A Worthy Opponent (Wicked Villains 3)

She doesn’t seem fazed by my circling back to that. But then, Meg’s always seen a bit too much when it comes to me. Proof of that is her almost gentle tone when she says, “We’re your friends, Tink. You’d do the same for us.”

She’s right. The implications never even occurred to me. I give a tentative smile. “I would.”

“Took you long enough to realize it.” She laughs softly. “But back to what you need from me …”

Right. The initial reason for this call. “Hook has people coming for my stuff sometime soon, but I was hoping you could like, courier over some things today. Everything on my desk, specifically, and the green and gold bolts of silk.”

“Tink … Have you seen your desk? It might be organized, but there is a truly fearsome amount of shit on it.”

“Yes, Meg, I’ve seen my desk. Every time I sit down to work at it. Just throw everything in the extra suitcase in my closet. The sewing machine has a special case, so be careful with that. But I have a commission I really need to work on, and this asshole isn’t going to let me leave.”

Something dangerous filters into Meg’s cool voice. “Isn’t he?”

I realize what I just said and curse. “Not like that. Look, Peter’s on my ass. I thought he would have lost interest by now, but the second I left the Underworld, he was there.”

“Yes, Hercules mentioned it.” She sounds so cold, I shiver. “You should have come back to the Underworld.”

I couldn’t guarantee Hades would support me, but I can’t say that to her. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that Meg would go to bat for me, and I might be new to this whole friendship thing, but even I realize that telling her that would hurt her. “Hook will handle Peter.”

“He damn well better.” She huffs out a breath. “Okay. I’ll get your desk packed. I can have it to you by early afternoon.”

“You’re a goddess.”

“No, I’m a Fury.”

That draws a laugh from me. “Hell yes, you are.”

“Maybe I should deliver these personally.”

Alarm flares. If Hades is the distant lord of the Underworld, Meg is the one who is neck deep in everyone’s day-to-day bullshit. She manages all the employees, the books, and is usually the person who issues the initial threats and punishments when patrons get out of line. Some of those responsibilities have shifted to Hercules since he arrived and made their couple a throuple, but Hercules is a human-shaped teddy bear. Meg’s the muscle, even if she’s built like a goddamn bird. If she comes here, I can’t guarantee Hook won’t say something to piss her off, and then it’s a city-wide incident.

I work to keep anything worrisome out of my tone. “No need for you to take time out of what’s no doubt a busy day. You’re looking for my replacement, right?”

“Yes,” she says slowly. “You’re one hell of an act to follow. Everyone is too nice, too timid, or just too not you.”

Warmth fills my chest, even as sympathy rises. No matter what else is true, I found myself in the Underworld and Meg’s one of the people who helped me get there. “You’ll figure it out.”

“Without a doubt.” A deep male voice in the background and, when Meg speaks again, her voice has gone husky. “I’ve got to go. Your stuff will arrive this afternoon, and don’t think for a second that I’ll let you get out of getting that drink. Even if I have to come to you myself.”

“Deal.” I manage a smile. “And thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, Tink. If I was more on top of things, you wouldn’t be married to Hook. He’s not a bad guy as such things go, but he’s exactly what you’ve tried to avoid for years.”

There’s no denying that, so I don’t bother. Five years of running and I’m right back where I started—the main squeeze to the man who rules this particular slice of Carver City. The ruler of a territory. “Talk to you soon.” I hang up before she can say anything else. I recognize the voice in the background. Hercules. Meg’s probably off to bang her sexy younger man—seriously, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, and Hades can’t keep his hands off either of them. They’re like a trio of teenagers, fucking all over the place.

And I’m over here, not fucking anyone.

I walk to the kitchen and set my phone on the counter.

As much as I’d like to pretend I have options, I don’t. I tied my star to Hook’s, and that means falling in line, no matter how strong the instinct to dig in my heels and fight with everything I have. I agreed to this. He didn’t force me. Fighting me means he’s fighting on two fronts.