Club 22 (Hades Book 3)

by Tate James

  "He shouldn't have brought this guy here," Cass rumbled, peering down at the man with bored eyes. "Gonna have to kill him now."

  The bound man's eyes widened, and he made muffled sounds of protest as Zed reached in and hauled him out of the trunk.

  "Fucking hell," Zed muttered. "Lucas is cleaning that blood up. Little shit should have put some plastic down first."

  I scoffed at both of them. "Alright, geez. We all made mistakes with our first time, too. He's learning. Seph said he took this guy on without help from the backup I'd assigned."

  "As he damn well should," Zed commented, dragging the bloodied man away from his cars to the workshop area of the garage. "I haven't busted my ass training him to have him garroted on the school playground."

  "Parking lot," I corrected, going to the workbench to pull out a thick wad of plastic sheeting from a drawer. Shaking it out, Cass and I laid it down on the concrete floor before Zed marched his captive over to the middle and shoved him to his knees.

  It was a routine Zed and I had been through countless times, and I imagined so had Cass in his own way. So it was nothing new or exciting for us to interrogate the guy. In fact, with Cass's input, we got the answers we sought with ease. Only when we were satisfied that the guy had divulged everything he knew did I put a bullet between his eyes. And two in the chest, for good measure. One never could be too cautious these days.

  "What do you want to do with the body?" Cass asked as Zed washed his bloody hands in the small sink. "Benny's? Or shark food?"

  I flashed him a grin. We were way too similar. "Nah, I've got a better idea. Roll him up."

  Cass grunted and went to work packaging up the messy remains of Lucas's attacker, rolling the plastic like a giant rice paper roll. Or joint. When he was done, I grabbed a thick black marker pen from one of the tool drawers, and in clear block letters, I wrote on the plastic Return To Sender.

  "Drop him on Chase's doorstep," I told the guys. "Let him deal with the mess."

  Zed laugh sharply, shaking his head. "Done. Help me load him up."

  Cass grabbed one end of the package, lifting with Zed to heave the body into the trunk of a car. Then Zed climbed into the driver's seat with a feral grin to go deliver our package to the neighbor.

  We watched him back out of the garage, then Cass banded his arm around my waist and boosted me up onto the work bench to kiss the ever-loving crap out of me.

  "What was that for?" I asked when he eventually let me breathe.

  His beard scraped my face as he dipped in to kiss me again. "I need a reason?" he growled after a few moments. "I've never been so fucking horny during an interrogation in my life. Fuck, you're beautiful. Like an angel of death."

  Laughing, I pushed him back slightly and shook my head. "You're too damn charming, Saint. Come on; we need to go deal with Seph. She was probably in shock or something before."

  Cass huffed a short laugh. "She didn't seem in shock. Too busy fawning over Lucas like he'd just outed himself as the newest Avenger."

  I rolled my eyes, but he was right. She hadn't seemed scared or stressed out. Her hero worship for Lucas was all encompassing.

  They weren't in the kitchen, but I took my sweet-ass time pouring a glass of wine anyway. Zed was only taking the body next door; he'd be back any minute, and maybe he could deal with Seph for me. Such a cop out, but whatever.

  Cass could hardly keep his hands off me as I moved around the kitchen and had me giggling like a teenager when he pinned me to the counter with his hips—and his rock hard dick—while he cleaned blood splatters from my face with the kitchen sponge. So hygienic.

  Zed came in before things could get too heated in the kitchen and gave us both an accusing glare. "You." He pointed a finger at Cass. "Are a sick kitty, getting turned on by that mess."

  Cass just shrugged and gave my neck a teasing bite as he kissed me there.

  "And you." Zed pointed at me. "Need to go talk to Seph. Now. Move it."

  I gave him an exaggerated pout back. "Do I really have to? Lucas seems to be handling her just fine." Zed's glare flattened, and I huffed. "Fine. Hold this thought, Saint." I gripped his dick through his jeans so he knew exactly what thought I was talking about. As if there could be any confusion.

  No doubt Seph was going to want to know what we'd done with that guy, and I really wasn't ready to explain to her how we'd maimed him in excruciatingly painful ways to make him talk, then shot him before we dumped him on Chase's doorstep. So I very reluctantly dragged my feet upstairs to find my sister.

