Lucifer (Brimstone Heat Book 1) Read online

  LUCIFER

  A Brimstone Heat Novel

  By

  Rayne Rachels

  LUCIFER

  Copyright © 2016 Rayne Rachels and RA KirschkeCole

  All rights reserved.

  For more information about the author, please visit http://raynerachels.blogspot.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the Author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  About the Author

  Other Titles by Rayne Rachels

  CHANCE TO LOVE AGAIN

  Gracie’s Wolf

  Prologue

  Bang.

  Bang.

  Angie sat up and rubbed her eyes as she yawned. She had been dreaming about the school field trip to the zoo and all the wonderful animals she had seen when the loud noise woke her. She looked around her bedroom, but couldn’t see much in the dark except some really scary shadows. The nightlight that usually filled her room with a soft, warm light was turned off.

  Angie reached for her blanket. There were things in the dark she could not see. Things she didn’t want to see because they were too scary.

  The warm, fuzzy feelings the dream created slowly melted away leaving an uneasy feeling. Something wasn’t right. Her small heart thudded against her ribcage. The shadows grew larger, as they tried to fill the room.

  What was the loud noise?

  The noise was not a sound she normally heard in the house, but she knew she had heard it before. She just couldn’t remember where.

  Angie pulled the blanket up to her chest. “Mommy,” she whispered. Her chest tightened as worry snaked through her body. She froze as she concentrated on listening for the friendly, warm sound of her mom’s voice.

  From somewhere downstairs, her mother screamed. It was followed by several more loud bangs. Angie to jump. Her eyes widened. She quickly put her hands over her mouth muffling any sounds from the scream she tried to bite back. Her whole body trembled.

  She listened, wondering if there would be another scream or more bangs.

  Silence filled the house.

  Angie slowly removed her hands from her mouth. “Mommy? Daddy?” She was not sure if she actually called out to them or just thought she had. She waited for them to come and chase away the shadow monsters that were scaring her. She needed them to come and tell her she was safe. She needed them to give her a hug and tell her everything was all right.

  But they never came.

  Angie was only ten years old, but she knew something was seriously wrong. Her parents wouldn’t have left her alone in the dark with the shadow monsters. They knew she was terrified of them. That’s why the nightlight was on from the time she went to bed until she woke up in the morning.

  Large tears rolled down her cheeks.

  She thought about going downstairs to their bedroom, but the urge to hide was stronger. It was what they had told her to do, especially if she heard strange noises in the house and neither of them came to get her. Quietly, Angie slipped out of her bed and ran to the closet. She started to open the door but hesitated. What if the shadow monster was in there?

  Angie’s hand trembled and fear clawed through her. Did she dare open the door and face the shadow monster?

  The stairs creaked and groaned. Angie turned her head and stared at the closed bedroom door. Someone or something was coming up the stairs. Angie made a decision to face the shadow monster because as scary as it was, it was less scary than the unknown monster coming up the stairs.

  She opened the closet door and slipped inside. Carefully she closed it and turned around. Her heart raced wildly and she trembled with fear, but she felt her way to the corner furthest away from the door.

  Angie sat down and pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees. She slowly rocked back and forth, desperately wishing her mom or dad would come and chase away the scary dark and everything hiding in it.

  Angie bit her bottom lip. She needed her mommy and daddy to tell her everything was okay. She wanted to go find them, but she couldn’t move. Her muscles refused to listen to her. Fear made her stomach hurt. The urge to vomit was overwhelming.

  The floor outside the bedroom door creaked.

  Angie gripped her legs tighter and buried her face against her knees. The icy fingers of fear wrapped tightly around her heart and brain.

  The bedroom door squeaked as it slowly opened.

  Angie held her breath as someone or something walked into her room.

  She knew it wasn’t her parents. They would have already called out to her, letting her know it was safe to come out. They had made her practiced for something like this, just as they had practiced fire drills, in case a fire broke out in the house.

  The closet suddenly grew cold, making Angie’s teeth clatter. Goosebumps popped up on her arms. She paled as she watched a woman step out of the shadows. She carried a small light in her hand that seemed to warm the cold and chase away the darkness. Angie stared at the woman and wondered if she was dreaming again.

  “You are not dreaming,” said the beautiful woman in a soft, musical voice. She sat down next to Angie.

  “But you’re the lady from my dreams,” whispered Angie.

  “I am.” The woman held out her hand. “We don’t have much time. I need you to take my hand.”

  Angie frowned. “Why?”

  “Because there is a very bad man coming, and I have to protect you from him.” The woman glanced at the closet door. “We don’t have much time. He will be here in a few seconds.”

