Inferno - Chelle Bliss by Chelle Bliss

“Trust me, Uncle, you’d need two hands to even make me flinch.”

Bear barks out a laugh. “Such a shithead. We doing this or what? Opal needs her purse, and my fist is itching to meet an asshole.”

“Um,” Stone mutters and glances at me. “That’s up to Opal. It’s her life, old man.”

My eyes widen because I don’t know what I want to do. I need my things, but I don’t want to face Jeff tonight. I feel drained and uncertain about what’s to come. On top of that, if one of them gets hurt because of my personal issues, I’d never forgive myself.

“I don’t think we should go there tonight. He’ll be at work tomorrow, and I can go then,” I tell Stone and turn my gaze to Bear. “I appreciate your willingness to help, but I need to do this myself.”

Bear shakes his head. “That doesn’t work for me.”

“It doesn’t work for you?” I repeat his statement back in the form of a question.

He sinks his fingertip into his bushy salt-and-pepper beard as his eyes harden. “The last thing you need to do is go there alone. Either you take us, or you go in armed with some sort of weapon.”

I jerk my head back, shocked. “A weapon?”

“A baseball bat, a gun, a Taser,” Bear explains further like I don’t know what a weapon is.

“For real?” I ask in disbelief.

“Fuck that,” Stone snaps. “We’re going with you. A weapon can easily be taken and used against you. It won’t be as safe.”

None of this seems safe—either for me or them. I have no doubt they could take Jeff, but at what cost to themselves? If one of them gets hurt…

“We won’t get hurt. It’ll be a quick job. Get in and get out, but we’ll have your back,” Bear says to me.

“It’s late.” I state the obvious.

Bear nods slowly. “That’s perfect. Hopefully he’ll be asleep, and his reaction time will be slow. It may help him be calmer too.”

The man is never calm. I’ve been living in a heightened state for years, but I hadn’t realized how stressed I was until the last few hours. The amount of relaxation I feel around the three people at this table is surprising.

“You want your things?” Stone asks with his head tilted and one hand on his chest. “We’ll make it happen.”

“I only want my purse and phone. Nothing else.”

“Then let’s do this shit,” Stone says, repeating Bear’s earlier words.

“Oh boy,” Fran mutters, but she doesn’t look pissed or worried. “This could be an interesting night.”

Bear leans over to his wife, brushing a kiss against her lips. “It’ll be fine, baby.”

“You’re sexy when you’re protective,” she whispers as she stares into his eyes.

“They’re gross,” Stone mutters, staring at them with a wince.

“They’re great.” I smile, watching the big, burly guy being sugary-sweet with his woman. They give me hope that love is real and that there are men out there who treat women well. “They’re straight life goals.”

“You ready to get out of here?” Stone asks.

I nod, but I don’t feel great about any of this.

“Ready, old man?”

Bear releases his grip on Fran and gives Stone a chin lift. “Let’s do this. I’ll follow on my bike.”

“Do I get to kick some ass?” Fran asks, looking almost giddy with anticipation.

“No,” Bear tells her in a flat tone. “You’re going to watch the bike.”

“Sounds wonderful,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. “They get to have all the fun. It’s not fair.”

“How far away is his place?” Stone asks me.

“Near the shop, down by the ice cream place.”

“By the canals?” he asks.

I nod. “The place that looks like an old motel that’s been converted to apartments.”

“You know where, Bear?”

Bear gives Stone a nod. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Stone reaches out his arm and offers me his hand. “Let’s get your things, baby, and get you on to something better.”

I slide my hand in his, hoping what’s left of my life after Jeff is better. But so far, life has sent me from one shitty situation to the next…present company excluded.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I say.

“Just live a happy life without an asshole,” Bear says, making it sound so simple.

“I’d do anything to see a smile on that face,” Stone says, reaching up with his other hand to touch my cheek with a featherlight touch. “It’s far too pretty to look so sad.”

My face heats as his words wash over me. “I’m happy.”

Happier than I’ve been in a while. I’m surrounded by three wonderful people and free from Jeff having an opinion about all the ways I’ve messed something up.

Fifteen minutes later, after a quiet car ride, we’re standing outside what used to be my apartment.

Stone’s holding my shoulders in his big hands as he explains the plan. “I’ll knock, and you stay behind me until it’s safe for you to get your stuff. Got it?”

I nod, trying to ignore the nausea that’s rolling inside me in waves. I can do this. I wouldn’t be able to do it without Bear and Stone, but it’s still hard. Jeff’s going to be upset and do his best to place the blame on me, making me out to be the bad guy.