by Katee Robert
Another indication of the permanence of our arrangement. No, not arrangement. This is a fucking relationship. I grin. “And here I thought you’d want to show me off.”
“Trust me, little Hercules, I’ll do that and more tonight on the floor of the public play room.”
All my amusement disappears, replaced by pure heat. “Tonight?” I may not have worked at the Underworld long, but I’ve already heard about how rarely Hades plays in public—and what an event it is when he does. Even though I know what this must be—him continuing to prove a point to my father—I can’t quite catch my breath as anticipation lances me. He’s also claiming me as his for everyone else. The only one he publicly scenes with is Meg.
“Yes.” He stops and presses a kiss to Meg’s temple and then walks to me and does the same. “Behave, you two. We have a meeting with Allecto in an hour. You don’t have time to get distracted.” And then he’s gone, silently walking out of the bathroom and through the bedroom. I don’t exhale until I hear the door click shut.
“Why are we meeting with Allecto?”
Meg heads for the closet, and I hop off the counter to follow her. The closet is filled to the brim with black clothing, but there’s a section that’s obviously Meg’s for all that it appears to be menswear. She dresses quickly in a pair of gray slacks and a white halter vest thing that gives glimpses of her pale stomach and the curves of her breasts. Heels finalize the outfit, bringing her well past my shoulder. She finally looks at me. “Hades taunted your father last night. It’s possible Zeus will retaliate.”
He taunted my father last night. I pick apart the words and delve beneath to what she’s not staying. “He left our bed to go play power games with Zeus.”
“Yes.” She doesn’t bother to pretty it up, but then Meg isn’t one to mince words. “He’s brushing up the security in order to ensure his people remain safe. Allecto is already the best, but she can’t anticipate an enemy she doesn’t know exists.”
I should have known that reality wouldn’t wait long to intrude on this little paradise we created. Just like I should have known that Hades would be the one to invite it in. I scrub a hand over my face. “How Zeus responds will depend on what Hades did to provoke him—and how public it was.” My father has a mostly sterling reputation despite everything he’s done in the shadows and behind closed doors. It’s one of the things that tipped the scales against Leda, in addition to her being a virtual unknown and Zeus holding significant power. Zeus will fight to maintain his public persona.
“I can’t speak to that.” She stops in front of me and runs her hands up my chest. “I hope you were serious with everything you said last night, because there’s no turning back now.” She hesitates. “But if you do change your mind—”
“I won’t.”
Meg catches my chin, her nails digging into my skin. “If you change your mind, I’ll get you out.”
Shock floors me. “What?”
“It won’t be Olympus and it won’t be Carver City, but I have enough money set aside that you could effectively disappear as long as you aren’t an idiot about it. Say the word and it’s yours.”
What she’s offering… I hold perfectly still. I won’t brush this off, no matter how unlikely I am to take her up on this. If I know Meg, and at this point I feel I have an innate understanding of her, then this nest egg she’s gift wrapping for me is one she’s saved for herself. Her exit hatch to ensure history never repeats itself, that she always has a way out. “I meant what I said last night.” I take her hands. “I’m totally gone for you.”
“You barely know me.” Even as she says the words, her heart is in her eyes. She cares about me too. She wouldn’t do so many of the things she’s done since we met, culminating in offering me everything to leave if I need it.
“I know enough.” I lean down slowly, and though she maintains her hold on my chin, she allows it. I kiss her carefully, cautious of the red lipstick. “Thank you for offering me this. I don’t need it, but I know what it represents to you and what losing it would cost.”
Her fingers tremble, just a little. “You can’t possibly be real.”
“I am.” I cover her hand with mine. “I’m real. I’m right here.” A pause. “I’m yours.”
Her lips finally curve into a reluctant smile. “Yes, you really, really are.” She drops her hand and shakes her head. “I don’t know if this is the beginning of something new and wonderful—or the beginning of the end. But apparently we’re taking this ride to its conclusion.”
“It will be okay, Meg.” A reassurance I have no business offering her, but one I can’t help making despite that. I don’t want her sad and stressed. I sure as fuck don’t want to be the cause of it. “We’ll figure this out together.”
“I suppose we will.” She casts a critical eye over me, lingering on the lounge pants I wore up to this room last night. “We better get moving or we’re going to miss the meeting with Allecto, and then Hades will think up some ridiculously uncomfortable punishment.” She leans into me. “But if we had time, I’d be sucking your dick right now and let you fuck me in front of Hades’s giant mirror.”
I glance over her shoulder at the mirror in question. It stretches from floor to ceiling and is wider than it has right to be. A heavy frame that must be custom-made borders it. With all that space to work with, I would be able to watch my cock slide into Meg with each stroke, would be able to see every wave of pleasure roll through her expression. I swallow hard and try to get my physical reaction under control, but my cock isn’t listening.
Meg gives a low laugh and strokes me once through my pants. “Mmmm. Makes my mouth water.”
I narrow my eyes in a mock glare. “You’re trying to get me in trouble.”
“Maybe.” She’s totally unrepentant, her wicked grin lighting up her face. “What can I say? I have a bit of a sadistic streak when I’m inspired, and you, my dear Hercules, inspire the fuck out of me.”
