Lucifer's Woman

by K. J. Dahlen

  Lucifer glanced over at Demon and broke the long silence, “If she has the journals we need to find them. We need to read them. Then if what she said is true we need to find the bodies and return them to their families in a way that doesn’t bring the cops down on us.”

  “My uncle Charlie can help with that,” Demon assured him.

  “I hope so.” Lucifer nodded. “But first, we have to read the fucking journals and find out what’s going on.”

  Demon got up and walked over to where Jinx had placed her things. Reaching into one of her bags, he brought out a tablet and brought it back to Lucifer’s table. Handing it over to the other man, he nodded at the devise. “I think you might find that interesting.”

  Lucifer glanced at the tablet then at Demon. “Did you find the journals on here?”

  “Only a small part of them, I think,” Demon replied with a shrug. “I have a feeling that’s only part of the nightmare these women went through.”

  Lucifer fired up the tablet.

  “You might want another drink before you start to read that shit,” Demon suggested.

  Lucifer stared at the other man for a moment then reached for the bottle. Demon got up and walked away before he even set the bottle down. Opening the file marked Journal Lucifer began to read.

  An hour later, he sat there in the dark curling his fingers into fists. Blood oozed from one of the many cuts on his hands and he owed Jessie a new tablet. Her old tablet had been smashed by his fist in a fit of rage when he read the pages of Michael’s journals. He knew Demon had been right. This was only part of the hell in the journals. But this had been all he could stomach. This Michael was a true madman.

  His only saving grace was the small SD card sitting on the table beside the half empty bottle of Jack. Lucifer surged to his feet and walked quietly down the hall to his bedroom. He hesitated then pushed the door open.

  She was still sleeping and he knew he should just leave her alone but he couldn’t. Shutting the door behind him, he went over to the other side of the bed. Stripping down to his boxers, he slid into bed with her. He didn’t know if he could do this or not but he was going to find out.

  Wrapping his arms around her warm body, he pulled her to him. Somehow, the panic he was expecting wasn’t there. He didn’t know if it was the bottle of Jack or something else but he didn’t feel his skin fighting the connection he usually felt when he got this close to someone else. When she began fighting him he whispered, “Hush woman, I’m not going to hurt you.” He pulled her into his arms and added, “Just need to hold you.”

  *

  Jessie’s eyes opened wide as she felt him wrap his arms around her. She settled her head on his chest and soon caught the sound of the beating of his heart. The echoes of his heartbeat soothed her frazzled nerves and when his breathing evened out indicating he’d fallen asleep, she fell back to sleep.

  Hours later just before dawn, Lucifer began to moan and thrash in his sleep.

  Jessie woke up startled and listened for a moment before she realized he was caught in a nightmare. She caught the sound of tortured breathing and knew instinctively what was going on. Instead of moving away, she used the method her mother often used on her when she was a kid. She carefully stroked his skin and whispered-hummed the same silly song her mother used when the nightmares she lived with got to be too much for her. There was just something about the soothing rhythm that chased the night terrors away.

  She continued to stroke his chest and hum the tune for a long few minutes and it wasn’t until he completely relaxed that she settled down again. She couldn’t fall asleep again so instead, she kept stroking his chest. As the early morning light filtered into the room, she found herself looking at his chest. She could see every inch of his skin and she had to frown at the sheer number of tattoos he bore. Almost every inch of his chest and arms were covered with ink.

  His chest was covered in dark hair and tats but the longer she stroked the more she felt his skin underneath it all. She frowned as she began to feel the scars he bore. Some were barely felt but some were deep and still rugged.

  She carefully lifted her hand and tried to move away but Lucifer wouldn’t let her go. He reached up, pulled her hand back and turned to curl around her body closer. He nuzzled into the back of her head and fell asleep again.

  Jessie was afraid to move. She wanted to move away from him but the man kept hauling her back into place. Finally, she just gave up and closed her eyes again.

  A few hours later, she woke up again to feel hands wandering around her body. Before she could protest, Lucifer pulled her onto her back and his lips crashed down on hers, swallowing any sound, she could make. She wanted to push him away but found she couldn’t. His touch just felt so right, like she’d been waiting for it all her life. Then she didn’t want him to not touch her.

  Then she felt him hover on top of her settling his much bigger body in the cradle of her hips. For some odd reason, it felt as if he fit. She closed her eyes and groaned as he ground his pelvis into hers. She could feel his huge, hard cock rubbing her lady parts. She groaned again and couldn’t help it. This one man had done something no one else had been able to do. She melted into his touch.

  Jessie felt a strong lust surging through her as his hands roamed along her body. His hand slipped under the t shirt and touched her skin. Jessie felt the heat from his hands and she groaned again, opening her mouth. His tongue slipped in and he began fucking her mouth, his tongue mimicking the motion of his hips. Jessie was completely lost in the sensations he created just by being this close to her.

  Then he opened her legs wider and hurriedly pushed her damp panties aside. Then she felt him surge deep inside her. Jessie gasped as he tore through her thin barrier. The pain was sharp and doused her pleasure briefly.

  He gasped in surprise and glared down at her.

