Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Is that why you’re so tired today?”
“Yes…we didn’t sleep much.”
She smiled. “Well, thanks for giving me that.”
“What about you?”
She shrugged. “No one new on my radar.”
“There were a lot of bachelors at the wedding.”
“Yeah. But the only man I liked didn’t even know I was there.”
“Who?” I didn’t know every name on the guest list, but I could probably figure out who she was talking about.
“The best man.” She swirled her wine before she took a drink. “That man is gorgeous.”
“Damien.”
She shrugged. “Never got his name. Every time I tried to talk to him, some other woman beat me to the punch. He had so much pussy handed to him that he didn’t even need to look around.”
Damien was a handsome guy. With a built musculature and a classically handsome face, he reminded me of Hades in a lot of ways. “He and Hades are really close. I could ask Hades about him—”
“God no,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t chase.”
My phone started to vibrate on the table as I got a call. It was Hades. Since we were out in public, I ignored the call and sent him a text instead. I’m out with Esme. Be home later. It was hard to believe that four-story mansion was home now, that my husband was the biggest drug dealer in this part of the country.
Is that a joke?
I ignored his message. She and I changed the subject and started to talk about work. I hadn’t walked into the hotel since I’d gotten married. Wasn’t sure if it would be any different now that I was married to the man who laundered all our money.
Ignore me and see what happens.
I didn’t ignore you. I said I’ll be home later. Bye.
He didn’t text me again.
When Esme got cozy with a guy, I paid for my drinks then drove home. I expected to face my husband’s wrath when I walked in the door, but there was nothing I couldn’t handle. I headed upstairs and stepped into my bedroom.
He was sitting on the balcony in his sweatpants, the phone pressed to his ear as he talked quietly. His building was the tallest one in the vicinity, so he didn’t have to worry about anyone staring at him as he enjoyed the view.
I slipped off my heels and placed my jewelry on my nightstand. It’d been a long day, and I was ready to wind down for the night.
Hades finished up his conversation and set down his phone. His defined back faced me, the muscles rippling with any little move he made. A bottle of scotch was beside him, along with an empty glass. “Get your ass over here.” He only raised his voice loud enough so I could hear his command.
I didn’t like being bossed around, so I ignored him.
He spoke again, this time with a lethal tone. “Don’t make me ask you again.”
It was our first day in marital bliss, and we were already bumping heads like rams. I moved outside and faced him, ready to set the parameters of this relationship. My arms crossed over my chest, and I didn’t blink at his intimidating physique. “I told you not to boss me around. You’re my husband, not a dictator.” Did he expect me to abandon my social life just because I had settled down? The only thing that would be different in my life was the man in my bed. Everything else would stay the same.
He didn’t speak a word, but the hostile gaze gave an entire speech. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his fingers balled into a fist onto the table. This was the version of Hades I didn’t see often—the king of the underworld. He stared at me like he couldn’t decide how he would punish me—but either option was equally cruel. His muscles swelled with blood, and his frame turned rigid like a piece of steel. There wasn’t a hint of attraction in his eyes, as if I were nothing but an enemy to him.
He rose to his feet.
And I stepped back, instinct kicking in.
He cocked his head slightly as he studied me, brown flames dancing across the surface of his eyes. “As husband and wife, our bond is sacred. Our loyalty is unbreakable, our trust is undoubtable.” He took another step toward me. “When you call me, I will answer—always. We’re partners. We’re accomplices. We’re family.” He backed me up farther. “Don’t you pull that shit ever again.” When my back hit the stone wall and there was nowhere for me to go, he pressed his face closer to mine. “When you see my name on the screen, you don’t fucking hesitate. You take that call like it’s life and death. Disrespect me like that again, and this won’t last.” His nostrils flared before he backed up. “Our bond needs to be stronger than the mafia’s. We need to be loyal like fucking gangsters.” He turned around and walked into the bedroom, his body still tense with all the rage that hadn’t dissipated.