  I took my wine with me, though. Dutch courage.

  Voices came from Lucas's room, so I headed in that direction but paused just outside when I heard my name. It wasn't the most mature decision of my life, but I was curious to hear what they were talking about without my presence influencing Seph's attitude.

  Zed and Cass had followed because, of course, they weren't missing out on the entertainment, and I held up a hand for them to wait while I tilted my head to listen.

  "Look, Seph," Lucas was saying in a kind but firm voice, like he was repeating himself. "I understand where you're coming from, but I'm not comfortable having this conversation. You need to speak with your sister directly."

  Seph gave a frustrated sound that I was all too familiar with, and I rolled my eyes. I raised my hand to push open the door that was already cracked, then stilled when I heard what she said next.

  "I don't get it!" she exclaimed. "Why are you so freaking obsessed with Dare? She's like old, for starters. You know she's probably getting wrinkles and gray hair soon?"

  My jaw dropped in outrage, and my eyes flicked to Zed, who was grinning like a shithead. I glowered at him, and he just shrugged.

  "She's twenty-three, Seph," Lucas replied with a laugh, "not fucking fifty."

  "Yeah, well, even so. You deserve better than her, Lucas. I know she says she loves you, but do you seriously think she even knows what that word means? She's like the dictionary definition of cold-hearted. All she ever does is ruin the people who love her, too. First Chase, then my dad. And look what she's done to Cass! He's literally given up everything to play her little sex slave. Don't tell me you're okay being another one of her toys to be used and thrown away when she breaks you too hard."

  Wow. That one hurt. I shot Cass a guilty look, but he shook his head firmly, disagreeing with Seph's statement.

  "Seph," Lucas replied with a long exhale. "I'm trying to be nice here. I'm trying to be your friend. But for fuck's sake. I just got my ass beat by a guy trying to kill me, and you're in here bad-mouthing the woman I happen to be in love with? Nah, sorry. I'm done. Go do your homework or something, I've had enough."

  Zed gave a soft grunt of surprise, shooting me a grin as we listened. "Smart kid," he whispered.

  "Excuse me?" Seph damn near shrieked. "You can't be serious!"

  "I'm dead serious," Lucas snapped back. "If anyone deserves better, it's Hayden. She deserves better than this shit from her little sister who she has sacrificed so goddamn much for. She loves you harder than you can clearly understand, so wake the fuck up. And stop flirting. With me, with Zed, fucking hell, even with Cass. It's insulting, and one of these days Hayden's going to slap the shit out of you for it."

  Biting my lip to hold back a smile, I decided we'd eavesdropped enough, so I pushed the door open fully and met my sister's startled gaze unflinchingly.

  When I said nothing, she threw up her hands in a rage. "Oh, I suppose you heard all of that, then? What are you, twelve? Who listens at doors?"

  Choosing to take the high road, no matter how badly it grated on my nerves, I bit my tongue to hold back my cutting replies. Instead, I just crossed over to where Lucas sat on the armchair at the end of his bed, holding an ice pack to his ribs over his T-shirt.

  "Are you okay?" I asked him softly, tilting his chin up to check the mark around his neck. I was beyond impressed that he'd managed to break free from what looked to have been a tight garrote hold. Zed really had trained him
well. I could hardly wait to see what Cass could do to hone his skills once he had more time at home with us.

  Lucas's answering smile was pure adoration, and he kissed my wrist. "I'm fine. Alexi roughed me up worse than this last week."

  "You're not going to ask how I am?" Seph demanded, her hands on her hips. "I could have been traumatized from that attack, and you don't even care! You never have. I'm not even a real person to you, am I, Dare? Oh, sorry, I mean Hades." The scathing sarcasm in her voice made my shoulders tighten and my teeth clench.

  Drawing a calming breath, I turned back to face my sister. "I think from what we overheard, you're just fine."

  Her face turned blotchy with embarrassment, knowing full well what I'd heard her say, but true to Seph-style, she just popped a hip and tilted her chin up stubbornly. "So what? Now you're punishing me because I told Lucas the truth? That he should be running as far and as fast away from you as possible because you're nothing but a walking death trap. You're Hades through and through, killing everyone who ever tries to get in your way or tell you no. Dad would be ashamed to call you his daughter if he could see you now. At least he ran the Timberwolves with integrity and respect, not just fear and death."

