Chapter 25 Willow
Willow
Two months later…
“When can we schedule a dinner?”
Hades’ arm tightens around my shoulders as I try to come up with an answer to my mother’s question.
After we found out that Hades was granted a new trial, I reached out to my dad to see if he had anything to do with it.
Turns out, he did. He wasn’t happy about it, and we still barely talk, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss them both.
“Up to you,” he mouths since I’ve got the call on speaker.
“I don’t know, Mom,” I finally say. “I’m still working on a few cases at the center, and that keeps me pretty busy.”
Now that Hades doesn’t have to hide out, I’m no longer his ‘captive’, although I haven’t gone home for anything other than to get clothes as I need them. He’s asked me to move in, but I’m holding out on that for now. Why, I don’t really know, but it makes sense in my head, so I’m going with it.
“Okay. Well, when you have time, let me know,” she says softly.
“I will.”
After hanging up, I turn to lean into Hades.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. I want to see them,” I admit. “And at the same time, I don’t want to face their judgment.”
“What you mean is you don’t want to deal with their judgment of me because I’m not good enough for their daughter,” he counters.
“You know that’s not how I feel,” I rush to say.
“I know, Willow. And I’m with you, not them, so it doesn’t bother me. I’m used to not being liked,” he says with a smirk.
“Ugh, can we not talk about them? It puts me in a shit mood.”
“Whatever you want, Princess,” he teases. “Hey, why don’t we go for a ride? It’s been a long week for both of us, and this’ll give us a chance to relax and just be together.”
“I’m so ready for that.”
Twenty minutes later, he’s pulling through the gates and opening up his Harley on the main road. Normally, we’d have a tail because Bones is still out there somewhere, so I’m surprised he didn’t insist on one today, but I’m guessing he needs this time away as much as I do.
During the week, I’m at the PWCC, working on cases as I’m needed.
With the new DNA evidence, Gordon got Billy Jones’ conviction overturned, and he was released last week.
As for Hades’ case… his trial is set for a year from now.
The court systems are bogged down, and apparently, his case is no longer as big a deal as it once was.
Not that either of us is complaining.
After talking it over with Hades, I signed the contract with PWCC for them to pay for law school tuition, and I start night classes next month. It means less time with Hades, but it’ll be worth it to have my law degree.
Tightening my arms around his waist, I lean into a curve with him, and he squeezes my thigh. When we ride, his hand is always touching me somewhere, and I love it.
I’m pretty sure I love him, although I haven’t told him. He hasn’t said it to me, either, though. It’s as if we have a silent pact to wait for all the big relationship stuff until after his trial… just in case.
Hades comes to a stop at a red light, and I slide my hand between his legs to cup his junk. His body vibrates with laughter and the promise of retribution when we get home.
That’s what I’m counting on.
Now that we’ve had sex, I can’t get enough. If it were up to me, he’d just live in my pussy and never leave.
The light turns green, and he pulls forward. I have no idea where we’re going, not that it matters. It doesn’t take long to roll through town, and before I know it, we’re flying down country roads.
I’m so focused on the scenery that I don’t realize there’s a vehicle behind us until it pulls into the other lane. I glance to my left just in time to see the passenger window slide down, and seconds before agonizing pain tears through my side, a loud pop fills the air.
Everything from that moment on happens so fast. I’m catapulted off the bike, only to slam onto the pavement. Hades screams my name as bullets begin to ricochet off the vehicle and his motorcycle.
I try to lift my head and see what’s going on, only moving is impossible. Forcing myself to tune out the chaos, I focus on the sounds around me.
Gunshots.
Crunching metal.
Pained screams.
Rushing water.
Slowing heartbeat.
Silence.