Husband

by Penelope Sky

  “Your breath always smells like my dick.”

  She rolled her eyes playfully then turned away and poured herself a mug of coffee.

  I watched her movements, one hand resting in the pocket of my sweatpants.

  She added a splash of cream before she turned back to me. “Didn’t sleep well?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Because you weren’t in bed half the night.”

  Maybe I wasn’t as subtle as I thought. The longer we lived together, the more she understood me, the more she picked up on my habits, my moods. The more she understood when to comfort me and when to leave me alone. She’d made the right decision last night. Giving me space was exactly what I needed. I didn’t bother explaining what happened because she already knew. “I need you to do me a favor.”

  “You just told me I have dick breath. Not a smart thing to say before you ask for a favor.” She stirred her coffee and smiled slightly, being playful in the way I liked. Last night was a shitshow, but instead of making the situation worse, she tried to lighten it up.

  “I meant it as a compliment.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you did.” She took a seat on the couch, both of her hands cupping the large mug. “You know you don’t need to ask me for a favor. I’m your wife. Ask me to do anything, and I will.”

  I moved to the couch beside her, slightly taken aback by the loyalty she’d just shown me. Her submission was beautiful; her obedience was a fantasy. Just months ago, I couldn’t even get her to let me rub her feet, couldn’t even get her to take my phone calls, but now she responded to me like we were friends, partners. “It’s about Ash.”

  She inhaled a deep breath, the sound slightly audible in the silence. She couldn’t keep up her visage of joy at all when he was mentioned. She ran her fingers through her hair once more, her gaze tilted to the floor. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out last night. I never knew a man could be more stubborn than you, but he is your brother…so I guess it’s no surprise.” She brought her steaming cup of coffee to her lips, taking a long drink, licking her lips when she was finished. “You want me to talk to him alone, don’t you?”

  Sometimes I forgot how smart she was. “Only if you feel comfortable.”

  She continued to stare at her coffee. “Do you trust him?”

  I set my coffee on the table and shook my head slightly. “I don’t trust anyone.”

  “I hope that doesn’t apply to me.” She set down her mug.

  I turned my gaze on her, touched by the genuine hurt in her eyes. “You are the one exception.”

  The corner of her mouth rose slightly. “I trust you too…more than I thought I could trust anyone. So, if you think it is safe for me to go, I will. You would never put me in harm’s way.”

  “No. I don’t think he’d hurt you or take you. If he did, he knows I know everything about his operation. I’d burn it to the ground with everyone inside. And even if that weren’t the case, I don’t see him doing that anyway.” My brother wasn’t a good guy, but sometimes, I guess he was just misunderstood. He got into this business because of my father. If that had never happened, I imagined he would’ve done something much better with his life. When we were growing up, he was always curious and adventurous. If he found a stray animal, he always took it to the shelter. The only reason there was darkness in his soul was because our father put it there. “You should be safe.”

  “Alright. What do you want me to do?”

  I grabbed her phone and typed in the number on the keypad. “Call him.”

  “You want me to fix this over the phone?”

  “No. Ask to have lunch with him. Or dinner. Whatever. I don’t give a fuck.”

  “And what if he says no?”

  I gave her a hard stare. “Don’t let his answer be no.”

  She turned her gaze back to the phone, and after a moment of trepidation, she hit the send button. She put the phone to her ear and let it ring.

  I was close to her side, so every single sound over the line was audible. My elbows rested on my knees, and my hands were joined together. The sunlight came through the open window. It was a beautiful day at the end of summer. As newlyweds, we should be doing fun things, not trying to fix the past.

  Ash answered. “Yeah?”

  Sofia kept her confidence in her voice, never wavering even though she only knew this man as a formidable foe. “It’s Sofia.”

  A long pause ensued over the line. “I’m never gonna get rid of you, am I?”

  “I’m a lovely person, so I don’t see why you’d want to.”

