Page 182 of Hades

“And my mother.” Zeus’ voice dropped to something dangerous. “Rhea. She disappeared two days after you became Hades’ old lady. Vanished without a trace. Like she’d had help.”

I stepped between them. “Zeus⁠—”

“Did you help my mother escape?” Zeus demanded, looking past me to Lettie.

“Yes,” Lettie said. “I gave her something to disable whoever followed her. Gave her a head start. She deserved to get away from all of this.”

Zeus’ expression went cold. “You had no right.”

“She asked for my help,” Lettie said. “I gave it to her.”

“She’s my mother.” Zeus’ voice rose. “You don’t get to make that decision. You don’t get to⁠—”

“Back the fuck off.” I moved fully in front of Lettie, blocking Zeus’ path. “Right now.”

Zeus’ eyes snapped to mine. “She helped my mother disappear. She’s been killing people for years. And you knew.”

“I didn’t know—not at first.” I didn’t back down. Didn’t apologize. “But I don’t give a fuck.”

“You don’t—” Zeus stopped and stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “She’s a vigilante killer, Hades. She’s been murdering people.”

“Abusers,” I corrected. “Predators. Men and women who hurt vulnerable people. Men like that asshole on the floor. She’s not doing anything we wouldn’t do if we knew it was happening. She just does it neater, without bloodshed, without having to worry about the fucking law finding a body in a shallow grave.”

“That’s not her call to make.”

“Don’t be a fucking hypocrite, brother.” I stepped closer to Zeus. Close enough that he’d have to go through me to get to her. I wasn’t worried—he’d never get through me and if he did... he’d never get past the hellhound on his feet beside me. “I’m not asking her to stop. I’m not doing a goddamn thing except standing here and telling you that if you have a problem with what she’s done, you take it up with me.”

Zeus’ jaw clenched. “She helped my mother escape.”

“Your mother was suffocating under the weight of her grief. Drowning in yours and your sisters’ too. In the grief of the entire fucking club.” I lowered my voice. “She doesn’t even know everything yet. She needed out, and Lettie gave her a way. You should be thanking her.”

“Thanking her?” Zeus’ voice was incredulous. “My mother is in the wind. I don’t know where she is. Don’t know if she’s safe. And you want me to thank the woman who helped her disappear?”

“Your mother is safer away from the club than she ever was in it,” I said. “And you know it.”

Silence stretched between us. Heavy and dangerous. The kind of silence that preceded violence.

Then Zeus exhaled slowly. His hands uncurled. His shoulders dropped slightly.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

Zeus looked past me to Lettie. “The people you killed—they all deserved it?”

“Yes,” Lettie said without hesitation.

“You’re sure?”

“I don’t kill people who don’t deserve it.” Her voice was steady. Certain. “I research. I watch. I make sure. And then I act.”

Zeus was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“Okay?” I asked.

“Okay.” Zeus looked at me. “She’s your old lady. Your responsibility. Your choice. But if this comes back on the club⁠—”

“It won’t,” I said.