  Tears filled Angie’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Her chest hurt. A large lump formed in her throat. She swallowed trying to remove it. “My parents are dead, aren’t they?” She knew. Angie didn’t know how she knew. She just knew. Just as she knew her world would never be the same.

  “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t save them, but I can save you. You have a destiny to fulfill. Take my hand and don’t let go. No matter what happens or what you see, don’t let go of my hand,” said the woman.

  The bedroom floor creaked and groaned as someone slowly walked into the room. The owner of the footsteps stopped in front of the closet.

  Angie stared at the closet door. Tears ran freely down her cheeks in a steady stream. Her parents were dead. The bad guy had killed them, and now he was after her. She looked at the woman and made a decision…a decision she knew her parents would want her to make. Slowly, she reached for the woman’s hand.

  “No matter what happens, do not let go of my hand,” whispered the woman. “I promise. I won’t let him hurt you.”

  Angie nodded her head. She didn’t know how, but she knew she could trust the wo
man. “I won’t let go,” she whispered.

  The door to the closet opened. “All right you little brat. Where are you hiding?” The man’s voice was gruff and cold. He jerked on the chain hanging down from the light in the ceiling. “Damn brat!” growled the man. “Where are you hiding? This isn’t funny. I don’t like changes to my games. You had better show yourself. It’s going to be worse on you if I have to keep looking for you.”

  Angie stared at the beard covered face. Shaggy eyebrows hung over a pair of cold steel gray eyes. She knew she would never forget the man’s face. She waited for him to reach into the back of the closet and grab her. But he didn’t make a move toward her, even though he stared directly at her. He either didn’t or couldn’t see her.

  There was a black haze surrounding the man. Angie blinked several times, but the black haze didn’t disappear.

  “Don’t worry. He can’t see you. He can’t hear you,” the woman whispered in Angie’s ear. “Don’t let go of my hand.”

  Angie just nodded her head. She was too afraid to speak. She didn’t want to take the chance that somehow he could hear her. She squeezed the woman’s hand tighter.

  The man shook his head and growled. “Where can one little brat disappear to? She is supposed to be here. It’s not like there are any places she can hid.” The man slammed the closet door.

  Heavy footsteps moved away from it.

  Angie took a deep breath and let it out. In the distance she heard the faint sound of sirens.

  “The police are coming. That’s whose sirens you’re hearing,” said the woman.

  Angie looked at the woman. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her green eyes looked warm and friendly. “Why are you protecting me?” asked Angie.

  “Because you are special, and one day you will meet a man who will be very special to you. He will be your lifemate. You will know him by the way he makes you feel in your heart. Don’t be afraid of him. He will love and protect you, but you have to live so that you will find each other.” The woman leaned down and kissed Angie on the forehead, and then wrapped her arms around Angie and hugged her.

  “But I have to live without my parents?” asked Angie. In her heart, she knew the answer to the question even before she asked it. She had a small sliver of hope. Maybe…just m

  aybe this was all a really bad dream.

  Tears filled the woman’s eyes. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t save them, but they will always be with you. They are a part of your heart.”

  “But I want them with me.” More tears ran down Angie’s cheeks.

  “I know. I wish I could bring them back to you, but I can’t.” The woman held Angie in her arms while the little girl cried for her parents who would never again hug her or kiss her goodnight.

  Chapter 1

  Angie Gunner pulled into the library parking lot and got out of her car. She closed her eyes and turned her face up to the morning sun. The warmth felt good. She took a deep breath. Slowly, she let it out, sending along with it the remnants of the nightmare that had woken her up in the early morning hours and which clung to dark corners of her consciousness. She prayed for the day she wasn’t haunted by the dreams of the night her parents were killed or of the killer whose face she still remembered.

  It’s a new day. Last night was just a bad dream, and dreams cannot hurt me. Today, I just need to have a kick butt and take names later, she told herself.

  “Good morning, Miss Gunner. How are you doing?” asked Teri as she walked up to Angie. The young woman was smiling.

  “Good morning. I’m good. How are you doing, Teri?” Angie opened her eyes and looked at the twenty-one year old woman. “Did you get registered for summer school?”

  Teri nodded. “Everything is ready to go. All my grades and paperwork was transferred, and I’ve already signed up for summer classes. I’m taking two afternoon classes the first session and two morning classes the second session. I know I’m crazy to take that much during the summer, but I want school over and done with. I feel like I’ve been going to school forever.”

  “You are going to be busy—lots of reading, study, and writing papers. There won’t be much time for a social life, especially with you working here too.” Angie remembered her own college days and the drive to finish as quickly as possible, even though it meant taking a full load of classes each semester.

