Page 56 of Brutal Mercy

“It is. Call me if anything comes up.” I rise from my seat.

“And where are you going?”

“Why, to spend time with my bride.” I flash him a grin. But I don’t show him just how eager I am to see her. Nor how much I’ve thought about her all day long. Or that even as I take the stairs up to our room, anticipation hums in my blood.

Because I’m obsessed with my wife.

Chapter fourteen

Luna

Hobblingoncrutchesismore work than I thought it would be. But it’s also better than being sequestered in bed all day. I’m used to doing stuff all day. And even though I need the downtime in the worst way, it’s also making me twitchy. But at least I’m sitting on the couch instead of lounging in bed, reading a Dean Koontz novel.

At the knock on the door, I shout, “Come in,” wondering who it could be. Because Hades wouldn’t knock. And I know he’s got this meeting today, one he expressly forbid me from going anywhere near.

Hades’s gorgeous sister, Athena, enters, her arms laden with clothes. Behind her is the maid with bags of stuff.

“What is all this?”

“When we were talking yesterday about sizes and stuff, I took the liberty of contacting my gal at Saks and had these items picked up this morning. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can return it.”

“You bought me clothes?” And from Saks? Oh my god, how is this my life now? The last new clothes I purchased were from a local thrift store.

“Correction, your husband did. I just picked everything out. Most of this stuff is just for you to wear around here and be comfortable. But I snagged you a few dresses I think would look fabulous on you. And I got you some shoes, belts, purses, wallets, bras, panties, and some negligees since you didn’t get a bridal shower. Those are from me, by the way, not my brother.”

“Thank you.”

She smiles sweetly. “What are sisters for? I’ve always wanted one, but all I got were my two boneheaded brothers. And now I do.”

At the mention of sisters, I burst into tears. I can’t stop worrying about Lyla.

“Oh, honey.” She lays the clothing down on top of the chair, then sits at my side. “I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

I shake my head, swiping at the tears. “I’m just worried about Lyla. Hades says they know where she’s being held. It’s just—”

Athena takes both my hands in hers. “Now you listen to me. My brother may be a lot of things, but if he says he’s working on getting her back, knows where she’s at, and hasn’t retrieved her, it means he has a plan, and you just need to trust him.”

“I do. But I’m so worried about her. She’s only seventeen. I’m all she has. And I know she’s got to be so frightened. Diego Alvarez targeted her because he was fixated on me, and when I aborted his assault, he went after her instead.”

“God, I’m sorry. But I also know my brother. He’ll get her back.”

I swipe at my tears. “It’s what I keep telling myself. But I can’t seem to stop worrying.”

“Of course you can’t. But we can keep you occupied until then. I have an idea. It always makes me feel better when I’m feeling low. I just need to run and grab my computer. While I’m doing that, why don’t you start looking through all this stuff. If there’s anything you don’t like, let me know, and we can return it.”

“Okay. Do you think we could get some coffee sent up too?”

“Absolutely.” Athena smiles and leaves me with bags of items around me.

The paperback forgotten on the coffee table, I start combing through the stuff in one bag. It’s full of velvety soft leggings in every shade imaginable, from peach to purple. There’s even a black leather pair I can’t wait to try on. I bet with a fun top and heels, they’ll look amazing.

In the second bag are gobs of panties, from teeny tiny thongs in see-through material to bikini bottoms. I’m looking through the bag full of bras, from bralettes to sports bras to sexy push-ups, when Athena returns carrying her computer.

“What do you think so far?” She nods at the bags.

“That I can’t believe all this stuff is mine.” Not when I’ve been wearing some of the same clothes I’ve had since high school. While we never went hungry, things were always tight between house payments, rent on the store, paying employees, store supply costs, and just basic living expenses. There was never a whole lot left over for frivolous things.

“Honey, this is just the start. Which reminds me, we’re going to have to make sure you have a proper closet.”

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