Page 8 of Hades

“Right’s not the word I’d use,” Slate grumbled, adjusting himself when she slid from his lap.

“Ash starts coding camp today and we just came to say goodbye.”

“Why she needs to learn to code at a camp when I’m her dad, I have no fucking clue.”

She laughed. “So she doesn’t become a grouchy fucker like you, babe.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips and waved to me as she left the room.

The room fell silent for a few seconds before Slate turned to me with a smile. “What can I do for you, Raven?”

Okay, it’s now or never. “Remember how we met?”

His smile faded and he gave a sharp nod. “Not exactly easy to forget.”

“Right.” I shook my head and told him about Katya. “Before she died, she gave me this. She said people were hunting her and she trusted me to help.” I handed him the flash drive, my hand shook like crazy. “Just look and you’ll get it.”

He took the drive and shoved it into a small laptop that looked a lot like mine. After a few minutes he nodded, seemingly relieved. “No viruses, that’s good.” He plugged it into his computer and pulled the files up on big screens. File after file he read under his breath, his eyes growing bigger by the second. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah,” I sighed and pointed to the folder labeled ‘PROPERTY RETRIEVAL’.

Slate clicked on it, eyes darting across each photo until he landed on my face. “Fuck,” he groaned and then frowned. “Who the fuck is Daisy?”

I looked away. “That was the name he gave me.”

“Motherfucker,” he growled.

“Yeah,” I sighed, nodding. “I don’t think they know where I am, but the fact that I’m on that list doesn’t bode well for me, especially considering what happened to Katya.”

Slate pressed his thumbs into his eyes and sighed heavily. When he looked up at me, his eyes were filled with sympathy. “I can’t keep this from the MC, Raven.”

“I know and I’m not asking you to. Macy told Falcon and Hades, not the truth but they know it’s something. Hades convinced me it was better to loop you in early, and I wanted to give you this first so that the guys all have time to digest this.”

There it was, fucking sympathy again. He must’ve sensed my frustration because the look vanished and he nodded. “Go have some breakfast. I’ll do the rest and let you know when I need you.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks, Slate.” I left the office and went to fill my plate with more food than I planned to eat and sat staring at it until Macy’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Don’t hate me. You hate me, don’t you?” She took the seat right beside me and stared at my face too closely. “I didn’t give away any details,” she rushed on. “I just couldn’t stand them thinking you let some asshole lure you into a life of drugs and dumbassery.”

My lips twitched. “Dumbassery?”

“Yeah. I mean it’s one thing if it was true, but the truth is different. It’s worse and it’s not fair to let that story persist.” She reached out and laid her hand over mine. “Don’t hate me.”

“I don’t hate you, Mace.” I told her about my conversation with Hades last night. “He convinced me to talk to the MC and let them help.”

Her expression brightened. “That’s good. It’ll be hard talking about this again and if you want me there to hold your hand or just be support, say the word.”

“Thanks, but I think I need to do this on my own.” I didn’t know why but it felt like something I should do.

“Well, the offer stands.” She glanced over my shoulder and her eyes widened. “I think you’re being summoned.”

I looked behind me and saw Hades standing with his arms crossed and his eyes on me. He didn’t have to say anything else.

I stood and piled a slice of toast with eggs and bacon, shoving it into my mouth despite my lack of appetite. “I’ll see you later.” My legs were surprisingly steady as I walked towards Hades.

“You good?”

I shrugged. “Don’t know but this has to be done either way, right?”

“I guess. Come on, badass.”