Heart Recaptured (Hades Hangmen 2)

I sat, mouth agape, as he added, “Yeah, speechless, Li? ‘Cause you’re hearing right now how fuckin’ flawed you and your goddamn faith sound.”

“My faith is not flawed!” I defended. I couldn’t help but ponder that some of Ky’s comments might have substance.

I sighed, shifted in my seat, and said, “But…”

“But?” Ky questioned, a smile threatening to burst onto his lips.

“But you are correct. I should not judge others so freely. I had never thought of my viewing the club as wrong in that way,” I admitted. This time, I was awarded a full, devastatingly handsome Ky smile, and it was devastatingly handsome.

That tingling returned between my legs and I prayed it would pass before Ky noticed something was wrong with me… because there was something wrong me… I was being corrupted… by Ky. The sensations he brought out in me were almost too much to bear.

When I calmed down, I mulled over Ky’s words, then said, “Forgiveness and judgment aside, you should really strive not to sin for the sake of your salvation, Ky.”

“Salvation? You think I can be saved, sweet cheeks? You care about me being saved?” He sounded bemused.

“I believe everyone can be saved.” I could feel Ky watching me. “For example, those women that you share relations with…” I trailed off, and I heard Ky cough to hide his laughter. “You should not be so free to engage with them. Restrain or save yourself for a woman you want to marry under God’s law. That is a pure love, Ky. Scripture says a love like that is like no other. This woman will help save you or at least to give you a safe place to come home to.”

Ky’s expression was unreadable as he stared at me. Hope bloomed that he had listened to what I had said. That he could change his sinful ways.

“Well, Jesus fucked a hooker slut, didn’t he? And that shit seemed to work out for him, didn’t it? I mean, hell, bitch, I got the long hair and beard and women worship at my feet. Maybe I’m the fuckin’ second coming?”

And with that, I regretted everything I had just said.

Defeated, I sat back and whispered, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

“Oh great, more Bible shit. Just what my fuckin’ pounding hangover needs!”

Feeling annoyed and gaping at his disregard of the Lord’s written word, I muttered, “John 4:8. It is worthy of your respect.”

“Got it,” Ky said in amusement. “Gonna write down that worthy shit, frame it, and hang it on my wall.”

Turning away from his taunting smirk, I cast my gaze out the window and abruptly noticed that other vehicles were on the road and we had left the secluded lane that housed the compound. The occasional house came into view amongst fields of green, and after a few more minutes, people were milling about, the outside world springing into life.

I was fascinated by it all: the colors, the wide range of different people, their different clothes, the different vehicles on the road. At first it unnerved me, but I felt safe within the truck, and much to my chagrin, I felt safe with Ky. I knew he was my protector. I had witnessed it the night that he stormed the compound and demanded to Styx that Maddie and I be taken with Mae. And even out in this unfamiliar world, and with as little time spent with him as I had had, I instinctively knew he would protect me from danger.

The vehicle began to turn right, and we pulled into a small area with a few other stationary vehicles, a small wooden house with the words Maude’s Breakfast Hut on the top. We came to a stop just outside.

Some people passing by looked into the car, heads bent together, whispering to one another.

I turned to Ky and admitted, “I am afraid to go out there. These people, they are so different from me.” I ran my hands down the front of my gray dress and over my white headdress. I felt sick with nerves. “I do not look the same as them. Everyone will stare at me, and I loathe to be looked at. I cannot stand it.”

Ky edged closer on the long seat and said, “Li, ain’t no one gonna say shit to you. You’re with me. ‘Round these parts, no fucker says a thing to us outta turn unless they wanna feel a fuckload of pain.”

Reading his expression, I saw nothing but sincerity. Still, I was reluctant to move. “Can I request that we return to the compound? I do not feel any comfort in being outside.”

Ky shook his head and clasped my hand in his, causing me gasp. “No more requests. Time to take hold of those balls.”

Ky reached over me and opened the door. “Let’s go.” Freeing my hand, he ushered me out of the truck and followed behind, shuffling along the seat, making sure I did as he said.

Once out of the vehicle, strange sounds made me jump, and I found myself backing up until I hit something hard. Spinning around, I realized I had backed into Ky. His face was one of amusement again, but without a word, he wrapped his hand around mine and began marching into Maude’s Hut.

Keeping two steps behind Ky, as was required when walking with a man, I kept my eyes to the ground and tried to block out the strange noises assaulting my ears.

A bell sounded as Ky opened the door and the noise of people talking suddenly stopped. I could feel their stares on Ky and me. Ky did not appear affected by this. In fact, it seemed normal to him.

He was beautiful; maybe it was his good looks that had people so mesmerized?

Clicking footsteps sounded on the wooden floor, and a woman said, “Mornin’, Kyler, usual table?”