Page 26 of Hades’ Revenge

I stood from the stool as Atticus and the guards brought this man who looked to be in his early twenties and appeared more nervous than professional. I towered over his slim frame.

“There’s obviously been a misunderstanding,” the man said. “Do you make it a habit of assaulting your customers?”

“No one has assaulted you.” I moved closer to him. “Yet.”

“What do you want?” He swallowed hard enough for his Adam’s apple to bulge. “I was just having a drink.”

“We need to see your phone,” Atticus said.

“Why?” He glanced at Capri who sat on the edge of her seat, taking in the exchange like a mesmerized spectator.

“Don’t look at her again,” I said. “It has come to my attention that you took a picture of me and my companion, and I want you to delete it.”

“Why would I take a picture of you?” He shook his head. “You’re mistaken.”

“I saw you do it,” Capri said.

“Don’t answer her.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “We’re having this conversation. Just the two of us. But if my girl said you have a photo of us on your phone, I believe her.”

“I don’t,” he insisted.

“Are you saying she’s wrong?” I sighed. “Atticus, we have a problem.”

“We can take him in the back,” Atticus said. “We’ll get the information you need. I’ll delete the picture and get it off the Cloud.”

“You can’t do that.” The man tried to back away, but I grabbed his upper arm.

“I can do whatever I want. Do you know why?”

He didn’t answer.

“Because this is my club.”

“You’re Hades?” he asked. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I just…”

“You just what?”

“I’m an influencer,” he said.

“What kind of influencer doesn’t know who he is?” Capri asked. “That sounds a little sus.”

I glared at her, but it didn’t seem to faze her.

“I scored an invitation to the VIP lounge,” he continued. “That opportunity won’t come along often. I need content, and when they said I couldn’t take pictures tonight, I figured there was an important reason why.”

“I told you he took a picture of us.” Capri bit the corner of her bottom lip when I scowled at her, but she continued speaking as if she couldn’t help herself. “You need to work on being a little more discreet,” she said to our intruder. “But you really shouldn’t be taking pictures of women without asking them. It’s icky.”

“You’re going to go with my men,” I said. “You’ll give them the phone, they’ll delete all the pictures from tonight, and then you’ll access your backup and delete anything from there.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” He took out his phone. “I can delete the picture of the two of you, but I want to keep the rest.”

“What part of any of this did you think was a negotiation?” This conversation had already gone on way too long. “You’ll do as I say or I’ll accompany you to the back and shoot you in the chest so I don’t damage that pretty face of yours. I’ll need it to access your phone when you’re no longer breathing.”

“What?” He gasped. “You can’t threaten me like that over a picture that I said I would delete.”

“That wasn’t a threat.” I extended my hand for Capri and helped her off the stool. “Consider yourself lucky that I’m still offering you option number one, because some would say I’m a pretty good shot, so when I aim for your heart, I won’t miss.”

The color had drained from his face as he glanced between me and Atticus.