  As hard as I was trying not to snap at her over hitting on Lucas again, I was unprepared for that insult. I flinched, and Zed saw it. He met my eyes for the briefest second, and I knew Seph had finally pushed it too far. Nothing I could say now was going to stop him.

  "Sit down, Persephone," Zed said in a glacial voice, stepping into Lucas's room. Cass lounged against the doorframe like some kind of security guard backing Zed up and preventing Seph from escaping.

  Seph clearly didn't identify the danger, though, screwing up her face as she spun around to spew more of her venom in his direction. "Screw you, Zed," she sneered back. "You're so fucking pussy-whipped by her you can't even—"

  "Sit down!" Zed barked, fury coating his voice.

  It was enough to shock Seph into doing as she was told, and she meekly perched on the edge of Lucas's bed with big eyes. "Happy?"

  Zed glowered. "Not even close. It's high fucking time you had a dose of truth, Seph." He looked over at me, the apology clear on his face. "I'm sorry, Dare. She needs to know."

  I shook my head, feeling numb because I knew I wasn't talking him out of it this time. We'd gone way past the point where I could just threaten to shoot him for disobeying me.

  "I need to know what?" Seph demanded, folding her arms over herself.

  Zed held my gaze, resigned, then gave a small nod toward the door. "Go," he told me. I understood him perfectly, and as much as I desperately wished it hadn't come to this... it was also the only way the truth could ever come out. She would never hear it from me. Never. But her ignorance was going to get her killed one of these days.

  "Wait, why the hell does she get to leave?" Seph protested, glaring pure venom my way. "This is about her, isn't it?"

  Zed snapped his gaze back to my sister and shut her up with the force of his anger. "Yes, it is. And it's about you. But Dare gets to leave because she doesn't need to hear this all dredged up out of the past. She lived it, and I'd do anything to save her from having to relive it. Clear?"

  "As mud," Seph sulked. Until that point, I thought I'd tough it out and stay while Zed filled her in on what had really gone down with our father, whom she idolized. But the salty look on her face made me want to scream or slap her or... something. No, Zed was right. I didn't need to hear it.

  Silently, I just nodded to Zed and left the damn room. I trusted him to give her the whole story, but no way did I need those memories plaguing my brain. Not now, while I was barely clinging to sanity with Chase back in my life.

  As soon as I was out of the room, I started running. I flew down the stairs and into the garage. I couldn't just sit down the hallway while Zed laid out the darkest, most disgusting parts of my life for my sister... for Lucas to hear. Nope, I needed to go far and fast. I was well overdue a run on my Ducati, anyway.

  I snatched one of Zed's spare guns, tucking it into the back of my pants before climbing onto my bike. I didn't bother grabbing a jacket, but I wasn't stupid enough to go out unarmed again. Nor was I dumb enough to forego my helmet.

  A minute later, I was tearing out onto the cold, dark streets of outer Shadow Grove. Totally alone. Only when I was miles away from Zed's house did I let the tight hold on my emotions slip. Silent tears flowed from my eyes as I drove, clouding my vision enough that I eventually needed to pull over. It was either that or risk a crash. Like I said, I wasn't dumb.

  I reduced my speed and pulled into a scenic lookout somewhere in the hills above Shadow Grove, then climbed off my bike and tugged my helmet off to shake my hair out. The night air turned my wet cheeks cold, and I swiped my hand over them in a pathetic attempt to dry my face.

  It was pointless, though. So I just sat my ass down in the grass and curled my arms around my knees, crying soundlessly.

  I should have known better, though. I wasn't alone. Not anymore, not ever again. I'd barely sat my ass down there in the damp grass before another motorcycle roared up the hill and parked beside mine. Then a moment later, I was being hauled into Cass's lap as his strong, leather-coated arms wrapped around me in a hug that made me feel like I could disappear.

  We sat like that for ages, him rubbing my back as my eyes leaked endlessly against his warm chest. But it simply wasn't in my nature to wallow in self-pity for long. It served no good purpose. So after a while, I consciously started to calm myself. I controlled my breathing, relaxed my muscles, and forced the dark, panicked thoughts from my mind. I was strong. I was resilient. I was Hades.

