Page 42 of Hades

Harley reminded him so much of his mother it hurt. She didn’t look like her, but her mannerisms, her softness, and her femininity were a direct replica. The last thing he wanted was their story to end like his parents. That thought had terrified him all day, and though he wasn’t good at talking about his feelings, he felt the need to be vulnerable with Harley. The purpose of asking her out on a date was to have this conversation, but Gotham had to go and fuck that up.

Gripping her chin, he forced her to look up at him. He studied her face, and she looked so peaceful. He wanted her to keep that energy forever, so though his heart constricted, he said, “You ain’t gotta be stuck here anymore, Tink. Drew is out of the picture, so you’re free to go.”

The serene look fell from her face, and confusion took over. “What do you mean?”

Hades bit down on his back teeth as he thought about his response carefully. “I mean you’re free to move around, shorty.”

“Uhm… okay. Are you saying you don’t want me here?”

He shook his head quickly. “That’s not what I’m saying. I just mean you ain’t gotta be tied to me like that.”

His words were coming out all wrong. He didn’t do well with shit like this, and frustration started to take over.

Her brows pulled in, and she frowned sadly as she pushed him out of the way and stood up from the bed. “Okay, Hades. I hear you. I?—”

A phone ringing interrupted her. She quickly pulled it from her pocket, causing Hades to frown. He watched as she answered it, getting pissed off that she was really allowing a phone call to interrupt this conversation. It wasn’t going at allhow he pictured, but his mixed-up words were out there now, even if they weren’t what he meant.

“Hello?” she answered. “Okay, just hold on, honey. I’ll be right there.”

She hung up, and Hades snatched the phone from her, tapping on it and realizing it wasn’t her normal phone. “You got a secret phone? Who the fuck was that?”

“Hades, give me back my phone. It was my client, Savannah. She thinks she’s in labor. I have to go.”

Hades mugged her as he handed her phone back. “So that’s it? You’re gon’ leave?”

He didn’t know why, but it felt like a punch to the gut. He had just got done accidentally telling her she was free. He didn’t mean to say that. What he wanted to say was she could go home if she wanted, but he preferred she would stay with him. Now, she had to go tend to someone else, and he felt like she was choosing freedom.

“Yes, Hades. I have to work. I guess I’ll call you later… since I’m free and all. Can you manage to watch the kids while I’m gone?”

Hades didn’t appreciate her sarcasm, but he could tell she had an attitude, just like he now did. He waved her off and turned to walk out of the room. “Yeah. I got them.”

If Harley wanted to leave, he wasn’t going to stand by and watch her, that was for sure.

Thirty hours. That was how long it took for Savannah to deliver her son. It was really touch and go since she was delivering about five weeks early, and Harley had been extremely stressed. They had to transport them to the hospital since she was going intolabor so early, but the baby was strong. He was in NICU, but Harley knew he would pull through. He would just need to spend some time in there before he could go home.

Exhaustion plagued her, and the only thing she wanted to do was check on her fur babies, shower, and crawl into bed. She made a mental note to take Gotham to the vet when she woke up as she pressed her finger to the scanner on the door. Hades had programmed her fingerprint into the door a few weeks ago, and she was glad she didn’t have to wake anyone up at this hour.

Slowly, she moved through the house and up the stairs. She opted for the bathroom in the hallway so she didn’t wake Hades up. After stopping by her old room, she grabbed an oversized shirt and went into the bathroom.

While she washed the last thirty hours off her, she thought about Hades. A slight pain ached in her heart as she recalled their last conversation. Nothing in her wanted to leave Hades or his home. Her frustration in that moment prevented her from telling him that, but in the morning, she hoped they could revisit the conversation. Honestly, she was ready to sell her home and move in with him full-time. It sounded crazy, but that was how firmly she stood in this relationship with Hades. It was sudden and took her by storm, but she was still here, standing by his side and ready to love him.

After cleaning her body, she stepped out of the shower and quickly dried off. Hades’s comfortable bed called her name. Once the T-shirt covered her body, she walked out of the bathroom, stopping by her room to throw her clothes into the hamper before quietly walking into Hades’s room.

She quickly stooped down to check on her fur babies. Gotham cowered away from her, while Pixie jumped up and tried to lick her face.

“Hey, girl,” Harley murmured before reaching her hand out to Gotham. “Hey, handsome.” He sniffed her tentatively beforenudging her hand, giving her the okay to pet him. Her heart ached as she rubbed his frail body, but she knew in no time she would nurse him back to perfect health. “Okay, babies. Lay back down. Mommy’s tired.”

Pixie looked conflicted, like she wanted to follow Harley to the bed, but she stayed back with Gotham, causing Harley to smile.

When she stood, she yelped as she collided with a solid mass. Large arms engulfed her, and she turned around to look up at Hades.

“I thought you weren’t coming back,” he muttered, nuzzling her neck and breathing her in.

“I’m sorry for waking you. Why would you think that?”

“It’s been like two days, Tink. I told you to be free, and I thought you took me up on that. I’m glad you came back.”

Harley pulled back as she frowned up at him. “Why didn’t you check my location?”

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