Chapter Nine
Raven
“I’m bored out of my fucking skull.” That was the understatement of the century.
Four straight days inside the clubhouse was harder than I thought it would be.
This place was my home. It was where I was most comfortable, but apparently ninety-six hours trapped on the compound or relegated to visiting the club’s businesses was my limit. “Seriously, Hades. So. Fucking. Bored.”
His lips quirked into a smile that was far too damn appealing for my peace of mind. “Read a book.”
I growled in response.
That quirk of his lips grew bigger. “Binge watch something.”
If it was possible, my next growl was even more menacing.
Hades rubbed his chin, staring at me as if he could see right inside my brain. “Have you considered—”
I reached out and grabbed his lips, smooshing them between my thumbs and forefingers. “Say anything other than ‘let’s get the fuck out of here’ I swear to the fucking lord above that I will maim you.”
He mumbled something that came out unintelligible.
“What was that?”
His brows shot up in a look I instantly understood and released his lips. “I said, you didn’t say please.”
My eyes narrowed and I reached for his lips again, but he was faster, grabbing my wrists before I made it to his lips. “Dammit.”
He flashed another smile that smacked me right in my lower belly and sent a wave of heat over me, that I put my hand to my forehead to make sure I didn’t have a fever. Down, girl, it’s just Hades. “Come on, Raven, it’s just one little word.”
“So, so bored,” I groaned.
“One teensy little word.” His eyes sparkled with joy.
My nostrils flared, in anger or arousal, at this point I wasn’t even sure anymore. All I knew was that whatever this was, I liked it. A lot. Maybe too fucking much. “Fucker.”
“Where do you want to go?”
That was better. I shrugged. “Anywhere that’s not these four walls for at least five hours.
” I was feeling restless and the longer I sat around here bored, the more dark places my mind found to wander.
“My brain is setting up shop in Worst Case Scenario Land.” I didn’t like the sympathy that flashed in his eyes, so I looked away.
But Hades was having none of it. He gripped my chin and turned me until my gaze slammed into his. “You’re safe, Raven. Don’t worry about those assholes until we have something to worry about.” His words were firm and his gaze was clear. “Hear me?”
I nodded.
“Good. You still haven’t said please.”
“Asshole,” I muttered. “Take me out of here, Hades. Please.” Something like heat flared in his gaze, but I refused to believe it. I did, however, tuck it away to overanalyze later.
“I have some errands to run. You can come with me.”
It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I refused to be a bitch about it, when he was doing me a solid. “Yeah, fine. Okay.”
“I think the words you’re looking for are ‘thank you, Hades’.” He chuckled at the murderous expression I sent him. “I need to talk to a few people and then we can get out of here.”
“Sounds good.”
“Don’t even fucking think about going there, Raven.” Falcon’s voice was a low threat that I completely ignored.
“Going where? I’m getting out of the clubhouse because I’m going stir-crazy and he’s my appointed bodyguard.
” The lie rolled off my lips so easily and I wasn’t even sure who the fuck I was lying to, my brother or myself.
“I’m gonna go change my shoes,” I told him as I walked away from whatever he had to say next.
Falcon was on my ass though, following me down the hall and up the stairs to my room. “Raven,” he began but the minute I heard the anguish in his voice, I turned to face him.
“No.” I shook my head. “I didn’t tell you because I don’t want you looking at me like that,” I said, pointing at the long-suffering expression on his face. “And because I don’t exactly like talking about it. It’s not your fault, it’s mine.”
“Fuck that.”
“It is. I believed the wrong person about a job I knew was too fucking good to be true and I paid too high a price for it, but it was on me. Not you. Let’s just move on.”
He stared at me for a long time, his chest heaving with angry breaths. Eventually his shoulders relaxed and he nodded. “Yeah, okay. For now. But I’m sorry as fuck you had to go through that.”
“Me too. But I’m here now, to annoy the fuck out of you until the end of time.” I changed from sneakers to boots and grabbed a jacket before heading to the door.
Falcon surprised the shit out of me when he reached out and pulled me into a hug. “I’m still sorry you had to go through that shit alone.”
“Thanks.” I hugged him back and that was how Hades found us.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I nodded and stepped back. “Falcon’s on his period and needed a hug. Ready to go?”
He nodded and followed me through the clubhouse, handing me a helmet and watching me put it on. “Hop on.”
I stepped on the peg and swung my leg over the top of the bike, adjusting in the seat until I was comfortable.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and smiled inside the helmet at the hard feel of his muscles beneath my palms. As soon as the bike roared to life, my eyes slid closed and I let myself enjoy the feel of the sunshine and wind against my skin.
I leaned into turns with Hades and enjoyed the simple act of going along for the ride.
***
The first stop was in a neighborhood on the other side of Vegas. It looked like gang territory and though I was on alert, I knew I was safe with Hades. “What are we doing here?” I asked as soon as he cut the engine.
“Picking up some cash.” His answer was typical Hades, just enough info to answer the question without actually answering it.
“You thought it was a good idea to come here alone?”
His gaze slid over to me. “I’m not alone.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean. I’ve got my knife so yeah, I got your back, but you should’ve told me beforehand, so I could’ve grabbed a gun.”
“Calm down, Killer. These guys are friendly.”
I shrugged and stuck close to his side as three guys in green and black appeared.
One of them carried a black bag that I kept my eye on the entire time.
