“Yes…if you’ll have me.”
He was quiet for a while, suspicion creeping in. “Just you? He put you up to this?”
“Yes. You and me.” She turned her gaze back to me, reading my expression as she kept the conversation going. “And yes, he put me up to this, but that shouldn’t matter.”
“I never say no to a beautiful woman, especially if scotch is involved. Maybe I can talk you into leaving him for me. Wouldn’t be my first time.”
“Never gonna happen, but give it your best shot.”
“A devoted woman…that’s hot.” It sounded like he was walking as he spoke, the wind raspy over the phone. “How about we meet at a bar tonight? Eight o’clock. And don’t bring that bitch with you.”
“Fine.”
I reached out my hand to take the phone.
Sofia handed it over.
I put the phone to my ear and made my usual threats. “Try anything and I’ll kill you, Ash.”
He gave a slight chuckle. “Don’t trust me? Ironic. You’re the one who murders people. I’m the one who shouldn’t trust you.”
“I mean it, Ash. This is my wife we’re talking about.”
“I’ll have a drink with her and walk her back to the hotel like a gentleman. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Yes. And you better mean that.”
“I do. I actually respect her…unlike you.”
17
Sofia
Hades walked me to the bar, his arm around my waist as he kept me close. He stopped in front of the entryway but didn’t walk inside. His chin tilted down to look at me, his brown eyes shifting back and forth as he stared into mine. A soft shadow had emerged along his jawline, a byproduct of not shaving for days. That rugged look was sexy on him. Not all men could pull it off. It would often be a bunch of uneven patches, not manly whatsoever, just lazy. There was unease in his eyes, like he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving me alone.
“I’ll be fine.”
He stared at me in silence.
“I don’t know Ash as well as you, but I think he’s harmless.”
“I do too. That doesn’t make this easier for me.”
My hands reached to his face and cupped his cheeks. Our foreheads came together, and I held him that way outside the bar. People passed us on the sidewalk, oblivious to our intimate connection.
He pressed his lips to my forehead then pulled away. “I’ll wait here until you’re done.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I prefer it.” His arms tightened around my waist, and he pulled me close, pressing a delicate kiss to my lips. It was an innocent embrace, just a simple touch, but it conveyed more affection than I’d ever felt from anyone else. He forced himself to release me and stepped back to lean against the wall. His hands slid into his pockets, and he looked the other way so he didn’t have to watch me walk inside.
I entered the bar and immediately noticed Ash sitting in a stool near the bartenders, wearing dark jeans and a black t-shirt. He was the youngest and most handsome guy in the place. The room was crowded, but the stools on either side of him were vacant. Somehow people understood that it was smart to stay away from him. There were already two glasses of scotch waiting, one for him and for me.
As I walked toward him, he lifted his chin to look at me, one hand resting on the top of his glass. He was rigid with a perfectly straight back. He regarded me with a confidence that rivaled his brother’s. After he gave a slight smile, he patted the counter beside him, silently ordering me to take a seat. His gaze wasn’t friendly, but it wasn’t hostile either.
I rose on my tiptoes to take the seat next to him. As if I had something to prove, I grabbed the glass and took a drink. It was hot against my tongue and throat, and it burned all the way down. I definitely preferred wine to this gasoline, but I could drink like a man for the night.
He gave me a look of approval as he held his glass to his lips. “Sexy.” Then he took another drink. “I’m surprised my brother actually let you come here. I guess he doesn’t think I’m a monster after all.”
“You should take that as a compliment. But you should also know he’s standing outside.” I felt safer knowing that Hades was just feet away, that he could get to me with just a moment’s notice. I didn’t think Ash would hurt me or capture me, but I’d be lying if I said I felt perfectly safe with him.
“Saw him. Saw that pussy forehead kiss too.”
“You throw pussy around like it’s a weak word, but I think it’s the strongest word in our vocabulary.”
“It’s definitely the most beautiful.”
“Pussies give birth to babies. The most you can do is piss.”