Page 18 of Hades

“Uh-uh, bitch, that is not what I was saying, and you know it,” Cati snapped.

Hades shook his head. It was no secret that Cati and Vixen didn’t like each other, and he had no patience left to referee a cat fight.

“You can trust her because I do. Now stop worrying about shit that ain’t got shit to do with either of you,” Hades barked before pulling Harley along with him toward the elevator. “Come on. We’re going to get you some food.”

He had noticed her stomach growling earlier, and he realized he probably needed to feed her if he wanted to keep her alive to sample that sweet ass pussy again.

“You knowyou don’t have to keep checking up on him every hour,” Eris said as she relaxed in the family room, watching TV.

Harley shrugged as she rocked Dante in her arms. She had just gotten through checking his heartbeat and lungs and running a few small tests, and as usual, he was perfectly healthy. “I’ve been cooped up here for four days with nothing better to do.” She stopped rocking Dante suddenly and glanced at Eris. “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind.”

Eris giggled before a yawn slipped from her mouth. “Girl, please. You are a godsend. Being a first-time mom is really scary. As much as I don’t agree with my brother holding you hostage, a part of me is happy to have a midwife in the house.”

“And what about you?” Harley asked. “Isn’t he kind of holding you hostage too?”

Eris’s shrill laugh startled Dante, who immediately cried out.

“Oh, mommy’s sorry, baby boy.” Her words softened completely as she addressed her son and held her hands out for him. Harley placed him in Eris’s arms, and instead of sitting on the couch beside her, she shuffled her feet because she was so damn antsy. When Dante settled down, Eris responded to Harley with a wave of her hand. “I am so used to Hades. He’s been like that since I was little. I don’t pay him any mind.”

Harley forced herself to stand still as she planted her hands on her hips. “Yeah, but wouldn’t you have felt more comfortable giving birth in your own home? Or a birthing center or hospital?”

Eris’s brows scrunched together as she thought about it before shaking her head. “I don’t really do hospitals unless I have to. A birthing center was never really in my plans, and honestly, this is home for me. Cade and I have our own home, and I know he’s more than ready to get there, but I don’t mind being here. Hades moved us into this house when I was ten, so I kind of grew up here.”

Harley’s face scrunched up. “Wait, how much older is he than you?”

“Eight years. I’m thirty, Lu is thirty-seven, and Hades is thirty-eight.”

Harley did the calculations quickly, and her eyes widened. “So Hades bought this house when he was eighteen?”

Eris giggled. “He did. He’s always been more like a father to me than anything. He always took care of me and Lu, so giving birth here was like coming home to have my son. I’m comfortable here. Now, how much longer I’ll be able to convince Cade to stay here, I’m not sure. I’ll probably have to talk toHades soon, though, which won’t be easy. He’s become quite attached to Dante.”

Harley offered a small smile as she thought about the way Hades was with Dante. He didn’t play about his nephew, and whenever he was home, it was a safe bet that Dante was tucked into his muscular arms.

“I’ve noticed.”

Eris peered at Harley for a moment. “You know he likes you.”

The smile fell from Harley’s face as she recoiled at the idea, but her skin heated, giving her a red tint. “Is Hades even capable of liking someone?”

“Outside of family? I didn’t used to think so, but there’s something about you, girl.”

Finally, Harley plopped down on the couch and tugged at her long ponytail as she stared at the TV, not really paying attention to what she was watching. Pixie, who had been napping in her bed upstairs, had found her way down here. As soon as she spotted her mama, she went straight for her, placing her front paws on Harley’s shin. Absentmindedly, she picked Pixie up and placed her on her lap before saying, “I just wish my life could go back to normal.”

Even as she said the words, something within her rebelled against that idea. She didn’t know what the hell was wrong with her. She hadn’t even seen much of Hades since they grabbed food after the meeting with the Obsidian Riders. It was like he was avoiding her, and she didn’t know what to think of that.

On one hand, she was thankful to be in the security of this fortress. On the other hand, she knew this was only temporary and didn’t want to get too comfortable. She also worried about one of her patients going into labor or needing her to check up on them… She caught up on all their charts and had phone calls with them daily, but at some point, they would need herphysically, and she knew Hades would bring hell when it came to that.

Blair and Sage had been asking a lot of questions, too, and she couldn’t avoid them forever.

“Nothing is ever normal with Hades, and I don’t think he’s going to let you go any time soon.”

Harley sighed, and they sat in silence for several minutes before she asked, “Do you know what’s going on with the Obsidian Riders and my ex?”

Eris nodded. “Cade told me.”

“Has anyone thought of just calling the police? I feel like that could solve everything.”

“Girl, what? No. Hades does not fuck with the police at all, and as a Black woman, you shouldn’t trust them either. Besides, according to Cade, your ex has the police on payroll. It’s why they’re in this situation in the first place.”

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