Chapter 8
“You know you don’t have to keep checking up on him every hour,” Eris said as she relaxed in the family room, watching TV.
Harley shrugged as she rocked Dante in her arms. She had just gotten through checking his heartbeat and lungs and running a few small tests, and as usual, he was perfectly healthy. “I’ve been cooped up here for four days with nothing better to do.” She stopped rocking Dante suddenly and glanced at Eris. “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind.”
Eris giggled before a yawn slipped from her mouth. “Girl, please. You are a godsend. Being a first-time mom is really scary. As much as I don’t agree with my brother holding you hostage, a part of me is happy to have a midwife in the house.”
“And what about you?” Harley asked. “Isn’t he kind of holding you hostage too?”
Eris’s shrill laugh startled Dante, who immediately cried out.
“Oh, mommy’s sorry, baby boy.” Her words softened completely as she addressed her son and held her hands out for him. Harley placed him in Eris’s arms, and instead of sitting on the couch beside her, she shuffled her feet because she was so damn antsy. When Dante settled down, Eris responded to Harley with a wave of her hand. “I am so used to Hades. He’s been like that since I was little. I don’t pay him any mind.”
Harley forced herself to stand still as she planted her hands on her hips. “Yeah, but wouldn’t you have felt more comfortable giving birth in your own home? Or a birthing center or hospital?”
Eris’s brows scrunched together as she thought about it before shaking her head. “I don’t really do hospitals unless I have to. A birthing center was never really in my plans, and honestly, this is home for me. Cade and I have our own home, and I know he’s more than ready to get there, but I don’t mind being here. Hades moved us into this house when I was ten, so I kind of grew up here.”
Harley’s face scrunched up. “Wait, how much older is he than you?”
“Eight years. I’m thirty, Lu is thirty-seven, and Hades is thirty-eight.”
Harley did the calculations quickly, and her eyes widened. “So Hades bought this house when he was eighteen?”
Eris giggled. “He did. He’s always been more like a father to me than anything. He always took care of me and Lu, so giving birth here was like coming home to have my son. I’m comfortable here. Now, how much longer I’ll be able to convince Cade to stay here, I’m not sure. I’ll probably have to talk to Hades soon, though, which won’t be easy. He’s become quite attached to Dante.”
Harley offered a small smile as she thought about the way Hades was with Dante. He didn’t play about his nephew, and whenever he was home, it was a safe bet that Dante was tucked into his muscular arms.
“I’ve noticed.”
Eris peered at Harley for a moment. “You know he likes you.”
The smile fell from Harley’s face as she recoiled at the idea, but her skin heated, giving her a red tint. “Is Hades even capable of liking someone?”
“Outside of family? I didn’t used to think so, but there’s something about you, girl.”
Finally, Harley plopped down on the couch and tugged at her long ponytail as she stared at the TV, not really paying attention to what she was watching. Pixie, who had been napping in her bed upstairs, had found her way down here. As soon as she spotted her mama, she went straight for her, placing her front paws on Harley’s shin. Absentmindedly, she picked Pixie up and placed her on her lap before saying, “I just wish my life could go back to normal.”
Even as she said the words, something within her rebelled against that idea. She didn’t know what the hell was wrong with her. She hadn’t even seen much of Hades since they grabbed food after the meeting with the Obsidian Riders. It was like he was avoiding her, and she didn’t know what to think of that.
On one hand, she was thankful to be in the security of this fortress. On the other hand, she knew this was only temporary and didn’t want to get too comfortable. She also worried about one of her patients going into labor or needing her to check up on them… She caught up on all their charts and had phone calls with them daily, but at some point, they would need her physically, and she knew Hades would bring hell when it came to that.
Blair and Sage had been asking a lot of questions, too, and she couldn’t avoid them forever.
“Nothing is ever normal with Hades, and I don’t think he’s going to let you go any time soon.”
Harley sighed, and they sat in silence for several minutes before she asked, “Do you know what’s going on with the Obsidian Riders and my ex?”
Eris nodded. “Cade told me.”
“Has anyone thought of just calling the police? I feel like that could solve everything.”
“Girl, what? No. Hades does not fuck with the police at all, and as a Black woman, you shouldn’t trust them either. Besides, according to Cade, your ex has the police on payroll. It’s why they’re in this situation in the first place.”
Harley knew that to be true, but it still frustrated her to hear it confirmed. “I’m still a little unclear about what this situation even is. All Hades told me was that Drew got him and the club in some shit.”
Eris sighed. “You know how the news is always talking about crime spiking in our city over the past year?” Harley nodded. Of course, she heard about that. It was practically all anyone talked about when making small talk. It was no longer about weather and now about if they heard about the latest murder or robbery or how drugs were taking over. “Drew is responsible for that, but he’s pinning it on the Obsidian Riders and paying the police to look the other way.”
Harley gasped, but before she could ask another question, Hades made his presence known. “Tink, come with me.”
He had just gotten in from God knows where. He didn’t even stop his stride as he made his way from the front door, through the family room, scooping Pixie up in passing, and moving toward the staircase.
Harley’s eyes grew wide. He hadn’t acknowledged her in four days, and her heart fluttered at the thought of being alone with him again. She glanced at Eris, whose brow rose. “Better not keep him waiting.”
Harley jumped up and scurried after him, rushing up the stairs to keep up with him. She was out of breath by the time they stopped beside a door at the end of the hall that was right next to the room she stayed in.
Hades opened the door and walked in with her trailing behind him, but she froze when she realized they were in the master bedroom. Tremors shook her body, and she wasn’t sure if it was in anticipation of more pleasure at the hands of Hades or fear.
She took a tiny step forward, ready to find out.