Page 53 of Hades

I nodded to let him know I was listening. I’d changed more in the last three years than in the time I’d spent with him. “You haven’t,” I said in a bland voice that lacked all the heat I wanted to aim his way.

Viktor grinned, a low chuckle escaped the way it did when he found something amusing. “I am not as young as I used to be.”

No, but he was still handsome. And wicked.

“You ran away,” he stated plainly. “Why?”

I laughed. “You are not seriously asking me that question.” I knew he lived in another world, but I didn’t realize he lived on another goddamn planet.

“I was good to you,” he insisted with a straight face.

I bit back the words that were on the tip of my tongue, only because I didn’t want to antagonize him. “Other than being a prisoner and a possession with no freedom, yeah you treated me well.” I rolled my eyes because I couldn’t help myself, and then I smiled because I realized that I was nervous to be here with him, but I was not the same scared girl I was before.

Viktor’s icy gaze narrowed and anger flashed hot and quickly before he got it under control, replacing the frown with a surface level smile. “Yes, well, when you return, things will be… different.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the shiver that tried to work its way down my spine. I didn’t even want to think about what he had planned for me. Nothing, I reminded myself. He didn’t have anything planned for me because I wasn’t going back.

Period.

He sat back and studied me carefully. “Why now, Daisy?”

I fucking hated that name more than I hated any other word in the English language. Even more than that, I hated that Hades and several other Steel Demons were listening to all of this. “I’m tired of running,” I answered easily, which wasn’t entirely untrue.

One brow arched, highlighting his incredible bone structure. “I don’t believe you. In the years since you ran away, you’ve managed to stay off the radar.”

“True, but it’s always a matter of time. I understand your skepticism, but it’s exhausting wondering when your goons might find me.” Even from the safety of my room inside the Steel Demons clubhouse, it was always a concern. It was the reason why I didn’t sleep more than a few hours every night.

“Maybe so. Or maybe your biker friends are waiting nearby to ambush me.” He flashed a smug smile as if he’d already clocked every last one of them.

“I had thought about looping them in,” I admitted with a grin. “But they aren’t around. I left without letting anyone know because I didn’t want them to worry. This is my fight. Not theirs.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. They’ve inserted themselves into this by killing two of my men.”

I didn’t know that, but it didn’t surprise me. “Well I’m here now and they’re not.”

His brows lifted. “So you’re really giving yourself back to me? Freely?” The gleam in his eyes terrified me and that satisfied, victorious smile spelled danger for me.

I nodded. “As long as you promise to leave the Steel Demons alone. Them and everyone associated with them. For good.” I was going off script a little and I knew the guys listening in were probably losing their shit, but this was the best option.

“No trap?”

I shook my head. “No trap.” Those two words tasted bitter on my tongue, but I smashed my teeth together and tried for a smile I didn’t feel.

Viktor nodded slowly, his eyes studying me to the point I wanted to squirm. “That’s good to hear,” he began slowly, leaning forward to show me his phone screen. “But just in case your boys are thinking of trying something, you should see this first.”

My gaze was riveted to the screen as a pit of acid formed in my belly. And then the screen changed. My brother tied to a chair. My brother with a split lip and a black eye. “Falcon!” I squeaked. “Why?”

“Insurance,” he answered easily. “Just in case you think of trying anything.” He shoved the phone into his jacket pocket as if he was just finishing up a business deal. “Come now, and don’t make a scene.” He got to his feet and paused for a moment. “Oh and leave your bracelet behind, your new friends must think I am an idiot.”

My heart raced inside my chest and breathing grew difficult as I unfastened the bracelet and placed it on the table. This was it. The moment I knew would come, but somehow still hadn’t expected it to actually come.

“We’re leaving the country first thing in the morning. So be a good girl for me and your brother will live to be reunited with his biker friends.”

My heart was stuck in my throat. He had my brother. A ruthless international criminal had my brother and was threatening his life. “I don’t believe you,” I finally said because this was no time to be scared. “I’ll comply and you’ll kill him anyway.” That was how he operated. I’d seen it and heard about it often enough to know that was the case.

Viktor was not a man to be trusted. He didn’t keep his word, and he killed with reckless abandon.

“Yes, well, if I have to kill you right now then know that your last thoughts will be of all the ways I will make him suffer before I take his life.”