Page 130 of Desperate Crimes
“Leanna?”
I push against his chest, trying to free myself from his dark embrace as I whisper.“I need time.To think.”
He steps forward, gripping me tight, refusing to let me go.
“No.No more time.Don’t shut me out, Princess.I can’t take it.”
I push again, and this time, he relents.I slide down his body, pulling my fingers from his, and goddamn, it hurts.
I make a noise.A scared little sound.Something between a plea and a sob.
He doesn’t speak.
He doesn’t move.
And even though it feels awful, I turn my back on him.
For the first time since he stole me away—since I became Mrs.Fury in a blur of obsession and roses and dangerous devotion—I think I might be going to bed alone tonight.
Nico stands there.
Looming behind me like a shadow.A memory.
I step inside the bedroom.
It’s too big.
The silence is too loud.
The ache in my chest is too sharp.
I tell myself he’s gone.
That he’s giving me the space I asked for.
But that’s not Nico.That’sneverbeen Nico.
I should’ve known better than to think he’d let me sulk and cry myself to sleep in peace.
I should’ve remembered exactly who I married.
Because Vipers?
Once they strike?They strikehard.And withpurpose.
The door slams open like thunder.I jolt where I stand, spinning around.
And there he is.
My Hades.
He comes for me like a violent prayer—skin, bone, and barely leashed chaos.
Rage ripples off of him, but beneath it, I see it.
Desperation.
Thedesirehe’ll commit crimes to sate.