  Lucifer went to pull out but she wouldn’t let him. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him to her. “Please don’t leave me, not now,” she whispered brokenly. “I want this. I want you.”

  Raising her hips, she took him in deeper and that action broke through Lucifer’s rage. He slammed inside her over and over again.

  Jessie was lost in the sensations he brought to her and soon her body tensed then she flew over the edge into the abyss and her fingers curled around his shoulders her fingernails biting into his skin. That was enough to push him over the edge.

  When he tried to move off of her, Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck and wouldn’t let him go anywhere.

  Flipping over on his back, he pulled her on top of him.

  Jessie buried her face in his chest but Lucifer hooked her chin and brought her eyes up to his. “Why?” he asked her hoarsely as he searched her eyes.

  Jessie knew what he wanted to know but she didn’t have an answer to give him. “Does it matter?” she whispered back at him dropping her eyes to the pulse beating on his neck.

  “Look at me,” he demanded.

  Slowly raising her eyes to meet his, she could see the question in his eyes.

  “It matters.”

  “For the first time in my life I wanted something more than I had before.” She shrugged. It was all she could say. She didn’t understand why she let him have her either.

  Before he could say any more someone thumped on his door. “Prez, we got visitors.”

  “Fuckin A.” Lucifer growled and moved her off to his side. “You stay in the bedroom until I know what’s going on. Visitors usually mean trouble and that’s something I don’t want. Not right now.” He got up and pulled on his clothes. When he opened his door, he found Jessie’s bags at the door. He pulled them inside and closed the door when he left.

  Jessie rushed to her suitcases and began looking for her tablet. When she found it, she turned it over and found the screen smashed. Pieces of broken glass fell out of the device.

  The broken glass could only mean one thing. Someone had found the files of Michael’s journal. They knew now that w
hat she said was true. Would they let her go finally? Jesse paused. Did she even want to leave now? This man was something else. He made her feel alive and she’d felt almost nothing for a long time. Then again, a biker wasn’t the happily ever after type of man. He would get tired of her and then what?

  Jesse laid her head down. Throw me away that’s what. But she had to admit, she would never regret what just happened. She’d never felt anything like that before in her life. It was electrical. It was wow! She had no words. She wanted more though. She had to be honest with herself. Yes, she wanted more.

  She got up to shower. She still couldn’t believe that she just had sex with someone! And it was the most exciting thing she’d ever done in her life. She grabbed a towel send went into the bathroom.

  Chapter Six

  When Lucifer walked out to the main room he saw Demon’s Uncle Charlie standing there waiting on him.

  His men stood there as well.

  Demon nodded at his uncle when Lucifer came into the room.

  Lucifer came around the table and stood there glaring at Charlie. Finally, after a moment or two he nodded at the other man. “What can I do for you Sheriff Boone?”

  “Just being sociable,” Charlie told him.

  “Why now?” Lucifer wanted to know.

  Charlie turned his head to look at Jinx for a moment then said, “Well, one of your men came into the B&B yesterday and removed the items from one of the guests Maudie had staying with her. She was concerned about the girls’ safety and asked me to check on the girl. Guess I’m just here to make sure there’s no trouble.” He paused then asked, “Is the girl here?”

  Lucifer nodded. “She is.”

  “Can I speak to her? I just need to know she’s here of her own free will.”

  Lucifer rolled his eyes. “You think we’re keeping her here against her will?”

  Charlie shook his head. “No, I don’t, but I still need to verify it.”

  Lucifer turned to Demon and motioned down the hall.

  Demon disappeared down the hall. They all waited for quite some time.

  *

  Jessie had been shocked when there was pounding on the bathroom door and some man telling her she was needed out in the main room. She hurried up and got out to dry off.” Just a dang minute!”

  “Pres wants you out here now!”

  “Hold on!” she yelled back “I took a damn shower okay?”

  Silence.

  She knew he was still there though, as she didn’t hear footsteps moving away.

  She tugged her jeans on and a t-shirt.

  When she opened the door, the man they called Demon took her by the arm.

  “Hey …. No manhandling!” she snapped as she tugged her arm away from his huge hand.

  He chuckled but nudged her to get her moving.

  When she got to the main room, she looked around and noted the men’s faces. They were blank as they stared back at her. She wondered why they all looked like that.

  Then she turned to the additional man.

  He wore a tan uniform and had a badge pinned on his shirt. “Are you Jessie Grant?”

  Jessie nodded. “I am. Can I help you, um… Sheriff?”

  “I’m just doing a wellness check. Maudie Sayer checked with me this morning. You were staying in her Bed and Breakfast and had rented a room for a week. Yesterday, one of these guys took your things from your room and she was worried about you.”

  Jessie paused but she didn’t look at Lucifer or his mean as she answered, “I’m fine Sheriff.” She added a smile to the statement.

  “And you’re not being held against your will?”

  “No sir, I’m not.” She wouldn’t look at anyone but the Sheriff. She was afraid if she did, she would break down. She didn’t want to start something no one would win. Maybe she was wrong, but she felt a sense of safety here with these men. She might not know them at all, but Lucifer made her feel safe. She wasn’t sure why at the moment, but he did.

