Hell's Geek (15 page)

“So I heard. I see you escaped the island my minions were holding you prisoner on. A pity, you would have made sturdy power sources for the device.”

“Sorry to disappoint. You should get together with my dad sometime. I disappoint him all the time, too.” Dex shrugged and smile. “It’s why I’m the favored son.”

“I thought you were an only son,” Valaska said.

“I am.”

“Stop with this pointless chatter.” Nemo glared over the barrel of his weapon. “If you escaped, then where is Gaia?”

Valaska felt a moment’s chagrin that she’d not given Mother Earth a second thought since they’d arrived in this strange place.

Did she make it out?
Or had she drowned in the rising water before they shut the portal?

Not knowing what happened to Gaia didn’t mean Valaska couldn’t lie about it.

Except Dex beat her to it and told a whopper. “She’s gone to get reinforcements. Any minute now, she’s going to arrive with Lucifer and his legion to rescue us and put an end to you.”

Damn him for stealing this great opportunity to earn points with the boss. And damn him more for his lack of faith in her abilities to save his ass.

Offended, she retorted, “Hold on a second, Dex. I am perfectly capable of hogtying this dumbass myself, probably having time to shave the bird’s nest on his chin and present him to Lucifer. Why he’ll probably thank me for saving you both.”

“Lucifer thank us?” Dex made a face. “You have met him, right? By the time he’s done with the press, he’ll have singlehandedly captured Nemo, saved Hell, and gotten the girl.”

“You’re both deluded. Lucifer has already lost the battle. It’s too late for him, and you, and everyone in Hell. Even if you destroyed one device, it matters not. The plan is in motion, and nothing, not even my death, can stop it.”

“I don’t suppose you’d mind if I tested that theory?” Valaska asked. “Then again, screw asking. Why don’t I just kill you and see what happens?”

She finished her words with a lunge. The wet sand shifted underfoot, and she stumbled, only a fraction but enough for Nemo to turn his body, raise his thigh, and knock her back.

Before she could recover, his gun was only a foot away from Valaska’s forehead. “I am done talking to you. Originally, I had thought to save you both as more power for the machine, but now that you’ve broken it, and proven so troublesome, I no longer have a need for either of you.”

Did he really think the gun scared her? Nemo was obviously still new to the rules in Hell. Firearms, much like electronics, were hit and miss in the pit, the magic and esoteric forces making them unreliable. The gun was just as likely to blow up in his face as fire a bullet.

Thing was the probability was fifty-fifty, which meant…
This might hurt.

But Valaska didn’t fear pain. She stared at Nemo and dared him to fire.

Trust Dex to rely on words instead of violence for answers. “Now let’s not act too rashly here. Dead is so final. Think about it. How do you know we won’t still be useful down the line? You do know who I am, don’t you?”

“I do. Charon’s son. Devil-son to Lucifer. A cosseted male with high connections. Perhaps I should keep you as leverage.”

A wry smile twisted Dex’s lips. “If you’re thinking of ransoming, then you don’t know my dad too well. He wouldn’t spare any of his wealth to free me. He’s old school and thinks a boy should solve his own problems and not buy his way out of them. And I wouldn’t suggest dangling me in front of my mother. She goes a little cuckoo when her baby boy is threatened. She kicks some serious ass.”

Feeling a little miffed that he sounded so obviously impressed by his mother, Valaska snapped, “We don’t need your mommy to help us. I already told you I’m perfectly capable of saving your ass myself.”

Dex tossed her a smile and a wink. “I know you are, but if we let my mom come to the rescue, she’ll probably bring snacks.”

Ignoring her gurgling tummy didn’t mean nobody else heard.

Nemo’s gun didn’t waver in its aim, even as he rolled his eyes. “And my boss thought taking over Hell would prove a challenge. Not likely with idiots such as you leading the charge.”

“Idiot?” Dex drew himself straight, and a hard glint entered his eye. “I’ll have you know I shamed my entire lineage by graduating with honors.”

“And yet all those smarts still saw you washed up on my beach. Enough talk. You, I’ll keep because I might have a use for you, but the girl, she’s useless to me.”

She stared into the dark barrel of the gun, only now noting the tiny glyphs of magic inscribed on it.
Damn.
The odds had just changed, and not for the better. Yet Valaska didn’t flinch.

She didn’t fear playing the roulette of life.

Except Dex apparently didn’t like the odds. He stepped in front of her.

She stepped to the side, but he followed. He seemed determined to shield her with his body. If she weren’t so touched by his bravery, she would have ripped him a new one for treating her like a weak girl.

Still, though, she was the warrior in this relationship. It was up to her to fight.

“What do you think you are doing?” she asked.