  “True,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But you aren’t lovely enough in this case.”

  Sofia continued the conversation. “Are you free this evening?”

  His joy was palpable. “Asking me out? I’d be happy to take you to bed.” His smile was so loud over the phone that I could picture all of his white teeth. “My brother isn’t enough for you… No surprise there. I’ve had a lot more practice.”

  “I assure you that’s not the case. I’d just like to have dinner with my brother-in-law.”

  “For pussy talk?”

  “I wouldn’t call it that…but yes.”

  “And you think a bottle of wine and a tight skirt will change my mind?” he asked.

  “No, but maybe a bottle of scotch will.”

  There was a pause, as if he were intrigued. “You gonna drink scotch with me, sweetheart?”

  “Yes…if you’ll have me.”

  He was quiet for a while, suspicion creeping in. “Just you? He put you up to this?”

  “Yes. You and me.” She turned her gaze back to me, reading my expression as she kept the conversation going. “And yes, he put me up to this, but that shouldn’t matter.”

  “I never say no to a beautiful woman, especially if scotch is involved. Maybe I can talk you into leaving him for me. Wouldn’t be my first time.”

  “Never gonna happen, but give it your best shot.”

  “A devoted woman…that’s hot.” It sounded like he was walking as he spoke, the wind raspy over the phone. “How about we meet at a bar tonight? Eight o’clock. And don’t bring that bitch with you.”

  “Fine.”

  I reached out my hand to take the phone.

  Sofia handed it over.

  I put the phone to my ear and made my usual threats. “Try anything and I’ll kill you, Ash.”

  He gave a slight chuckle. “Don’t trust me? Ironic. You’re the one who murders people. I’m the one who shouldn’t trust you.”

  “I mean it, Ash. This is my wife we’re talking about.”

  “I’ll have a drink with her and walk her back to the hotel like a gentleman. Is that what you want to hear?”

  “Yes. And you better mean that.”

  “I do. I actually respect her…unlike you.”

  17

  Sofia

  Hades walked me to the bar, his arm around my waist as he kept me close. He stopped in front of the entryway but didn’t walk inside. His chin tilted down to look at me, his brown eyes shifting back and forth as he stared into mine. A soft shadow had emerged along his jawline, a byproduct of not shaving for days. That rugged look was sexy on him. Not all men could pull it off. It would often be a bunch of uneven patches, not manly whatsoever, just lazy. There was unease in his eyes, like he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving me alone.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  He stared at me in silence.

  “I don’t know Ash as well as you, but I think he’s harmless.”

  “I do too. That doesn’t make this easier for me.”

  My hands reached to his face and cupped his cheeks. Our foreheads came together, and I held him that way outside the bar. People passed us on the sidewalk, oblivious to our intimate connection.

  He pressed his lips to my forehead then pulled away. “I’ll wait here until you’re done.”

  “You don’t need to do that.”

  “I prefer it.” His arms tightened around my
waist, and he pulled me close, pressing a delicate kiss to my lips. It was an innocent embrace, just a simple touch, but it conveyed more affection than I’d ever felt from anyone else. He forced himself to release me and stepped back to lean against the wall. His hands slid into his pockets, and he looked the other way so he didn’t have to watch me walk inside.

  I entered the bar and immediately noticed Ash sitting in a stool near the bartenders, wearing dark jeans and a black t-shirt. He was the youngest and most handsome guy in the place. The room was crowded, but the stools on either side of him were vacant. Somehow people understood that it was smart to stay away from him. There were already two glasses of scotch waiting, one for him and for me.

  As I walked toward him, he lifted his chin to look at me, one hand resting on the top of his glass. He was rigid with a perfectly straight back. He regarded me with a confidence that rivaled his brother’s. After he gave a slight smile, he patted the counter beside him, silently ordering me to take a seat. His gaze wasn’t friendly, but it wasn’t hostile either.

