Page 38 of Hades

I looked at the other man. His hand rested on his gun, but he didn’t draw it. His other arm stretched out behind him, holding his club brothers back. Indie said something else to Zeus, and he went rigid. His nostrils flared and his jaw clenched tight. Rage mixed with something else. Something that looked like fear. But he held himself still as Indie jumped to the floor, Mimic waiting to pull her behind him when Zeus spun around.

“Get the fuck out of my clubhouse,” Zeus snarled at Mimic and Indie.

The two of them walked away without a word. Mimic nodded to Cash, who took Kytten’s hand and said, “Time to go, ladies.”

My feet stayed planted on the floor, still reeling from what I’d witnessed. The violence. The threat. The blade against flesh. The way Indie moved like death itself—silent, efficient. Deadly. Until Kytten grabbed my hand and dragged me across the room.

“Baby girl, we need to go,” Banshee said as he followed us out.

I climbed into the truck, moving on autopilot as I turned the ignition. My hands shook, adrenaline still coursing through my veins, making my fingers tremble. Kytten stared out the window, and Diesel jumped into the bed as I waited for Mimic and Indie to lead us out. It was something I’d learned in the last few days of driving Kytten around that Mimic and Indie led the way, and Cash picked up the rear. As if she were the most precious thing in their lives and their only duty was to protect her.

Again, envy speared through me at the love this woman had from not only her man, but her brother and father.

Her family.

It was the one thing I’d always longed for. I loved the life I lived, but there had always been something missing. I had my mother but given the way she rejected me time and time again, I couldn’t help but feel alone in this world. Isolated. Unwanted.

Having guests over the last few days had been wonderful. Love and laughter filled every corner of my little farmhouse. And friendship. I didn’t have friends, not real ones.

I knew most of the people in town, and many came to buy products from me, but the closest thing I had to a friend was Reggie. And even she was mostly a business arrangement. Transactions. Exchanges. Nothing deeper.

The house would be quiet again once the Silver Shadows and their old ladies went home to Nebraska. I’d loved my quiet life until I discovered what it was like to have people around. People I enjoyed talking to, laughing with. People who filled the empty spaces I hadn’t realized existed.

I pulled into the yard at home and turned off the truck. While Cash collected Kytten, I sat quietly, thinking about what I’d witnessed. The violence. The threat. The way Indie moved with the blade. Like she’d done it before, like she’d do it again without hesitation.

Banshee surprised me when he opened my door and held out his hand. I smiled as his hand engulfed mine, and he helped me climb down. Gentle despite his size. Protective in a way that made my chest ache.

Cerberus was barking and yelping inside the house, and Diesel bounded up the steps, doing the same. I chuckled as I opened the door and stood back, letting the two dogs get reacquainted. Their joy was a stark contrast to the tension still coiled in my gut.

We piled into the kitchen, and I made my way to the coffeepot, busying my hands while the others talked quietly. I needed something to do. Something to focus on besides the image of that blade pressed against Zeus’ throat.

“She slept with my brother,” Aspen said aloud, her tone somewhere between a whispered shock and a revelation she was sharing with the room. “I knew she had a crush on him. She always did. But she hated him. He was always dismissive of her, like she was a fly to swat away.”

“Baby girl, people change. You’ve been gone five years.”

Aspen spun around on Banshee. “She has a child!”

“Gus,” I supplied.

“What?”

All eyes turned to me as I answered, “Her son’s name is Gus. Well, Augustus.”

Aspen’s shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears. “She had a baby with my brother and didn’t tell him.”

“Baby girl, you don’t know that he’s Zeus’ kid,” Banshee argued gently, trying to soothe her.

“Yes, I do. Reggie used to go on and on about marrying Zeus. She always said their first-born son’s name would be Augustus because he was the first ruler of Rome. Augustus used his connection to Zeus to gain power over the city.” Aspen snorted. “Reggie used to say that Zeus’ son would be as conceited as him, so it was only right that his name conveyed power.”

I barked out a laugh, and everyone looked at me.

“Sorry, but Reggie was way off the mark with that one. Gus is the sweetest little boy. If he’s Zeus’ son, then he got his personality from you, Aspen, not Zeus. Not even Reggie.”

Aspen smiled. “No, Reggie is a ball-buster, that’s for sure.”

The front door opened, and Diana and Bane walked in. She went straight to Indie and pulled her into a hug. Indie stiffened for a moment before leaning into it. Accepting the comfort. The acceptance.

“I’m so sorry,” Diana said.