Page 89 of Hades

“Travis can stay worried,” she mutters.

“You know, I’ve never asked. How did you two become friends?” I ask, changing the subject. Anything to distract her from the shitstorm at hand.

Finally, she looks up at me. “We met during residency. Bonded over a bad attending and shitty coffee. Found out we liked the same kind of music, and it was a match made in heaven.”

“So there’s never been anything between you two?”

I’ve always wondered but never asked. It’s never been my place. I know men and women can be friends, but with Evelyn, Travis would be an idiot not to snatch her up.

Evelyn smirks. “Why, are you jealous?”

“Do I have a reason to be?”

She tips her head back and chuckles.

Fucking win.

It’s been days since I’ve heard her laugh, and I didn’t realize how much I missed that sound.

“No, it’s never been like that between us. I’m not exactly his type.”

“His loss is my gain,” I quip, making her smile.

She shakes her head, laughing even harder. “Let’s just say you’d be more his type.”

I smile at her. “You think I should give it a go?”

“No. You’re mine.” The smile is still on her face, but her tone is firm.

I like knowing that she is claiming me. The same way I am claiming her.

“Why Vegas?” she changes the subject.

“Why did I choose here to settle down?” I clarify.

She nods.

“The location isn’t bad. Vegas has a direct flight back to Chicago if my brother ever decides to call or if there’s some sort of emergency, and I like the group here. Your brother is one hell of a president, and I like what he’s doing.” I shrug. “I wouldn’t have stayed if the club didn’t need the extra help, to be honest, but now that I have, I like it here.”

“My brother is pretty awesome. Those were your only reasons? I mean, you could have found other clubs with the same criteria. I’m pretty sure San Antonio is in the weeds right now too,” she points out.

You.

It’s the truth. It might not have been why I decided to stick around at first, but it sure is the reason I have zero plans of leaving now. It’s too soon for talk like that, though. Sure, she murmured she loved me as she passed out the other night, but that doesn’t mean that she knows what she was saying. I don’t want to push too hard. I couldn’t stand losing her.

I look over to her now. She’s gorgeous. Smart. Strong as hell. Feisty. Everything that I shouldn’t want in a woman. Everything I don’t deserve in a woman. Yet she is here with me right now. She sleeps next to me in bed every night and wakes up in my arms every morning. I somehow won the jackpot without even knowing I was playing the game.

If I were a kinder man, I would let her go find someone less complicated. Who would love and dote on her like she’s on a pedestal.

I’m not a kind man, though. I’m Hades, King of the Underworld. I devour souls and punish the wicked.

I don’t have a moral compass telling me to let her go. Instead, I have a raging instinct to keep her close. Claim her as my own.

“Hello, earth to Hades.”

I blink and see that she’s waving her hand in front of my face.

“Anyone home?” she teases.