  Charlie Boone paused and looked around the room.

  No one said or did anything. They all just stared blankly back at him. Even Demon looked him with no expression in his eyes.

  Charlie finally nodded. “Well, if she’s here of her own free will, then my job is done. You all have to understand that I had to ask.”

  “I appreciate that Sheriff,” Jessie told him warmly. She stepped close and laid her hand on his arm. “Thank you but I’m fine.”

  When Lucifer growled behind her Jessie turned her head in surprise and took a step back.

  Lucifer glared at the other man and Charlie also seemed surprised by his action.

  He pulled Jessie behind him and stared at the other man.

  Charlie took a slow step back and nodded at Lucifer. “Well then, I guess I’ll be on my way.”

  “You know your own way home.” Lucifer stared hard at him.

  Everyone in the room watched as Charlie turned and left.

  Jessie turned to leave the room, but she didn’t get far.

  Lucifer grabbed her arm and led her over to a table in the center of the room. “We need to talk,” he announced. Looking up, he nodded at his men.

  They all gathered around at the tables. Demon, Hades, Aries and Jinx sat down at the table he was at. Everyone looked at Jessie.

  Lucifer sat down next to her and turned to his men. “I found out why she came here, and she has a legit concern. It’s true… there could be nine bodies buried somewhere on this land.”

  “Prez?” Jinx frowned. “What the fuck are you saying here?”

  “I’m sorry Jessie,” Demon told her. “But I found your iPad and read the journal pages. Then I gave it to Lucifer.” Holding up his hands he added, “I know I had no right to do that, but this is my home, my home and everybody else’s in this room. We have to protect what’s ours.”

  Jessie nodded. “I understand I guess. After all, you live here and without evidence, I’m not sure I would have believed me either.”

  “Lucifer,” Hades asked running his hands over his hair nervously. “Are you saying her claim is real?”

  Lucifer nodded. “We have yet to confirm the bodies are actually buried where he says they are, but if you’d read what Demon and I did, you’d have to wonder too.”

  “Fucking hell, this isn’t going to end well is it? Not for us.” Jinx growled. “The cops are gonna take one look at us and think we killed those women.”

  “Not if we have the evidence of the actual journals to show them,” Demon said as he turned to Jessie. “You do have the original journals, don’t you?”

  Jessie nodded. She looked around the room before she said anything, “Yes I have them.” She paused then felt she had to explain something here before they went any further, “I work as a physical therapist, both in a hospital and in private practice, but my real passion is how the human mind works. I’ve been taking classes and studied unusual cases.”

  “That’s great and all but what does that have to do with this? You sucked us into a shitstorm and there’s no way out,” Jinx demanded angrily.

  Jessie looked over at him then back to Lucifer and Demon. “Nothing. It has nothing to do with this at all, but I did notice something the longer I read his journals. Something that didn’t make sense at first but the longer I read, the more it became clear to me.”

  “And just what was that?” Demon wanted to know.

  Jessie wet her lips with the tip of her tongue and snared an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “What if Michael isn’t real? What if Michael isn’t this killer’s real name? He could be anybody. He might live right here in town and he could be out there right now, watching and waiting to add to his numbers.”

  “Fuck me,” Jinx swore as he shoved his chair back and got to his feet in a panic.

  Everyone at the table froze. They knew from past experience Jinx was a dangerous man when he got spooked and right now, he was well on his way to beyond the point of no return.

  Jessie turned her head slow
ly to stare into the man’s eyes.

  He glared at her and his eyes began to glaze over as he began to get lost in his own thoughts.

  “Jinx,” she spoke in a soft voice. Again, she called out his name. It took a third time before she got his attention. When his eyes finally snapped to hers she didn’t reach out and try to touch him, instead she held his gaze. “Breathe, just take a deep breath and exhale.” Jessie was using every trick in the book dealing with him. She’d worked with a few soldiers coming back from the war on terror and as she worked on them, they spoke about the horror they had endured and some of the techniques that worked for them when the past got too close. One of the men told her touching someone at the breaking point was the worst thing you could do. That action just tripped the PTSD and would make it even worse.

  “Breathe Jinx.” Over and over, she issued her gentle command.

  Finally, after about ten minutes Jinx got hold of his panic. He began taking deep breaths and exhaling loudly. After several more minutes, he relaxed enough to snap out of his episode. Finally, he picked up his chair and sat down.

  No one in the room said anything about what just happened. However, they stared at her and then at Jinx looking very confused as to what just happened.

  Demon turned to Jessie and said, “I never thought about that… About who this guy might be. Like someone in town here even…Shit.” He looked around the room and saw the same expression on everyone’s face.

  Lucifer leaned closer to Jesse. “What exactly are you saying here?”

  “If we start locating bodies he knows he put in the ground he’s going to come back to the area. What’s to stop him from killing again?” She looked at the men in the room. “To keep his secret, he could come after anyone he thinks has read the journals. Anyone who’s killed all those women over a decade and who’s never been caught is smart enough to kill anyone who might tell the world what he doesn’t want out. He does have something to protect as well, his freedom and his very life. Don’t you think?”