Page 72 of Hades

“And I will again,” she mumbled.

I glared at her back as she walked away. Watched the sway of her hips. The confidence in her stride. The way she thought she’d won something. My mind catalogued her weight, her height, her probable tolerance levels. How much will it take to make her sick? How much to make her stop breathing? The calculations came automatically now, a dark reflex in the face of threats.

Brock grabbed my chin, directing my attention back to him. His touch grounded me. Pulled me back from the edge I’d been teetering on.

“Ignore her. The whores play these games to get a rise out of the old ladies. If you let it get to you, she wins.”

I smiled up at him. Let the sweetness flood back into my expression even though darkness churned underneath. “You’re right,” I said sweetly.

If Echo wanted to play, well, I came prepared to play. Because while Brock might think it was harmless, I knew the truth. I knew what women like her were capable of. How they wormed their way in, how they destroyed things from the inside out. I’d seen it before. And I’d be damned if I let it happen again.

We walked around the room, and Brock introduced me to his brother and father. His brother was sweet, genuine warmth in his eyes that made something in my chest ache. But his father watched me closely, assessing me with the same calculating gaze I’d been using on everyone else. He was never rude, but also not as accepting as Brock’s brother. His eyes tracked my movements like he was waiting for me to reveal myself as a threat.

Smart man.

Brock had told me about his mom taking off when he and his brother were just kids, so it made sense that Jupiter would be hesitant to accept a woman in his son’s life. There was an expectation that a father would protect his children. The same for mothers. Only, I never experienced either, so I was willing to cut him some slack.

For now.

The evening moved on, and I had a great time getting to know Brock’s club brothers. Most of them were rough around the edges but genuine. Loyal. The kind of men who would kill for their family without hesitation. I understood that. Respected it. All except one.

Apollo.

He was polite when Brock introduced us, but his eyes tracked me as I moved around the room, leaving me feeling unsettled. Exposed. Like he could see through the carefully constructed exterior I showed the world. Like he knew about the darkness I kept hidden. The vial around my neck suddenly felt heavier. Warmer. A beacon drawing his attention.

The club whores also watched me as I moved around, Echo especially. Her eyes burned into my back every time I turned away, silently calculating. Plotting. Thinking she still had a chance.

She didn’t.

Silently telling Cerberus to stay, I slipped away from Brock and went to the bar, where I ordered whatever Echo was drinking. The prospect who took the order looked at me strangely, suspicion flickering in his eyes. I smiled, hoping it would relax his guard. Let him think I was just another sweet girl trying to fit in. He nodded and made the drink, setting it in front of me.

It was purple.

Whatever it was, it didn’t look appealing, but I thanked him and picked up the glass. Felt the weight of it in my hand. The cool condensation against my palm. The knowledge of what I was about to do settled into my bones like an old friend. I waited for the prospect to turn away and let the powder slip through the drink, dissolving almost instantly. I walked straight toward Echo and stopped in front of her.

She eyed me warily until I apologized, “I’m sorry, Echo. I know I’m new here and you and Hades have known each other for a while. I brought you a peace offering.” I paused, letting the words sink in. “I read up on MCs when I moved in next door a few years back, and I can only imagine how upsetting it must be to have a woman come in and take your place.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.

“I promise that’s not what I’m doing. Hades’ infatuation with me right now is because I’m shiny and new. Give it a few weeks and that’ll wear off, and you’ll have him back. I swear.”

The lies tasted sweet on my tongue. Honeyed poison. Because I knew the truth. Brock was mine. Would always be mine. And if she touched him again, I’d make sure she regretted it.

Permanently next time.

Echo glanced at the girl beside her, who whispered, “Finally, a bitch who knows her place.”

I held my tongue and asked, “What’s your name?” Even though I wanted to tell her exactly where her place was. Six feet under if she kept pushing.

“Gaia,” she sneered, as if answering me was beneath her.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gaia.” I said it with a bright smile and held the drink out to Echo.

She took it and crowed, “Fine, just don’t get any ideas of sticking around too long,” as if she’d won.

“Of course not,” I lied.

I’d added just enough to the drink to make her violently ill. Not enough to kill her. Not this time. But enough to send a message. Enough to make her think twice before touching what was mine again.