Chapter 27
Meg
The security meeting goes about as well as I expect it to. Allecto details the extra protocols we’ll need to go through in order to leave the building and the new cameras she’s having installed around the exterior. We already have more cameras in the Underworld than we probably need, and I appreciate her thoroughness, but I can’t help feeling that it won’t be enough. We can’t live in this glass castle forever. The building may be strong enough to withstand a subtle siege, but there are more factors in play. Our clientele, for one. If we have to close down operations for some reason…
No use thinking about that.
Even with the sky threatening to fall down around our heads, I can’t help the bubbly feeling in my chest as I sit between Hercules and Hades. My men. Mine in a way I barely dare comprehend. I meant every word when I offered Hercules a way out. I’d slip him out the door and stand in Hades’s way while he escaped us. It might break my heart to do it, but I don’t want him trapped here through circumstance. Unlike Hades, I want him to choose it with eyes wide open.
Once Allecto is done giving us a run-down, we disperse. Hades to his office and Hercules to occupy himself. I suspect he’ll end up in the gym or maybe sneak in a few more hours of sleep. It’s tempting to follow him, but I have a job to do. Which is why I don’t even sigh when Allecto walks into my office a few minutes later and shuts the door.
She’s in her daywear: ripped jeans, a black silk shirt, and boots that are probably steel-toed. Her long braids are in a top-knot and her lipstick is just as red as mine. She leans against the door and crosses her arms over her chest. “Give it to me straight. how bad is it?”
“Bad.” No use mincing words. Hades may or may not downplay the danger, but I’m not willing to. “He’s in a pissing match with the guy who effectively runs Olympus.”
Allecto curses softly. “This guy will have personal security.”
“Probably. With the kind of influence he brings to the fore, it’s entirely likely he has the equivalent of his own militi
a. Large staff, large number of people working security.” In the regular world, security details aren’t utilized like soldiers, but ours is not the real world. We can’t take anything for granted. Allecto, for example, might run security, but she also has a plethora of unsavory talents that lend to working in the shadows if the situation calls for it.
She nods. “Okay. I’m going to set up a secondary circle a little farther out. If they come for us, we’ll at least have a little notice before they’re on our doorstep.”
I lean forward. “Can you do that? Won’t people notice you putting up cameras?”
She grins. “You’re pretty, but you’re not that smart.”
“Yes, yes, you’re superior in every way.” I wave that away. “Now tell me how it works.”
“I’ll have Tis hack into the businesses’ camera system. Most of them are connected to an off-site network to store the video, so they won’t even realize that we’re piggybacking on their signal. Enough of them exist that we should have most of the circle covered.”
I lean back and give her a smile of my own. “You’re pretty and smart. Very impressive.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She laughs, but instantly sobers. “I’m going to get her working on that now. I don’t like this.”
I wish I could give her some inspiring words, but Allecto and I don’t lie to each other no matter how barbed our conversations can become. “I don’t like it either.”
She gives me a long look. “I’ll keep you assholes safe as long as you don’t do anything stupid.”
“Do anything stupid?” I press my hand to my chest. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” She shakes her head. “Don’t leave the building without letting me know, Meg. I mean it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Bitch.” She says it fondly. “I’ll show you the secondary camera circle once we have it set up.” She walks out my door, not bothering to close it behind her.
I huff out a sigh. The damn woman always has to get a last word, and while I can admire it most of the time, I still want to snarl as I climb to my feet to shut the door. I’m still a step away when Tink steps into my office. I stop short. She looks like shit. She’s wearing the same clothes from yesterday and her hair has… dirt in it? Most telling of all is the bruise darkening the space around her left eye.
I stare at that bruise. Fury rises, swift and nearly overwhelming. Someone hurt her. “Who?”
She doesn’t pretend to misunderstand me. “It doesn’t matter.”
I reach past her and close the door, forcing her into the office. “Sit.”
“Meg—”
“Sit your ass down, Tink. That’s not a suggestion.” I follow her to the chair and carefully tilt her head back. The bruise is new enough that it’s still going to swell like a motherfucker. “Do not move. I’ll be right back.”
“Meg—”
“Now is not the time to argue with me.” I stalk out of the office and to the little kitchen we keep stocked for employees. Among other things, we ensure there are a lot of ice packs. One never knows when they’ll come in handy, though I can’t remember the last time someone had a black eye. That shit is not sanctioned, and I know Tink’s preferences. No way did she consent to this. If she did, then that’s one thing. If she didn’t…
I’ll get the truth out of her. And then I’ll deal with it.
I close the door to my office and press the ice pack into her hand. Once she has it against her face, I perch on the edge of my desk and study her. “Tell me.”
“I came in here to request some time off. Not because I wanted the third degree.”
I give a mirthless smile. “You know how we operate, Tink. You can try to brazen your way through, but it won’t work. Tell me what happened now or we go to Hades and you tell him later. Either way, the truth comes out.” When she goes to speak, her expression stubborn, I hold up a hand. It’s time to try a different tactic. “Your contract still has two months on it. An injury to you is an injury to Hades. You know he can’t allow that.”