  Teri shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not thrilled about spending the summer in college, but I will be able to earn my Bachelor’s degree in December, and I’ll be able to start the Master’s program in January.” She made a frowny face and then smiled as she pushed several strands of brown hair out of her face.

  “It will be worth it in the long run. Besides, I have faith in you. You will pass with all A’s.” Angie smiled. She liked both of her library assistants, but Teri reminded her of herself when she was in college. Teri was determined to finish as fast as she could so that she could get started with life. Angie admired her determination and wished only the best for her.

  “I’m so glad you’re working with my schedule. The extra money from this job will definitely help this summer. Plus, I like working in the library. The changes you’re making are going to make it a really inviting place for everyone in the town. The kids are going to love the new children’s section.” Teri bounced with excitement.

  “I told you I would work around your college schedule. You and Josh are really hard workers. I don’t want to lose you, though I know sooner or later I will when you go off to bigger and better things.” Angie readjusted the strap of her shoulder bag. “I just hope we get everything done on the library ‘to do’ list before the re-opening celebration.”

  Teri smiled. “We’re almost finished with the young adult section. The paint should be dry in the children’s area. We need to look through the art work that Principal Hartman sent over the other day. I saw several cool pieces. I just love the idea of putting the kids’ art on display.”

  “It gives them ownership. Plus, I love to see their faces when they find their pictures displayed somewhere in the library. If the walls are dry, we can start moving in the book shelves and furniture this afternoon.” Angie made a mental list of a few things she wanted to pick up for the children’s area to make it a fun place for the kids to relax and read.

  She was lucky.

  She had been given a generous budget just for redecorating the entire library and free reign to do what she wanted. The best part was a separate budget to update the books and add a brand new ebook section.

  “The children’s section is going to be such a fun place. I love the bright colors you picked for the walls. And then there’s all the new books you ordered.” Teri’s eyes lit up with excitement as she talked about the children’s section of the library.

  “I want the kids to enjoy coming to the library. Hopefully, it will encourage them to read.” Angie glanced at her watch. “You ready to get started?”

  Teri nodded. “Josh will be here in an hour. He said something about bringing over some treats from the bakery. And knowing him, he will probably bring half the bakery with him…the half he didn’t eat. For someone who is constantly eating, I don’t know how he stays so thin. My metabolism is good, but it’s not that good.” Teri sighed.

  “It’s a guy thing. They can eat everything and to lose weight, they just cut out one thing and drop twenty pounds in just a week.” Angie shook her head. Over the years, she had tried almost every diet, but never lost more than fifteen pounds. But the weight never stayed off, and she finally accepted her curvy body. “I’ll get a pot of coffee started. I could use another cup or two or three this morning,” she said as they walked toward the back door of the building.

  Angie loved the building. It was a good hundred years old, but it had been carefully updated on the inside, leaving the old character but giving it all the modern conveniences that weren’t available a hundred plus years ago. She knew Abby Anderson had been in charge of the restoration.

  Angie still
couldn’t believe her good fortune. Getting this job was a dream come true. Originally, Angie had just come to Briary Creek for Gracie Stewart’s marriage to Quinn Hunter, but she had fallen in love with the town and the people she had met, especially her best friend’s new family. Not only were they good to Gracie, but they had accepted her without questions. For the first time in a long time, Angie knew she had finally found the place where she was supposed to be. This was the place Fate had been pushing for her to find.

  Angie unlocked the rear door of the library, and Teri followed her inside as she walked over to the alarm system to disarm it. Angie started to punch the code into the keyboard, but stopped. Her fingertips hoovered just over the keys. Staring at the unit, she frowned, and then her eyes widened.

  “Is something wrong?” asked Teri. She sniffed the air.

  Angie didn’t say a word. She turned around and grabbed Teri’s shoulders. Forcing the young woman to turn around, Angie shoved her toward the exit.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Teri. She tried to turn around, but Angie refused to loosen her grip.

  Angie pushed Teri toward the door. “No questions. Just get out of here. Now!” Angie’s voice was low, but the command was unmistakable.

  Teri shrugged but followed Angie’s order and left the building.

  Angie followed right behind her. She didn’t bother locking the door or even closing it. She kept herding the younger woman across the parking lot.

  Teri finally stopped and spun out of Angie’s grip. She turned and stared at Angie. “What is going on? Why did you shove me out of the library?”

  “Did you smell anything—anything out of the usual? I know your sense of smell is much better than mine, and I saw you sniff the air.”

  Teri blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Angie shook her head. “I don’t have time to play games. I know you’re a wolf shifter. I know you sniffed the air just before I shoved you out of the library. I need to know if you smelled anything out of the ordinary.”