He turned at the sound of his name, staring into a horror few men ever saw and lived. The Grim Reaper had come for justice and stared him in the eyes. Marco looked terrified.
“Release the girl.”
Marco pulled his hand away, and I crawled back to Hades, applying pressure to his wound again. He mumbled as he drifted out of consciousness.
I couldn’t lose him!
The Reaper picked up Marco by the front of his dress shirt and slammed him against the wall. “You have a tainted, dark soul.”
“I-I’m sorry. Whatever you want, name it. I’ll give it to you.”
“Bring back Isabella from the dead.”
“I can’t do that!” Marco cried.
“And I can’t spare you. You chose this with every innocent you touched and violated. See what you’ve done. Feel their pain.”
I didn’t know what the Reaper showed him, but Marco began to wail in agony, shaking violently as he was lost to memories he made, but forced to endure them as the victims. He foamed at the mouth, convulsing as I shut my eyes, no longer wanting to watch.
Sudden wind swept through the hall, and I draped my body over Hades, trying to protect him and his wound from forces so strong and violent they could tear apart the whole building.
We weren’t in danger. I knew that, but the instinct to protect the man I loved as a father won out. I shivered as I heard inhuman cries rise from the ground, screaming in torment.
When it was over, and Marco was dead, his soul no longer on earth, I released a shaky breath.
“You’re safe, Becca.”
I blinked, turning my head to see Patriot. He had been the Reaper I saw, exacting justice that was long overdue. “Thank you.”
“Hades will recover.”
I didn’t know how, but I trusted Patriot.
“Becca!”
Rev and Diesel were running toward me.
“It’s okay. You can remove your hands. I can take over.”
I slowly pulled my hands away, seeing Patriot take my place. Whatever he was doing, it made Hades stir.
“Becca, baby.”
I jumped to my feet and ran to my guys. They caught me as I flung my body into them, crying with relief. I learned more horrible truths today, but I also learned that DNA doesn’t dictate our choices or who we become. It doesn’t define us.
I would never be anything like Marco or his brother.
“It’s okay,” Rev soothed.
“We’ve got you,” Diesel promised.
“I know.” I hugged them, needing their touch and warmth. “Stay with me.”
“You’ll never be rid of us,” Rev joked, but I knew it was true.
“Move in with me—both of you. Stay in the house with Void and me. We need you there.”
Diesel kissed my forehead. “Is today too soon?”