He didn’t look at her as he replied. “I like you too much to allow this fictional character to end your life.”

“Does this feel fictional to you?” Nemo snarled, pressing the barrel of the gun to the lens on Dex’s glasses. She wanted to go around him, but his arms extended, and damn those wiry ferryman pipes, she couldn’t slip around.

“I got this, brat.”

“Brat?” She crossed her arms over her chest and decided to let him do his thing. She could always avenge his death after. “Well, excuse me for trying to do what I’ve been trained to.”

“Punish me later,” Dex said. “And there will be a later because I’m sure even Captain Nemo wouldn’t shoot a guy with glasses.”

Cocking back the hammer, Nemo let an evil smirk pull his lips. “Guess again.”

Bang.

“These robes are guaranteed to resist the puncture of even the sharpest of monster teeth.” One of the key features learned during the four-hour infomercial on the latest Ferryman Uniform.

The recoil was only somewhat worse than the deafening explosion so close to his ears. Adexios staggered from the recoil.

Oh, and for those wondering, he was alive, and not bleeding from a giant hole in his head.

See, Adexios knew most guns were just as likely to fire as misfire. Mechanics without magic just wasn’t that reliable. He knew that was what Valaska was counting on, that and that her luck would hold.

But Adexios couldn’t let her survival rest on chance.
Not when I love her so much
.

And he did, love her that was. It wasn’t until that moment when he realized he might lose her that the truth gobsmacked him.

Funny how love also drew the hero out of him. It was easy, so easy to place himself as a shield before her. When Nemo placed the gun against his glasses, Adexios almost laughed.

Because, as Nemo soon discovered, he wasn’t kidding when he said his mom had gotten him the sturdiest glasses around.

The gun fired, hit his lens, and ricocheted, right back to its sender.

As Nemo gasped, probably because the bullet left a hole in his shoulder that bled profusely, Adexios staggered, the impact of the bullet against his glasses still rather substantial.

Valaska grabbed him and gave him a shake—an I-care shake that almost gave him whiplash. “You fucking idiot. What did you do that for?” An admonishment followed by a kiss on his lips.

Not a long kiss, a short passion-filled one ending with a whispered, “We’ll finish this later.”

Because first they had to fight.

Again?

The old Adexios would have sighed and complained about having to exert himself. The new him, known as a very dashing Dex, found himself adrenalized by the prospect. While Valaska ran at the frogman with her sword, Dex dodged the other two that jabbed their tongues his way.

Nemo, holding a hand to his bleeding shoulder, screamed, “Kill them.”

“Are you talking to them,” Dex asked, “Or us? You know, just so it’s clear.”

“Die!” Given Nemo aimed the gun at Dex, he got his answer.

Bang
. The gun fired. However, a little too angry to take proper aim meant Nemo’s missile didn’t quite hit its intended target.

Down went one of Nemo’s allies.

Wait, make that two, as Valaska managed to wrestle her sword from the frogman, who now lay twitching on the sand in a spreading green puddle.

Two down, and quite a few more to go.

As the frogmen grouped together and formed a barrier, Nemo fled to the jungle.

As he and Valaska put themselves back-to-back on the beach, their gazes intent on the enemy, it occurred to Dex he should say something. “So, um, it looks like we might die.”

“With glory.”

“And blood,” he added, the Amazon words he’d heard on the reality show coming to his lips. “But before we send our spirits to be reborn, I thought I should tell you that this whole adventure, and getting to know you and stuff, has been great.”

Feeling awkward about his admission, Adexios ducked and grabbed a piece of driftwood on the beach. Not a big piece but enough he could help bat away some of the tongues trying to get fresh with him and Valaska.

“Can’t we talk about this later?” Valaska muttered as she twirled her blade, slicing at the tongues that dared dart toward them.

But what if there wasn’t a later? He found his courage, which oddly enough was in his heart and not his balls. “I don’t want to wait anymore. Valaska, I love you.” There. He’d said it. A pity he wouldn’t live long enough for her to punish him for it.

“Me, too. Now shut up with this feelings crap while I get rid of these froggies.”

Dex would have liked to stand and gape stupidly for a moment as her words sank in.

Me, too?
As in me too she loved him?

Except he couldn’t get her to clarify because some stupid frogs were determined to kill them both before he could ask.

Hell no.

Whack
. Swing.
Thump
. His many years as a ferryman, dealing with troublesome sea monsters, meant Adexios had a firm grasp of how to wield a staff.

Mind you, the driftwood staff he held had rough edges and a pointed tip instead of a being shaped like a paddle, but that served his purpose quite well, as it meant instead of an oomph when he caught them in the belly, it was a gurgling “Argh.” A deadly argh.

