Page 46 of Hades

“What are the holes in the plan?”

“For one, Viktor might just want you so he can kill you for the committing the sin of escaping him. We can’t outrun a fucking bullet from a few feet away.”

My heart raced just thinking about seeing Viktor again or talking to him. Letting him too close. “It sounds like the only way.”

Hades’ response was a dissatisfied grunt.

“I don’t like it either, but it’s better that I’m the one at risk than anyone else. This is my fight, after all.”

“No.” He gripped my hips and pulled me close. “It’s our fight.” His fingertips dug into my hips. “I just found you, Raven. There’s no fucking way I’m giving you up anytime soon.”

Oh shit. My eyeballs stung and I knew if I didn’t do something fast, I’d be a babbling fucking mess in front of him. “Hades,” I whispered before slamming my lips against his. The kiss was intense and hungry, it was frantic like there wasn’t enough time in the world to kiss him the way I wanted to. Like there was a clock ticking on our time together.

There was an urgency to the kiss that was intoxicating and I leaned into it, kissing him like it was the end of the world.

Too soon though, Hades pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. “I’m not giving you up, but I do need to talk to Falcon. Sooner rather than later.”

I grunted my displeasure. “I don’t know if you know this, but I am a grown ass woman who can say and do whoever I want.”

“Of course you can,” he grinned, sliding his hands from my hips to my ass, squeezing playfully. “But if he finds out before I have a chance to talk to him, he’s gonna lose his shit and we don’t have time for that.” His jaw clenched tight, resolved to do things his way.

“I don’t like it. You’re telling me nothing is going to happen until you talk to my brother for permission or some old school ass shit?”

“No,” he sighed. “But he’s my best friend, Raven, and bro code dictates that I need to talk to him.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bro code is such bullshit.”

“It’s not.” Indecision swam in his eyes and suddenly I felt the long fingers of fear wrap around my throat and strangle me until I couldn’t breathe.

I took a step back and then another until we were no longer touching. “Fine, have your little conversation with my brother, but just tell me this, Hades.”

“What?”

I sucked in a deep breath and summoned up all the courage I could before asking the question that had the power to devastate me. “Just tell me that it doesn’t matter what he says about us. Please.”

He was silent and still, giving me nothing.

That wasn’t a good sign. “Look, I love you Hades and I’m not just saying that to manipulate you. I just… fuck, if Falcon’s feelings mean more to you than mine, just tell me before I get into this any deeper.” Tears threatened but that would be completely unfair to him, so I swallowed them down and watched him, waiting for him to answer. Hoping for an answer.

No words came.

Just tension.

So much fucking tension, thick enough to cloud my vision.

Resignation burned in his eyes and my heart sank. He was going to choose my brother over me, and I was going to have to find a way to be fine with it. At least until this mess with the Russians was over and I could find a new place to call home.

Or at least someplace new to start over. To build a life on my own. A place to rest my head.

“Never mind.” I stepped back even further until I was almost on the other side of the room once more. “Just tell the guys that I’m on board with this plan. I’ll be the bait.”

“Raven,” he began but I shook my head because I didn’t want to hear any excuses. There was nothing to be said in the face of rejection that would make it sting any less and trying would only make me feel pathetic.

“It’s fine, Hades.”

A loud knock sounded once. Twice.

“You should probably get that.” If it was Macy, she would have knocked as she opened the door. I turned my back to the door, listening to him open the door.