  I rose on my tiptoes to take the seat next to him. As if I had something to prove, I grabbed the glass and took a drink. It was hot against my tongue and throat, and it burned all the way down. I definitely preferred wine to this gasoline, but I could drink like a man for the night.

  He gave me a look of approval as he held his glass to his lips. “Sexy.” Then he took another drink. “I’m surprised my brother actually let you come here. I guess he doesn’t think I’m a monster after all.”

  “You should take that as a compliment. But you should also know he’s standing outside.” I felt safer knowing that Hades was just feet away, that he could get to me with just a moment’s notice. I didn’t think Ash would hurt me or capture me, but I’d be lying if I said I felt perfectly safe with him.

  “Saw him. Saw that pussy forehead kiss too.”

  “You throw pussy around like it’s a weak word, but I think it’s the strongest word in our vocabulary.”

  “It’s definitely the most beautiful.”

  “Pussies give birth to babies. The most you can do is piss.”

  A boyish grin stretched across his face, somewhat similar to his brother’s. He took a sip, set it down, and then pivoted his chair so he could face me. “What are you gonna say to change my mind, sweetheart?”

  “Nothing. You’re too stubborn.” I had to force myself to take another drink, and I hid my usual grimace as it burned my tongue.

  “Then why are you here?” he asked. “Other than to flirt with me.”

  “I’d like to get to know you—not flirt with you.”

  “What’s there to know? I’m an asshole. That’s the gist.”

  Coming directly at Ash wouldn’t get me anywhere. He seemed to have made up his mind and refused to change it. But maybe if I could make him think of simpler times, his heart would soften. There was nothing I could say or do to change his mind that evening, but maybe I could plant a seed.

  And maybe the seed would grow.

  “What was Hades like when he was growing up?”

  “Nothing special. He was Father’s favorite until he dropped out of university.”

  “Your father doesn’t seem like a man who would value education.”

  He shrugged. “Our mother cared. She was always the good one. We were all shitheads. My father asked Hades to be part of the family business, and when he said no, Father took it personally. They bumped heads from that moment on. That resentment only grew as time passed. It built up until it exploded… And then my father was dead.” He turned his gaze back to his glass, looking at the amber liquid that sat still.

  “Were the two of you close?”

  “A bit. But we fought like all brothers do.”

  “Did the two of you still speak when your father and Hades were on bad terms?”

  “Not really. But that wasn’t because we had a problem with each other.” Ash was similar to his brother in appearance, having the same obvious good looks, but Ash was thicker in the arms, thicker in the chest. He had beautiful, fair skin, not nearly as tanned as Hades, but that was probably because he was inside more often than my husband. Thick cords ran down all the way to his hands, powerful veins that webbed over his defined muscles. He was a big man…someone I wouldn’t be stupid enough to provoke. “We just never saw each other. I was loyal to my father, and he was off doing his own thing.”

  When I’d first sat down inside that bar, all heads turned my way. Most men probably hoped I was single, because that’s what people did in a bar, looked for someone to make a connection with. I was used to those stares, had received them my entire adult life. But I noticed they halted once they assumed Ash and I were together. Just like his brother, Ash could chase away any man in my vicinity. “So, you guys were never close?”

  “Not really.” His fingers gripped the top of his glass, and he gave his scotch a slight shake. “We were when we were boys. Not men.” He stared down at his glass, made another shake, and then took a drink.

  “Hades mentioned that your mother lost her memory.”

  “I wouldn’t say lost it… She just got sick.” His visage didn’t really change, but it seemed like the statement was difficult for him to say. “She’s been in the home for a couple years now. I don’t remember the last time I saw her.”

  I wanted to suggest that both of them visit their mother, but I knew it wasn’t my place to say anything like that. I had no idea what it was like to watch a parent slowly fade away, to watch a parent forget you. “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah…our lives are a sad story. But whatever. You get over it.” He stared straight ahead, looking at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar. “But it looks like my brother got a happy ending.” He turned his gaze back to me, his brown eyes so similar to his brother’s that it was like I was looking at Hades instead of him. He lifted his glass and tapped it against mine. “I’m surprised because it seemed like my brother would never commit to one woman.”

