Page 19 of Hades

Harley knew that to be true, but it still frustrated her to hear it confirmed. “I’m still a little unclear about what this situation even is. All Hades told me was that Drew got him and the club in some shit.”

Eris sighed. “You know how the news is always talking about crime spiking in our city over the past year?” Harley nodded. Of course, she heard about that. It was practically all anyone talked about when making small talk. It was no longer about weather and now about if they heard about the latest murder or robbery or how drugs were taking over. “Drew is responsible for that, but he’s pinning it on the Obsidian Riders and paying the police to look the other way.”

Harley gasped, but before she could ask another question, Hades made his presence known. “Tink, come with me.”

He had just gotten in from God knows where. He didn’t even stop his stride as he made his way from the front door, throughthe family room, scooping Pixie up in passing, and moving toward the staircase.

Harley’s eyes grew wide. He hadn’t acknowledged her in four days, and her heart fluttered at the thought of being alone with him again. She glanced at Eris, whose brow rose. “Better not keep him waiting.”

Harley jumped up and scurried after him, rushing up the stairs to keep up with him. She was out of breath by the time they stopped beside a door at the end of the hall that was right next to the room she stayed in.

Hades opened the door and walked in with her trailing behind him, but she froze when she realized they were in the master bedroom. Tremors shook her body, and she wasn’t sure if it was in anticipation of more pleasure at the hands of Hades or fear.

She took a tiny step forward, ready to find out.

The room Hadesslept in was three times the size of any other bedroom in the house, and it felt like a whole new world. The carpet and walls were black, and there were large windows blocked out by blackout shades. The bed was custom made and bigger than a California king. The satin covers on top were a dark shade of blue.

“Hades.” His name slipped out of her mouth, causing him to turn around and look at her. He watched as she looked around his room. When her eyes landed on his, they grew wide, almost as if she didn’t realize she said his name. His gaze bore into her with malice and…desire. That desire was a motherfucker. He desperately wanted to feel the inside of her once again, which was exactly why he had been avoiding her.

He was used to being the most dangerous one in the room. Harley had no idea the power she held over him, and that made her dangerous as hell.

Her cheeks flushed as she said, “I-I mean… I didn’t mean you, Hades. I meant this room… it’s like the movieHerculeswhere Hades lives. That’s what it looks like.”

He nodded, a smirk playing on his full lips. When he had this room designed, that was exactly the vibe he was going for. His father named him Hades, and he made damn sure he gave hell to every aspect of his life.

“The Underworld,” Hades replied, taking a step toward her and bending so he could put Pixie down.

Harley took a step back as she watched Pixie walk over to and up the small staircase beside the bed. He could see her looking at her mut curiously, and he wanted to laugh, but he held it in. She had no idea that the little mut had become his buddy over the past couple of days. The dog looked ridiculous with the pink hair tie at the top of her head, making her fur look like a pineapple top in between her ears. The pink collar she wore wasn’t his favorite, but he had to admit she made for good company. She didn’t cry, at least, like his nephew did. He never felt the need to give Pixie back to her mom, like he did with his nephew. Dante was his heart, but that little nigga was annoying when he was hungry.

“Did you… buy that for her?” Harley asked, and he followed her gaze, realizing she stared at the mini staircase he bought yesterday for Pixie. His bed was way too high for her to jump up on, and he thought that would make it easier for her. Pixie seemed to love it. He even left his door open for her, and a few times, he walked into his room, realizing she was sleeping peacefully on his bed.

Becoming defensive, he said, “So what?” He crossed his large arms over his chest and took another step toward her, causingher to step back again as she lifted her hand, giggling behind it. A low rumble vibrated his chest, but he cut it out before he got louder. He didn’t want her to realize her laughing at him bothered him.

She finally shrugged and asked, “What did you want to see me about?”

Hades frowned at her without answering for so long that she fidgeted with the sleeves of her pink hoodie while she looked around his room. It was dark in there, but the light from the hallway spilled in behind her, casting a glow around her body, making her look like an angel… an angel in hell. He grinned menacingly, taking another large step toward her. He was so close now that he felt her nipples poking his stomach through the thin hoodie she wore.

“Why you always wearing pink?”

She looked startled, causing his dick to harden.

“It’s my favorite color.”

He grunted in response before going back to frowning at her, causing her to fidget again. She had no idea how her nervousness turned him on, but he had to focus. As badly as he wanted to fuck her, he knew he needed to stay focused.

“Your sister keeps asking about you.” That caused Harley to stand completely still as tears instantly gathered in her eyes. He frowned. He tried asking Cati earlier what the story was between her and Harley, but she clammed up, just like Harley. He really didn’t like being in the dark, figuratively, at least, so he was about to get to the bottom of this one way or another. “What happened between you two?”

Harley looked up at him, allowing tears to fall as she shook her head. “I can’t?—”

“You want me to protect you?” He hadn’t meant to say that. He didn’t knowwhathe meant to say, but it wasn’t that.

Her perfectly shaped brows pulled together as she looked up at him, and he could read her expression well. Shorty had been through some shit. He knew because he had too. He just learned to mask it. It seemed she hadn’t mastered that skill yet. Either that, or it was still too fresh.

“I didn’t ask for your protection,” she muttered, looking at the floor.

That was the wrong thing to say. That pissed him off, causing him to lift her by her waist and throw her over his shoulder. She yelped, but he ignored her as he marched over to his bed.

Pixie lifted her head and peered at them, but then she buried it back under her paws and closed her eyes. He scoffed. She made a terrible guard dog. She couldn’t protect Harley from a fucking dust bunny.

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