To Hell and Back (Mel Goes to Hell Series Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

into the room, glancing around as if he was afraid to be seen talking to her.
    "Why wouldn't it be?" she asked.
    He coughed. "Well, Spike – one of the imps – said that he'd seen you in Hell. That Lord Lucifer had you in his lair in the lowest levels. You…you can't trust the imps, you know, because they like to cause trouble. It's what they live for. And demons…well, we can lie like humans. I guess you already knew that. Or I hope you did. But you…you're still an angel, right? And angels can't lie. So I thought if I asked you, at least I'd know it was the truth. Did Lord Lucifer…did he…"
    Mel nodded once. "I've seen his lair in Hell, yes. He keeps a two-pronged fork in an umbrella stand behind his desk. A bident, I believe it's called."
    Nybbas paled. "You mean it's true? You really are working with Lord Lucifer now?"
    She forced herself to smile. "Yes, I'm here to help Luce. I'm sure he explained that in the briefing."
    His eyes darted around the room and then to the door before he crept toward her desk. Dropping his voice so low it was barely audible, Nybbas said, "You looked terrified when he touched you this morning, Mel. We've been talking around the office and we think he's gone too far. Corrupting humans and the occasional angel, fair enough, but you –" He swallowed. "If you need help with anything, and I mean anything, tell me. I'd defy Lord Lucifer for you."
    "Are you ready for lunch, Mel?" A grinning Luce stood in the doorway, raising his eyebrows suggestively. "I booked us a table at the Hilton's restaurant and the chef tells me he has fresh oysters that just arrived. Don't think you'll get out of it that easily. After what you said this morning…"
    Nybbas looked horrified.
    Mel blushed. "Yes." She rose and headed for the door. "Thanks for setting up my computer, Nybbas. I'll let you know if I have any trouble with it."
    Luce held out his hand and she took it. Together, they made their way to the lift. It looked like everyone was headed out for lunch at the same time, because it seemed to take forever for the lift to reach their floor and the smells wafting up from the atrium lobby were all from food.
    Mel inhaled deeply. "I swear I can smell peppermint. Do you think someone spilled peppermint oil in the water feature? We'll be smelling it for days if they have."
    Luce sniffed. "Is that what that stench is? Hell, I hope not. I'll talk to building management and make them pump out the whole damn fountain. I won't be able to smell your perfume if my sinuses are stuffed with that!"
    Mel laughed softly all the way down to the lobby and out to the arcade. The smell didn't fade as they walked – in fact, it seemed to strengthen until Mel thought she could taste it. Sugary, sweet and sharp, it was like…
    "We have a candy shop here? In the HELL Corporation building? The tenant manager must hate me. Or maybe Persephone approved it. That must be it. Something so sickly sweet has no place in HELL," Luce muttered, glaring at the shop where peppermint rock candy was being made.
    Mel stopped and addressed the shop assistant. "My friend isn't a fan of peppermint. Too sweet, he says. Do you have anything a little more sour for him?"
    The girl set down her spatula and peeled off her gloves. "How sour do you need it? Dissolve-his-tastebuds-and make-him-pucker-up sour, or the type of tart sweetness that just sort of tingles a bit?"
    Squeezing Luce's hand, Mel replied, "I think I can get him to pucker up without dissolving his tongue. I'll take the tingles, please." She laughed with the shop assistant as she paid for a small jar of lemon lollies and presented them to Luce. "Here you go, my love. Something as sour as you want to be."
    For a moment, he fought to keep his frown but it was a losing battle. He burst out laughing and tucked the jar into her bag. "There's lemon in your perfume, isn't there?"
    "Lemon blossom, yes."
    He stopped laughing, but a rueful smile remained. "I'll share them with you later."

When Mel