In that moment, Adexios was elevated from simple Ferryman to Ferrywarrior. Cool. Wait until he told his dad.

Adrenaline running high, he and Valaska danced on the beach, a deadly pair—in love—wielding their weapons and meting out death. It was the most coordinated he’d ever been, and when they finished their graceful duet, they found themselves, face to face, amidst the carnage.

Panting slightly, yet both alive. Unharmed, if slimed.

He didn’t say anything as they stared at each other, just grabbed her face and pulled her toward him, claiming her mouth.

Yes, claiming.

There were few things he felt strong about in life, but this woman, having her in his life, his arms, his bed? That brought out the beast in him.

Or at least the dictator.

“We. Should be. Going to. Find Nemo,” she gasped between kisses.

“In a second,” he growled. “I want to hear you say it first.”

‘Say what?”

He wrapped his fist in her hair and tugged her head back so he could nibble the smooth column of her neck. “You know what I want.”

She reached down and grabbed him, her grip firm around his erect cock. “I’d say that was pretty obvious.”

He nipped her skin, a firm bite that would leave a mark. She moaned.

“Say it,” he murmured against her skin before lapping at it.

“Fine. I love you, too, but can we get to all this sappy stuff after we’re done?”

“Now that I know there’s an after, you can have whatever you want.” Dex released her and was gratified at her small mewl of disappointment. With a slap on her ass, he headed toward the jungle. “Coming?” he asked over his shoulder.

Another smile stretching her lips, Valaska strode after him. “I hope so. My pussy could use a tongue-lashing. So let’s get this done quickly.”

Dex’s momentary grace lapsed at her words, and he stumbled. She chuckled as she swept past him.

Once they entered the jungle, following the well-worn trail within the shadowy boughs, they stopped talking. The jungle itself proved abnormally quiet. Not even the hum of insects or chirp of birds broke the silence.

If not for the fresh trail of blood they followed, Adexios might have thought them alone.

The jungle itself didn’t prove very big. In short order, they’d cleared the quiet depths and found themselves at the bottom of a small mountain, the sides ridged and seamed, as if the rock had melted, hardened, then cracked.

“This is a volcano,” Adexios noted. “But I don’t think it’s been active in a while.” Not given the plants struggling to grow through the cracks.

“Dead or not, we’re going in it. The blood trail goes that way.” Valaska pointed a finger at the base of the volcano, where a dark shadowy entrance practically screamed, Do Not Enter.

So, of course, what did they do?

They entered. The interior of the tunnel proved dark and cool after the stifling damp of the jungle. It appeared of natural construction, a molten stone river frozen in twisted lines.

They couldn’t see if any blood spotted the floor, but they ran to the other end, the gray beacon of light their guide.

He didn’t need Valaska’s outstretched arm to know he should slow down before popping out.

Who knew what might await them?

Pausing, they listened.

Not a sound broke the silence. Not even a gurgle of a frogman, the inhalation of a breath, the flutter of some feathers.

On tiptoe, they inched to the opening, one to each side. Without asking, he poked his head out, hoping he wouldn’t have it exploded like a melon.

When nothing happened, he remembered to open his eyes and look around.

There wasn’t much to see.

The interior of the volcano was shaped like a hollow bowl. The high ridges went up almost straight, but at the base, it widened out, and amongst the lumped and twisted rock, life tried to grow.

But that wasn’t the most interesting thing. In the midst of the hollowed bottom was a body of water, surrounded by dark sand and, bobbing in it, a submarine.

But not any submarine, a giant purple one with a painted eye and metal rakes on the prow as teeth.

Cool.

He would have dearly loved to explore the sub, but that wasn’t the only item of note in the valley. A few yards away, by the side of the lake, sat a jungle hut made of bamboo logs, lashed together with vines and thatched with leaves. How Robinson Crusoe.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Valaska sang.

He shot her a look. “What are you doing? What happened to surprising the enemy?”

“One, it wouldn’t be sporting. And two…” She shrugged. “He knows we’re coming. He knows I’m going to kill him. Maybe he’ll take it like a man.”

If by a man she meant standing on his sub wielding a rather large machine gun, one with runes inscribed on its barrel.

Dex was starting to find himself envious of the other man’s toys. Envious, but not stupid. “Take cover,” Dex yelled, even as he knew it was too late. Still, though, he dove in front of Valaska as the gun began to chatter, expelling its deadly bullets.

Lying atop Valaska on the sand, he ignored her grumbled, “Get off me, you idiot,” and waited to get ripped to shreds by bullets.

Except he didn’t die.

Neither of them did.

A warm breeze, heavily scented of flowers, interspersed with the heavier pungent odor of sulfur and Old Spice filled the air.

Help had arrived.