  “Well…that wasn’t until he met me.” I debated telling him the truth, that this marriage was just an arrangement, just a way for both of us to get what we wanted. Our relationship had deepened into a foundation of friendship and trust, but not love. Since Ash wasn’t close to Hades, I decided to keep the truth private.

  Ash smiled slightly. “You’re cool. I like you.”

  “Good. Kinda like you too.” Feeling affection for this man was natural, although I couldn’t explain why. Maybe it was because he was similar to Hades, maybe because I projected my positive feeling for Hades onto him. Somehow it was easy for me to forget the terrible travesties he committed on a daily basis. “But I would like you a lot more if you stopped what you are doing.”

  He shrugged. “It’s just business.”

  “Call it what you want. People are never business.”

  He shook his head slightly. “I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.” He pushed my glass a little closer to me. “You still haven’t finished that.”

  “I still have to walk back to the hotel.”

  “I can always carry you.”

  “Ha,” I said sarcastically. “My husband would love that…”

  “So, what now?” he asked. “You return to Florence and be the wife of a drug lord? We move on and forget this ever happened?”

  “No. We could never forget you. If you reject Hades forever, we’ll still never forget you.”

  He took another drink from his glass, making it empty. He tapped it against the surface of the wood, getting the attention of the bartender, and silently asked for a refill. “I feel like I’m missing something here, a piece of the puzzle I can’t find. Hades wants to reconnect with me, but I don’t really know why. Has he told you the truth? Do you even know what that truth is?”

  I held his gaze, noticing the new glass of scotch in my peripheral vision. When Hades told me to make amends with his brother, I didn’t ask a lot of questions. That’s what families did; they stayed in contact. A request wasn�
��t that difficult to understand, but in truth, he hadn’t ever really explained to me this compulsive need to make things right. Why would he want to patch things up with a man who committed the same crimes as his late father? Why was he taking time out of our lives to win over a man who didn’t give a damn? I’d seen my husband in action, and he didn’t give a shit about anybody.

  As if Ash could read my thoughts, he said, “You should ask him.”

  Ash and I walked outside together, reaching the empty sidewalk. It was getting late, so there was nobody on the streets. His hands were in the pockets of his jeans, and he stood close to me, as if he were guarding me like a dog. There was a protective nature about him, even though he was probably the most dangerous man I’d ever met.

  Hades emerged from the corner of the building, his eyes immediately rolling over my body, making sure I wasn’t harmed and was in the exact same condition he had left me in. Tall with a strong stature, he walked up to us, his eyes on his brother. Once he reached us, his arm automatically wrapped around my waist. With a gentle tug, he pulled me closer. It seemed like two men were fighting over me, but there was never a contest in the first place.

  Ash had a more relaxed posture, his weight shifted to one leg. He was definitely more laid-back compared to his brother, as if he didn’t care what anyone thought of him. When he looked at Hades, there was a slight smile on his lips. “You aren’t gonna let me walk her home?”

  Hades didn’t respond to the playfulness. “That’s my job. Not yours.”

  Ash’s gaze held on for a bit longer before he diverted his attention to me. “Thanks for drinking with me, sweetheart.” He looked at his brother one last time, giving a silent goodbye, and then turned around and walked away.

  Hades watched him go, his arm loosening around my waist the farther he went. “Did he bother you?”

  “No. He’s a nice guy…when he wants to be.”

  “Can I assume you made no progress?”

  I shook my head. “I can tell he cares about you. I can tell he still loves you as a brother. But there’s just something missing…like he’s been hurt. Sometimes I wonder if he’s not only upset that you killed your father, but also you pulled yourself away from him too. You forced him to hate you, so he lost you too.”