I turn to face him, and his jaw tightens as he studies the damage.The split lip, the bruising cheek, the marks on my wrist.
"Did he..."He can't finish the question.
"Just what you see.He grabbed my wrist, I slapped him, he hit me back."
"You fought back."
"For the first time in my life."
Something proud and fierce flickers in his expression."Good girl."
The simple praise makes tears threaten.When was the last time someone was proud of me for standing up for myself instead of criticizing me for being difficult?
"I need to call the police," I say, but even as I say it, I know it's not that simple.Ethan has connections, resources—the kind of influence that makes problems disappear.
"No."
"Hades—"
"No police.Not yet."
"He assaulted me."
"And he'll pay for it.But not through official channels."
There's something in his voice, something dark and promising, that makes me look at him more closely.This isn't just anger at seeing me hurt.This is something deeper, more calculated.
"What aren't you telling me?"I ask.
"Nothing that matters right now.Right now, all that matters is making sure you're okay."
He reaches toward my cheek.
I flinch.Not because it’s him.
He freezes, hand hovering.
“Only if it’s okay.”
I swallow hard and nod.
Then he touches me, like he’s afraid I might break.
"This is going to swell," he says quietly."We need to get some ice on it."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not, and that's okay.You don't have to be fine right now."
The permission to not be okay, to not hold everything together, breaks something open in my chest.Tears start falling, and once they start, I can't make them stop.
"Hey," Hades says softly, pulling me into his arms."It's okay.You're safe now."
"He threatened the kids," I sob against his chest."He said he'd hurt them if I don't go back to him."
His arms tighten around me, and I can feel the tension in his body, the barely leashed violence."He's never going to hurt you again.Any of you.I promise."
"You can't promise that."