Tink sinks down in her chair and leans her head back. “You’re such a bitch.”
“You’re not the first person to say so today.” I prop my arms on the desk and wait. She’s holding out for pride’s sake at this point, and pushing her will result in her digging in her heels. Better to let the silence spin out until she works herself up to speaking.
Tink, being Tink, doesn’t make me wait long. She sighs. “I’m an idiot.” I want to jump in and tell her that she’s probably the least idiotic person I know, but interrupting at this point will just make her clam up again. Tink closes her eyes. “You know why I have this deal with Hades?”
“I know enough.” Safety in exchange for service. I don’t know what drove her to that level of desperation, but in the end it matters little.
“I don’t know what I thought would happen if I left him. I guess I didn’t really think about it beyond getting out.” She opens her eyes, and they look greener than I’ve ever seen them, filled to the brim with guilt. “He’s got a new girl, but apparently he learned from his mistakes with me because he’s got her brothers too. It’s… It’s never going to stop. If not her, then someone else, forever and ever until the end of time.”
In all the time I’ve known Tink, I’ve never seen her look so despondent. I know better than to offer sympathy, though. She’s like me. She’ll see it as pity and shut down completely. I hold perfectly still. “So you went to get her out.”
“Stupid, I know. I thought if I talked to her, she’d see that it didn’t have to be that way. She punched me in the fucking face.” She laughs and winces. “I might like her under other circumstances.”
Damn it. This isn’t something I can fix. I sigh. “What can I do?”
“Nothing.” She straightens and takes the ice pack off her face. Her eye is already swelling and it will be completely shut soon. Tink pushes to her feet. “I have to handle this myself, one way or another. But I needed to let you know I can’t work tonight for obvious reasons.” She motions to her face.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see if Aurora is up for another shift, but even if she’s not, the club will be fine if it’s short a submissive.” I lean forward and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Go pop some meds, take a shower, and get some rest. We’ll survive without you until you’re healed.” I wait for her to start for the door before I continue. “And Tink?”
“Yeah?”
“If you change your mind about wanting to take care of this yourself…” I allow a sharp smile to creep over my face. “I’m more than happy to lend a helping hand.”
She goes a little pale but manages a smile of her own. “I appreciate that.”
I spend the rest of the afternoon finishing up small tasks that don’t require too much thinking involved. Tonight feels monumental for a number of reasons, not solely because it’s an open declaration of war. I don’t know what exactly Hades did to piss off Zeus last night, but dominating Hercules in front of all the important players in Carver City is the kind of public message that Hercules is sure his father will respond to. I know Hades thinks he has it locked down, and he may even be right, but I can’t shake the feeling of dread the suffuses my entire being. Something bad is coming and it’s too late to avoid it. We’re on this path, for better or worse.
An hour before the Underworld opens, I head down to my suite to change and get my head on straight. I can’t afford to hesitate or doubt, no matter what the night brings. Any reaction on my part will feed into the conclusions people will draw. It’s important they come to the correct ones.
I haven’t been this nervous in a very long time. I find I don’t like it much.
I manage to nibble on half a protein bar before I give it up for a lost cause. To distract myself, I change into one of my favorite dresses. It’s a sleek black sheath that hugs my body like a second skin. I pair it with tall boots that hit mid-thigh, drawing attention to exactly how indecently short the dress is. I touch up my mak
eup, and there’s nothing left to stall with.
My phone rings before I decide that I need a drink. The sight of Hades’s name gives me a little flutter in my stomach, but I manage to keep it out of my voice when I answer. “Yes?”
“Come up to my office. I want to speak with you before we begin.”
That could mean anything and nothing. I frown. “Is everything okay?”
“Now, Meg.” He hangs up.
I mutter under my breath a bit, but it breaks the tension a little. I don’t have to think too hard when I’m obeying, though it doesn’t always work out like that. A few minutes later, I shut the door to his office and pause. Hades and Hercules sit next to each other on the couch, their heads close as they speak. They look… My heart skips a beat. They look so good. All youthful glow and well-aged whiskey. And they’re all mine. The thought barely feels real as I take a few slow steps toward them. “Am I interrupting?”
Hades crooks his fingers, motioning me forward. “We’re going to make tonight easier for you, love.”
I blink. “What?”
“Did you think we wouldn’t notice?” He waits, the ever-patient wolf, as I cross to him and tentatively lay my hand in his. Only then does he take in my body with a single sweep. “This dress is a gift. Don’t you agree, little Hercules?”
For his part, Hercules is looking at me like he wants to eat me up with a spoon. “Definitely a gift.”
I don’t understand this. There isn’t some silly rule about not spending time together before they scene, but they aren’t acting like I expect. It strikes me then that I was bracing for rejection, even after everything. I might laugh if I weren’t so damn ashamed of myself. I wet my lips. “So glad you like it.”
“Mmm.” Hades leans back, taking me a step closer to them until my legs bump their knees. “I would hate for you to feel left out tonight, so we’re going to give you a little something to remember us by until we can take care of you later.”
