When he finally hit the exit, Acheron directed him to the right building.Hades parked and looked at his lieutenant.
“If you get a chance to get Cora out, do it.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The building where Steven entered was above a shop that sold Chinese items like jade pendants and good-luck kitties with moving arms.Next to the place was a door that hid a set of stairs.Hades and Acheron kept to the shadows and quietly crept up, guns drawn.When they got to the top, there was only one door.They each screwed a suppressor on the end of their weapons and stood on either side of the door.Hades counted down and then he kicked the door open, immediately retreating back to the outside for cover.Two shots rang out and Hades heard a cry as he ducked low to enter the room, firing back in quick succession.
Cora had both wrists zip-tied together.Acheron joined him, and fired over the woman’s head.When she fell back Acheron moved quickly and punched her in the face.When she fell unconscious, he grabbed the nine mil in her hand.
Steven fired again and again, until the idiot ran out of bullets.Hades stood, his own gun leveled on the man.He didn’t spare a glance at Cora because he needed to make sure the asshole didn’t pull out a hidden weapon.
“Acheron, get Cora out of here.”
A knife blade clicked open and sliced through her restraint.As Acheron led her out of the room, he handed Ranelle’s gun to him.Hades felt Cora’s searching gaze, but he didn’t take his focus off Steven.
“Hey, man, this is all a misunderstanding.”
“Tell that to the three women you killed.”
Steven stared at him and then broke into a smile.“What can I say?After the first one, I got a taste for killing bitches.”
Hades made his way over to Steven’s accomplice, the woman named Ranelle.
“You should’ve never touched what belongs to me,” he said.
He used the woman’s gun and fired it.The bullet landed in Steven’s sternum.He fell back, staring up at the ceiling in shock.Blood gurgled up from his mouth and spilled down his chin.Hades wiped off his prints and placed the weapon back into the woman’s hand.Then he picked up Steven’s gun, loaded a bullet and shot her in the head.He repeated the process of wiping his prints and then pressed the empty gun back in Steven’s hand.The last thing he did was pick up his and Acheron’s casings.
Steven was still alive, but fading fast.
“You know, you’re definitelynota nice guy.”
The life in Steven Harold’s eyes faded.Hades turned and left the room, closing the door on a would-be serial killer.No one would ever remember his name.
Acheron held open the back door to the sedan.
“Call Detective O’Connell, make sure he knows what evidence to find.”
His lieutenant nodded his understanding.
Hades slid into the back seat, and immediately pulled Cora into his arms.A sob escaped her and he held her as she cried through the storm.
“I didn’t mean a damn thing I said,” he murmured into her hair.“I threw a fucking tantrum, and I’m sorry.That is what happens when a narcissist doesn’t get his way, and I hurt you.When in fact, I think I might be falling in love you.”
Cora pulled back to study his face, eyes wide.
“That very first night, you snuck into my heart and became everything I never knew I needed.You’re my light.You made me think of something other than myself, and you are the one thing I can’t live without.I will never do that to you again.If you’ve lost feelings for me, I understand, and I will accept—”
She placed a finger over his lips.“I love you, too, but I’m going to need a lot more groveling.”
He searched fer face, and then a smile stretched under her finger.She removed it and kissed him.Hades closed his eyes, thankful she was giving him a second chance.
When she pulled back, he leaned his forehead against hers.
“I don’t know how you can love someone as unlovable as me, but I will grovel every day for the rest of our lives,” he promised.
“Please don’t hurt me again.”
“Never, my love.That man was a damn fool.”
