Page 43 of Hades

“Sheer fucking boredom?”

I hid my grin behind my hand because Coeus wasn’t far off. Suzanne’s life had to be dull as fuck married to that man. A slow death by monotony and abuse.

“That may be, but Suzanne isn’t a killer. Have you found anything connecting the victims?”

“Is that what we’re calling them?” I asked.

Zeus ran a hand through his hair, then pulled it back and secured it with the rubber band on his wrist. The gesture was automatic. Familiar. Something he did when he was thinking hard.

“Those deaths are suspicious as fuck. Until we know otherwise, I’m calling them victims.”

“I just started running background on all of them. Give me a day and I should know everything from their eye color to their sexual fantasies.”

Zeus groaned. “I don’t care about their fucking sex life.”

Coeus held up a finger, and I grinned. “Done incorrectly, autoerotic asphyxiation can cause heart failure.”

“Get the fuck out of my office.”

Coeus winked and bolted out the door as Zeus grabbed the gavel and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall with a satisfying thunk, leaving a dent in the drywall.

“Coeus!” Zeus called out.

He stuck his head back through the door. “Yeah, boss?”

“Harlan have any life insurance?”

“Yeah, pretty hefty policy taken out a few months back.”

“Make sure the M.E. doesn’t say shit to the chief.”

“Already taken care of. Had him label the sample as canine so it wouldn’t flag.”

Zeus nodded, and before Coeus could slip out again, he added, “I want everything you can find on Reggie.” Coeus nodded. “And, Coeus.” Zeus paused. “That includes her fucking sex life.”

Coeus’ eyes widened, but he kept his mouth shut and nodded again before letting the door close.

“What are you doing?” I asked, shaking my head at my best friend.

“You heard the lawyer. If I’m going to prove she’s unfit, I need fucking proof,” Zeus answered, leaning back in his chair and clasping his hands behind his head. His boots thumped onto the table. Casual. Arrogant. Like he hadn’t just ordered an invasion of privacy that would blow up in his face.

“You’re playing with fire, brother, and you know you’re gonna get burned.”

“She has my son.”

“And you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

“Flies eat shit,” he muttered.

“You need me for anything else?”

“You got something more important to do?” he asked, eyeing me suspiciously. That look that said he knew I was up to something.

“Yeah, I do, asshole,” I said with a grin. “Need to go meet my old lady.”

I was halfway to the door when his feet hit the floor and he gasped, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

I didn’t answer as I strolled out of the clubhouse and climbed on my bike. The engine roared to life beneath me, vibrating through my thighs, my chest. Power and freedom and purpose all rolled into one. Zeus might not want to settle down, but I sure as fuck did. The only thing holding me back was that I hadn’t met the right woman yet.