through, this is something you need. I’m not going to stay with you one more night while you wallow and eat another pint of ice cream. I don’t think my waistline