“Something good, I hope.”
He didn’t give me the answer I wanted to hear. “I don’t think you should return to the hotel for a couple of weeks.”
“Weeks?” I asked incredulously. “I’ve already taken so much time off.”
“I know. But it’s not the best time.”
“Why? You go to work every day.”
“That’s totally different. And even if it weren’t, I wish I could stay home with you all day. It’s just temporary. I have to make sure the dust has settled.”
“What dust?” I didn’t know what he was referring to. I didn’t know what he was afraid of. There seemed to be a world weighing on his shoulders, a world I couldn’t see. “What’s going on?”
His hand slid from my neck, slipped from my hair until he secured it around my waist. He brought our faces close together, so close it seemed like he might kiss me again. “Damien’s a dumb fuck. That’s what’s going on.”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”
He sighed before he gave me the full explanation. “Damien and I had a misunderstanding. He decided to continue the drug business in my absence. I believe that it’s not a good idea, that we need to let it go. Unfortunately, he put more drugs on the street and resumed production. I’ve been doing damage control all week. It’s been quiet out there, so I think everything will be fine. But you know me, I’m a cautious man. I think it’s best that you stay home.”
“If things have been quiet, then why can’t I go back to work?”
“Too risky.”
“Couldn’t you just send some men with me?” I knew he was trying to protect me, but being cooped up in this house all day was not the way I wanted to spend my time.
“A couple men wouldn’t be enough. The safest place for you is here.”
“Hades, you know I’m not the type of woman to sit on my ass all day.”
“But you are now. It’s not forever.”
“What about—”
“I said no.” He dropped his embrace, turning cold. “I know you don’t like being told what to do, but I’m supposed to take care of you. It’s how it’s supposed to be. Just do as I say.”
My attitude wanted to rise in force and demolish the area around us. I prized my independence more than anything else, and because of him, I no longer had it. Like bile was in my mouth, my tongue was coated in distaste. I wanted to spit it out and scream. But I knew this relationship was about compromise. Fighting would only make things worse, not better. And it always ended the same way—with me on my back and him on top of me.
He studied my face as if he were waiting for the explosion to happen.
I pressed my lips tightly together, venting my frustration the only way I knew. I finally released everything as a painful sigh.
When he was satisfied with my reaction, he relaxed his shoulders. “Thank you.”
I cocked an eyebrow at the statement.
“Thank you for listening to me.”
“It’s not easy…”
“I know.” He stepped closer to me again, his hands cupping my cheeks and lifting my gaze to meet his. “And that’s why it means so much.”
The week passed with painful slowness.
I did as much work as I could at home, but it wasn’t the same as being at the hotel. I couldn’t hold meetings with the board. I couldn’t check the routine of the hotel, and I couldn’t pick up on the details only my eyes could observe. I had to hope that the managers of the hotel were doing their job.
And I had to hope that people didn’t think I was lazy.
A text message came through on my phone. It was from Hades.
I’m picking you up for lunch. The car will be there in fifteen minutes.
I knew Hades was busy taking care of the bank and the hotel, so he was making time just to get me out of the house. He knew I was bored, cooped up and alone. Technically, my mother was there, but I’d rather be alone than hang out with her all the time. He did sweet things like that once in a while…when I least expected it.
I texted him back. I’ll meet you outside. See you then.
I changed my outfit, put some earrings into my lobes, and then slipped on a pair of pumps. I made my way down three flights of stairs until I stepped out of the entryway. A black car sat there, all the windows tinted pitch black. When Hades had a driver, this was how he got around town, invisible with bulletproof windows.
I walked to the back door, opened it, and got inside. When I turned to look at my husband and embrace him with a kiss, I realized it wasn’t my husband at all.
An audible lock erupted in the car, making all the doors impossible to open. The driver immediately started to drive away. A center divider was between us. That way, I couldn’t grab him. I looked at the passenger beside me again, recognizing his face, his blue eyes, and the pure look of evil on his mouth.