Page 18 of Brutal Mercy

Hades descends the stone front porch steps to the three black SUVs parked out front. He heads to the middle vehicle. The back door is being held open by a guy in a suit with sunglasses shielding his eyes. As we pass him and Hades deposits me on the seat inside, I notice the shoulder holster and firearm both he and his driver are packing.

Just who is Hades? And why does he need this level of security? Why do they both have guns?

The man leans inside and buckles my seatbelt for me. Once I’m secure, he waltzes around the front and climbs in the backseat beside me.

I don’t ask him about the guns or what he does. It’s none of my business. Especially since he’s been nothing but kind and helpful to me. But I want to. I’m curious about him. I have so many questions I want to ask, but I keep them to myself. The SUVs roll out, exiting through the gate. Instead I ask, “Do you know how badly the store was vandalized?”

“Yes. My men took pictures. I’ve got them uploaded onto my computer and on my phone. Once we get your sister secured, we’ll report it to the police. You’ll need a copy of the police report for the insurance investigation.”

“Okay. Wow. I didn’t realize it would be that involved. I’ve never had to file a claim before. At least I have all that information at the house.”

He takes my hand in his and squeezes. “We’ll get it sorted. Take some deep breaths. How’s the pain in your ankle?”

“It’s fine.” But really, it’s throbbing like a son of a bitch.

Hades scowls imperiously. “Luna? Are you being honest with me?”

I flush and squirm in my seat. Until I finally sigh under his stern glare. “Okay, so it’s throbbing, but I’ll manage.”

“When we get home, you’ll be taking more pain medication. Dr. Moreno left a bottle of pills for you. And we will get you some ibuprofen at your house to take the edge off. And no arguing with me. If I have to, I’ll hold you down and force the pills down your throat.”

A vision of him forcing something else down my throat flashes through my mind. And my sex pulses with desire.

Unbelievable. I’m a desperate moron. A woman so eager for affection that the first time a man takes care of me, I’m ready to hand over my virginity and wave it a fond farewell. And with a man I barely know.

Pathetic. That’s what I am.

“Okay.” I wrap one of my arms around my midsection. Because he’s not released my other hand yet. And I’m a total nutjob because I like it.

The drive to my house doesn’t take long. And to think the trek on foot took so much longer. Hours. If I had my keys, I could have driven to Hades’s place in a tenth of the time, and my ankle wouldn’t be messed up.

Our entourage pulls up alongside the driveway. The cozy ranch with mixed ivory siding and a gray stone façade is where I grew up. We lived in Denver when I was a toddler, but Mom and Dad bought this house when she was pregnant with Lyla. And I’ve lived here ever since. I still sleep in the same bedroom I grew up in.

“Give me your keys. I’m going to have one of my men unlock the door for us. And I will carry you inside.”

I don’t protest his heavy-handed demand. Because I already know it’s a useless endeavor. And I’m done fighting my way upstream and getting clobbered. I hand my keys over, holding up the front door key. Hades takes them and gives them to the beefy bodyguard with the bald head in the front seat.

Hades exits the vehicle, looking suave and debonair in his three-piece suit. His bodyguards stand outside the SUVs, each one looking big, bad, and dangerous, scanning the area for any threat. However, I want to tell them that Diego is likely long gone, and they have nothing to worry about. Although I save my breath. Because it feels as if I’m suddenly swimming in shark-infested waters and don’t entirely understand how I got there.

My door opens, and Hades leans inside close enough that I catch another whiff of his cologne. It’s enticing, and I want to rub my face against his chest and inhale him. His arms go around me and lift me up. A thrill shoots through me. Damn, I could seriously get used to this type of pampering.

Because Hades treats me like I matter.

I know he’s a lot older than me. And yet he makes me feel more alive than any other man. It feels profound. At my core, my gut tells me this is different. Thatheis different.

There’s a chemistry that fucking ignites between us anytime we’re in a room together. And when he touches me, it feels as if my entire body is engulfed in flames.

Hades carries me into my house. You could fit this place in the courtyard of his mansion. The guard holds the front door open.

Hades takes me inside. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust, and when they do, I gasp and shout. “Lyla? Where are you?”

Everything in the front living room has been tossed. Couch cushions are shredded. The coffee table is on its side. Lamps are knocked over and smashed. I put one of my hands over my mouth to contain my whimper.

“Shit.” Hades remarks and glances over his shoulder, ordering his men, “Do a perimeter sweep. Lorenzo and Tony, you two go check through the rooms. Make sure we’re not going to be ambushed.”

Everything is a mess. Chairs in the dining room are tipped over. Knickknacks are smashed and lay broken on the floor. My mother’s china is in broken heaps beside the china cabinet.

“Boss, you’re going to want to see this,” one of his men tell us.

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