Redemption (The Keepers of Hell Book 3) Read Free Page A

put up with me. That was until the day I gambled away our savings.
         You see, I started gambling when I turned eighteen. It started small, with scratch off lottery tickets and pick threes. Then, I graduated to casinos. I always made sure the bills were paid, though, so she let it slide for a long time. When I lost more than I could afford, I started taking out loans. I knew I had a problem, but I thought I could handle it. When I would win, I won big. But when I lost, I lost even bigger.
         She decided it was time to move on the day that a giant bookie named Tiny came to our home. He offered to remove my kneecaps if I didn’t pay him. That was when Rheanne had enough. She packed her things and left.
        After a couple of weeks, she said she would only come back if I sought help. I wanted to, I really did, but I thought if I could just get one more big score, I could pay off all the debt I owed and we could go back to having a happy life again.
         Well, that didn’t happen. I lost our house, our car, and everything we had both worked so hard for. It was after the foreclosure that Rheanne filed for divorce.
        I suppose it was just as well. I didn’t even fight her for it. Since then, I have been fighting fires and fighting in the ring. I fight to make money and then I spend the money on gambling.
         I hurt her and I hurt my mother. Now, I will never get the chance to tell them how sorry I truly am. That’s my life in a nutshell. Anything else you want to know?”
         Ash sat back in his chair and let Jake talk it out. Greed, pride, either of those could be his sin. But he wasn’t all bad. How many lives had the man saved? Ash didn’t know, and he was willing to bet that Jake didn’t either. “I think that about covers it,” he finally said.
         “Now can you tell me more about this job?” Jake asked.
         “It’s simple really. You give your soul over to God. He makes you a warrior angel. You fight by my side and help keep the peace. Not much to it.” Ash leaned forward in his chair. “Unless you have changed your mind?”
         Jake shook his head. “I know I am going to hell for what I have done,” he said, “I would rather be an employee than a resident.”
         “All right then,” Ash said, standing. “Let’s get this tour underway and then we can start your training.”
         Jake stood as well. “Why me?” he asked. “Of all the people in the world, why did you choose me?”
         Ash shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t really have an answer for that,” he said. “I saw you save a man’s life and there was just something about you that called to me.”
         “But I am damaged goods,” Jake reminded him.
         Ash looked him in the eyes for a moment before saying, “We all are.”

 
    CHAPTER THREE
     
         Jason stared at his laptop in disbelief. “Can you believe this shit!” he shouted.
         “What?” Caleb asked, shining his blade.
         “This!” Jason said, pointing at his email.
         Caleb walked over and looked over his friend’s shoulder to read the offending email. “Huh,” he said. “New management. Get a life.”
         “Yeah,” Jason muttered. “This new guy in Hell thinks he is the boss of all? Who the fuck does he think he is? We devoted our lives to Lucifer and now this new fucker thinks he can just toss us aside? Like trash? I don’t fucking think so.” Jason and Caleb had spent years recruiting souls for Lucifer. They were saddened by his loss, but the fact that someone new had taken over and did not appreciate their efforts was maddening.
         “What are we gonna do?” Caleb asked him.
         “Well first, I’m gonna email him back and tell him what a douche he is. Then, we’re going to consult the Grimoire. He thinks he is so big and bad, I think we better knock him down a peg or two.” Jason slammed his fist on the top of the table. “I