  All those things Zed was telling Seph, they were my past, but they’d helped shape me into the woman I was today. I refused to be ashamed of that.

  "There she is," Cass whispered when I sat up and met his sad eyes.

  I leaned in and kissed him softly, conveying all my thanks in that gesture. Then I climbed out of his lap and rolled my shoulders, shaking off the weakness.

  "How'd you find me?" I asked as we headed back to our bikes.

  Cass shot me a sly wink. "I have my ways, Angel."

  He trapped me with his hands on my waist before I could get back on my bike, leaning in to kiss me again, then just holding me until I was so damn calm I could have happily fallen asleep right there in his arms.

  "It's better that she knows," he rumbled as he released me.

  I nodded. "I know. I should have told her a long time ago, but..." I'd always claimed I wouldn't tell her because I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to ruin her memories of a loving father or taint her view of the world.

  But that wasn't the real reason. I was just too scared, too ashamed to admit my own part in the myriad of mistakes I'd made as a teenager. I didn't want to see her judgment, or worse than anything, I didn't want to see her pity.

  "Come on," Cass rumbled. "Zed and Lucas will be having kittens by now, worrying about you."

  I snickered quietly at that imagery, then pulled my helmet on. Cass did the same, wearing Zed's helmet once again, and I nodded to him. "Race you home?"

  Cass's muffled laugh warmed me. "Deal. Winner gets his dick sucked." Then he took off without waiting for me to be ready. Dirty cheater.

  He knew exactly how to cheer me up, though, because by the time we got back to the house, I was grinning under my helmet and my whole body felt lighter.

  We pulled into the garage and waited for the door to roll closed before pulling our helmets off. That's when I spotted Seph, sitting on the step between the garage and the house and looking like her puppy had just died. Her eyes were red and puffy and her nose shiny, but she was dry-eyed. For now.

  "I'll give you a minute," Cass rumbled, kissing the side of my head before passing Seph to head inside.

  My sister stood up, her glassy eyes locked on me as she stepped forward. "Dare," she croaked. "I'm so sorry. I didn't—"

  I cut her off with a shake of my head. "Doe
sn't matter, Seph. The past is the past." And I didn't want to fucking talk about it. Then, now, or ever.

  "But—" she tried again, reaching out like she wanted to hug me. Then she changed her mind, and her arms dropped to her sides.

  For some reason, that one incomplete gesture hurt more than anything else. It solidified that everything she’d said about me before, she still believed now. That I was a cold, heartless bitch.

  Maybe she was right.

  "Forget it," I told her, my voice hard. "It changes nothing." I moved past her, heading inside. Then I paused and drew a deep breath before spinning around to face her. "Today's attack on Lucas made me realize I need better protection on you. I've spoken with an acquaintance to help out. He'll be here tomorrow when you get home from school."

  Seph squeaked a sound of outrage. "You're sending me away? Again. Why? Because I said some shitty things about you?"

  I bit my cheek in a reminder to myself not to lose my cool. "Seph, you can say all the shitty things about me that you want. You can think all the worst thoughts about me. It won't change how I protect you, and right now I can't do it alone. So I'm calling in help. It's as simple as that."

  Rage darkened her face, and her hurt glare turned accusing. "Because I'm such an inconvenience, huh? I'm just this... liability to you."

  Jesus fucking Christ. "Did you listen to a word Zed told you, Seph?" I exclaimed, officially losing my fucking cool. "You were the one person on this whole fucking planet I loved enough to do the things I did for. Chase knows it, too. So you're not a liability, you're a target. He's going to try and hurt you to hurt me. Do you understand that? Do you understand that this is all one huge, twisted game to him? I can't keep you safe alone! For once in your life, listen to what I'm telling you."

  Her eyes had turned as wide as saucers as I yelled at her, and when I was done, they started leaking. Fucking hell, I'd made my sister cry.

  But instead of bursting into dramatic sobs like she did when things didn't go her way, she just gave a small nod.

  "I understand," she whispered, her voice choked up with emotions. Then she carefully walked past me and up the stairs to her loft bedroom. A minute later, I heard her door slam.