Page 17 of Hades

“You just want an excuse to boss people around.”

I huffed with amusement and cupped my palm to the back of her neck.

“The only excuse I want is to get my wife off her feet so she can stop running herself ragged.”

Jenny released a heavy sigh and gradually sagged into me. She was so close, so cozy, that I could have turned my head and kissed her temple easily.

“That does sound nice,” she admitted.

I let out a short, sharp whistle and Viper glanced up from the bar, piling his plate with more pizza.

“My Jenny says we’re low on ice,” I said. “Can you make a quick run and restock the kitchen?”

“Yeah, sure, let me finish—”

“Now,” I said with steel in my voice.

Viper grumbled but he didn’t protest. Defying orders from a higher ranking officer was met with zero tolerance. The club’s hierarchy required the utmost respect at all times. If Viper wanted to make a big deal about it, he would be reminded of the lessons he was supposed to learn as a Prospect—humility, obedience, and no backtalking. Usually through scrubbing toilets, or other menial, unpleasant dirty work that no one wanted to do.

Fetching ice was the least of his concerns.

“Dad,” Casey called, running up to my side. “Can I have another slice of pizza?"

“Jesus, kid, are you actually going to eat it, or wear it?”

I surveyed the sauce all over his face in dismay. Grabbing a napkin, I placed a hand on top of his head to hold him still while I scrubbed him clean. He wrinkled his nose and squirmed in protest.

“I can take him,” Bruiser offered as he passed me.

“Go with your Uncle Bruiser,” I told Casey. “Don’t cause any trouble, and make sure you say thank you.”

Casey skipped along beside Bruiser’s hulking figure as they headed to the bar. Then Bruiser scooped up Casey to give him a bird’s eye view of the pizza selection.

“All right, little man, the choice is yours,” Bruiser said. “What will it be? Pepperoni? Sausage? Cheese? You better not be one of those pineapple freaks, like your Uncle Psycho.”

“I heard that,” Psycho shot back from across the room.

I chuckled as they tossed friendly jibes at each other back and forth. When I turned to my plate, I caught Jenny staring at me.

“What?” I said.

“Nothing,” she replied with a shrug and quickly focused on her food again.

I draped an arm over the back of her chair, leaning in close to whisper in her ear.

“I know that look, honey. It’s not nothing. You’re undressing me with those pretty hazel eyes of yours. And if you don’t stop, it’s going to be damned difficult to hide what you’re doing to me.”

Jenny choked on a bite of pizza and covered her mouth with her hand. Her gaze flicked to mine, eyes twinkling. She cleared her throat and hurriedly pushed her plate aside.

“I should go check on the cake. It’s about time to bring it out anyway.”

“You’re not running away, are you?” I replied.

Jenny cast a glance over her shoulder, trying to appear serious. But I didn’t miss the flicker of a smile on her lips.

She liked this game—cat and mouse, a little lively chase.

And I was more than willing to indulge her as long as she wanted to play.