Page 19 of Hades

“Take the dog with you,” she said as I left her room.

Cerberus looked at me with pleading eyes. I crouched down and rubbed behind his ears. “I wasn’t planning on leaving you here.”

I drove my antique pickup truck up the dusty driveway toward the clubhouse. I’d never been here before, never even seen it. Despite their land butting up against mine, all I could see from my backyard was the glow of light in the evening.

The building was impressive. Two stories with a wraparound porch that looked like it had seen better days. People milled around, but no one paid much attention as I climbed out of my truck and walked around to the passenger side.

I opened the door and grabbed the casserole from the floor, holding it against my torso with one hand while I tapped my thigh with the other. Cerberus jumped down immediately. Then I grabbed the small basket of products I’d brought for Rhea.

As I walked toward the front door, men whistled. I held my head high, ignoring the immature comments about my breasts and behind. I’d expected it. My mother wasn’t the only one who stereotyped. I wasn’t proud of it, but hey, I was only human.

Cerberus, on the other hand, wasn’t as forgiving. He sensed the tension radiating from my body and growled, snarling as the hair on his neck rose.

“Fuck, he’s scarier than the other one,” someone muttered.

My mouth twitched as I fought back a smile at the fear in the man’s voice. I reached the door just as it swung open, and a massive man filled the doorway. His shoulders were so wide he had to turn sideways to fit through the opening.

I’d be a fool if I said my body didn’t lock up with fright. I’d never seen a man this big. My mind immediately started calculating the dosages I’d need to bring him down.

Cerberus lunged forward, and the man slowly backed up.

“Sorry, darlin’, didn’t mean to frighten ya.” He looked down at Cerberus and smiled. “Good boy.”

I blinked up at him. The man stepped back and held the door open. “Go right in. The old ladies are straight back and to the left.”

My body wouldn’t move. I couldn’t take my eyes off the giant in front of me. My mother’s warning blared in my head.

“You okay?” he asked, dipping his head. He seemed to be making himself smaller, trying to pull me out of whatever state I was in. I wasn’t sure shock was the right word. My mind was racing, calculating how quickly and effortlessly he could snap my neck if he wanted to.

“My name’s Kraken, darlin’. I promise I don’t mean you any harm. Rhea would kick my ass.”

Rhea’s name snapped me out of my haze. “I’m sorry. I’ve just never seen a man your size.”

Kraken chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. “I get that a lot.”

“How tall are you?”

“Seven foot two.”

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

I was five foot seven. This man towered almost a foot and a half above me.

“How much do you weigh?” I asked, not at all ashamed.

I needed to know because this giant lived right next door. If he decided to come to my home and attack me, not even Cerberus could protect me. The first thing I’d do when I got home was make a potion and put his name on it.

He tilted his head and studied me. His eyes narrowed, and Cerberus growled low. Kraken smiled. “Three hundred and twenty-eight pounds.”

“Thank you.”

Kraken grinned and took another step back. He chuckled as I walked by, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he knew why I was asking.

Most of the residents in Athens, Texas, knew I made potions. They came to me for everything from skin moisturizers to headache relievers. But only a few knew what else I made. I was sure the Gods of Mayhem didn’t know anything about my side business.

Still, as I walked past him, my eyes held his.

When another biker stepped into my path with a crude remark, Kraken whistled. The man’s face went pale, and he slipped away with a mumbled apology.