I was so focused on that damn bag that I didn’t hear the conversation and too soon, it was over and we were back on the bike, stopping at several brothels throughout Vegas and Steel City.
The women, half naked and gorgeous, flirted with Hades like crazy in every single house.
Tits and ass were on full display, but he was polite to everyone, joking with them and asking about business that week.
It was a different side of him, one I hadn’t seen before and kind of wished I’d never seen.
I didn’t need to see him treating the brothel workers like they were people instead of sex objects.
It was screwing with my head.
“Ready to go?”
I nodded without saying anything, waving to the girls who gathered at the front where they greeted potential new clients. “Where to next?”
He didn’t answer, he just slid the helmet on my head and fastened the clasp under my chin before he got on the bike and waited patiently for me.
I let my annoyance out by muttering under my breath as I slid on the bike, this time grabbing the bars beside me. Distance, that’s what I needed.
Distance.
After a quick stop at the bank, Hades still said nothing until we pulled into the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant. “We can sit outside if you want, give you more time without the walls closing in on you.”
Yep, distance was definitely necessary. “Let’s sit near the back, the windows open up to a manmade lake.”
“I guess you’ve been here before?” he asked, lips already smirking.
I shrugged. “A time or two. I love tacos and this place makes damn fine tacos.”
“Good to know.” We sat at a booth with an excellent view of the slowly setting sun as it bounced off the manmade lake. “What do you recommend?”
“You can never go wrong with steak tacos, in my opinion. But the shrimp tacos are spicy as fuck and so good.” His gaze was riveted on me, and I stumbled over my words, which made me feel like a fucking idiot. “The beer is cold and strong, another point in the win column.”
His gaze never left mine, not even when the waitress arrived and he ordered a platter of tacos with chips and salsa, and two beers.
“Add a shot of tequila too, please.”
His inky brows dipped in a frown. “You said please to her with no problem.”
“She didn’t demand it.”
He grinned, keeping up small talk until the beers arrived at the table. “How have you been sleeping?”
“Fine,” I lied easily. Smoothly, if I do say so myself.
His gaze screamed that I was full of shit and I rolled my eyes.
“Fine,” I groaned and leaned back in my seat. “I’m sleeping as well as I usually do.” I looked away because I hated that stupid fucking look of pity in his eyes. “Look, you already have to keep an eye on me. Don’t make it worse with your pity.”
He barked out a loud laugh that drew a few stares.
“I don’t pity you, Raven. I hate that this shit happened to you and I would love nothing more than to get my hands on that Kozlov motherfucker, but it ain’t pity.
” He shook his head, taking a long pull from his beer while he watched me. “You don’t need my pity.”
That made me feel better than it probably should have. “Thanks.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal.
But it was a big fucking deal to me. I refused to let that shit define me. “How are you doing with all of this? I don’t imagine this is your dream assignment, having me as your shadow for the foreseeable future.”
Damn that steely gaze could be intense as fuck when he wanted it to be. “I don’t mind at all. Do you?”
“No,” I admitted since I was trusting this man to keep me safe. “I feel safe with you, and I know even if I annoy you, you’ll keep me safe.”
“Good.” He gave one short nod. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know you’ll do your best.” I knew better than most people that there was only so much that could be done up against an enemy like Viktor Kozlov.
I wasn’t privy to the inner workings of his business, but I knew he was ruthless, held no value for human life and more often than not, he made calls based on financial reward above all else.
Silence fell over the table when our food arrived and it was mostly comfortable, except for those few moments when my gaze darted down to his mouth.
But three tacos in, Hades broke the quiet.
“I won’t just do my best, Raven. I’m not gonna let shit happen to you.
As long as you stay by my side and do what I say, you’ll make it out of this. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Funny, because I did.”
I rolled my eyes, but I tucked that promise away and held it close to my heart. My brother was the only person who ever gave a damn about me, and it felt nice to know I had more people now.
“You want more tacos?”
I frowned, shaking my head. “I’m stuffed. Thanks for getting me out of the clubhouse.”
“Anytime.” He stood and dropped a few twenties on the table. “I’ll take the long way back to the clubhouse.”
Fuck. That was the opposite of distance. “Thanks.” I could hardly think when his hand rested low on my back as we left the restaurant.
We’d barely made it five feet before two men—tall, broad, and distinctly Russian—stepped in front of us. Dressed in all black suits, they stared us down.
“Not interested,” Hades said, pulling me to his side to sidestep the men.
“It is good to see you again, Daisy. Boss won’t like the new hair.”
I flinched at his use of the name Viktor had given me and my insides turned cold, but I refused to acknowledge he’d gotten to me.
I blinked a few times before frowning. “You must have me mixed up with someone else because my name ain’t Daisy.
” When I tried to step around him, the other one stepped in front of me.
Hades yanked me back until I stood behind him. “She said you have the wrong woman. Back up asshole.”
He simply smirked. “I heard her,” he said in a thick accent. “But I am very good with faces, and I never forget a pretty face. Not ever.” His gaze lingered on me with a menacing smirk meant to terrify me.
It worked. That was the moment I knew that everything in my life was about to change.
Hades shoulder-checked them, holding me close until we were on his bike and leaving the parking lot. He kept looking in the mirror behind him, clearly as freaked out as I was.
All I could do was curse the fucking universe for ruining an otherwise good day.
They’d found me.