Page 47 of Hades

Was it prideful?

Maybe. But both men and women should take pride in themselves. In how they looked, how they spoke. Their character, their integrity. There were so many aspects of our lives we should be proud of, and style and appearance were among them.

Why women felt the need to hide what they wanted was sad. Self-esteem was important to a healthy lifestyle, and if having people compliment the way you looked helped build your self-esteem, why was that seen as wrong?

Why was self-esteem twisted to make a healthy amount of vanity seem as though it was on the same scale as murder?

Though murder might not seem like a path to self-esteem, it was for me. I felt proud of the women and children I’d helped. There’d even been a few men here and there. I removed their bullies so they could finally feel safe and happy. I eliminated the monsters who preyed on the vulnerable. The satisfaction of knowing another abuser was rotting in the ground beat any compliment about my appearance.

I wondered what Brock would think of my side business. Would he accept me for who I was, or would he turn me in? The third option was the one I tried not to think about: the hypocrisy of him deciding it wasn’t my place to play judge and jury, then believing it was his. Men like him, in motorcycle clubs—they dealt their own justice. Would he see me as a kindred spirit or a threat?

I held the necklace in my hand. Maybe a date wasn’t a good choice. Maybe being alone was safer. Maybe letting this man into my life was the stupidest thing I could do.

That question wouldn’t be answered tonight, though, because Brock never showed up. I didn’t hear from him again until almost a week later.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Hades

Her ass swayed as she left the kitchen, and I wasn’t even sure she realized she was doing it. The way her body moved with that natural grace made my cock throb. I couldn’t wait to have her riding me while those perfect tits bounced in my face. Couldn’t wait to watch her come apart on my dick, screaming my name while I buried myself so deep inside her she’d feel me for days.

My dick was so fucking hard in my jeans from watching her come that I considered slipping into the bathroom to jack off. I used the heel of my hand to press down on my cock, hoping it would deflate enough that I could walk without looking like a goddamn teenager. Fuck. Just the way she reacted to my kiss told me everything I needed to know. That and her dog’s fucking name.

I looked down at Cerberus, the black Cane Corso lying on the floor. He looked relaxed with his head resting between his paws, but his eyes stayed open, locked on me. His tail didn’t wag. One wrong move, and he’d tear me apart. Christ, the dog probably weighed more than Lettie did. Probably had better instincts too. He knew I was a threat to his mistress. Knew I’d corrupt her, claim her, ruin her for anyone else.

Good.

My phone pinged, and I groaned at the message from Zeus. I opened a drawer, looking for something to write with, and found a pen among packets of seeds. Organized. Methodical. My queen had a system for everything, didn’t she? I wondered what other systems she had. What other secrets she kept locked away in this house.

I looked out the window over the sink and smiled when I saw the gardens. Flowers lined up in neat rows on one side, vegetables on the other. Beyond that, I spotted an iron gate. Locked. Hidden. Another secret.

My queen was a busy little bee, judging by all the work she’d put in outside. I’d seen the chickens wandering the yard and wondered how self-sufficient she was. How isolated. How alone. I’d find out everything at dinner tonight. Every secret. Every vulnerability. Every dark corner of her soul that matched mine.

I quickly scribbled out a note telling her when to be ready, then left. She’d hear the bike and probably be pissed I didn’t wait to say goodbye, but the club came first.

That was a lesson she’d have to learn fast. My world was brutal and unforgiving. She’d either adapt or break. I was betting on adapt. Something about her told me she was stronger than she looked. Darker than that sunshine exterior suggested.

I pulled up in front of the club and tossed my keys to the nearest prospect. “Wash her up. I want to see my reflection in the fucking chrome.”

“Yes, sir.”

I stomped through the clubhouse and headed for Zeus’ office. The sounds of two people yelling had me shaking my head. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who was in there. Zeus and his fucking temper. The man could negotiate treaties with rival clubs but couldn’t keep his dick out of drama.

“How fucking dare you!”

“He’s my fucking kid. I want to meet him.”

“He’s not your kid. He’s mine.”

“If he’s not mine, the test will prove it, and I’ll never have to look at your fucking face again.”

“Asshole.”

The door swung open, and I came face to face with Reggie. Her eyes shot daggers at me, and her words cut even deeper.

“I fucking hate you. Stay the fuck out of my business.”

I didn’t have anything against Reggie—at least I hadn’t growing up. Sure, her puppy dog eyes and the way she followed us around the clubhouse whenever she came to see Aspen was annoying as fuck, but it didn’t affect my life. She was background noise. A nice girl who’d made the mistake of falling for a man who would never see her as anything but a convenient hole when he needed to blow off steam.