Page 49 of Hades

“Your brother needs to pay for his crimes. He took what was mine for the last time. She should be mine. I’ve hurt that club of trash where it hurts most, and I won’t stop. Not until I get what I want,” he hisses.

When I finish the last stitch, I move away from him, until I can feel the wall at my back. “My brother didn’t take anything from you.”

I don’t bother denying that my brother is a criminal. We both know the truth. Reaper’s a good man, but he operates in shades of gray. The only law he believes in is the one of Lotus.

“Bullshit. Tell him I’ll keep coming. I’ll never stop. Not until he’s six feet in the ground.”

“Are you threatening a constituent, Mr. Mayor?” I ask, thankful my voice doesn’t waver.

“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”

“Why are you here? Why did you request me?”

He smiles darkly. “To ask you to pass the message along, of course, and to let you know, you are in my sights. You can run, Dr. Kingston, hide in a different city, but just know I’ll do everything in my power to take what matters to you most because of whose blood runs through your veins.”

Before I can even formulate a response, there’s a knock on the door, and it swings open.

“Is everything okay in here?” Preston asks.

“Of course,” I lie.

“Here are your papers, Mayor Dansworth,” he says, holding them out.

Dansworth stands and carefully buttons his sports jacket. “Thank you, young man. I’ll be sure to let everyone know that the care here is top-notch.”

When he walks by me, he pauses.

“I’m watching,” he murmurs loud enough for only me to hear.

When he leaves the room, I fall against the wall and cover my mouth to stifle the sob.

“Dr. Kingston, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lie as I fight the urge to cry.

I’m so far from fine, it’s not even funny.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Hades

The moment I’m buzzed through to the ER, I know something is wrong.

Ever since human resources told Evelyn I couldn’t hang around anymore, I’ve taken a less conspicuous approach. I don’t hang around the halls all the time. Instead, I watch the cameras and text Travis when Dr. Douche shows up.

I didn’t catch him anywhere on the premises today, though. Nor did I see anything that would cause me concern.

Still, when her eyes meet mine, I can see the fear there.

I don’t think. I act. I march up to her, taking her arm gently before I pull her into the on-call room. Thankfully, no one is in there.

As soon as we are through the door, I press her against it so no one can come in. She looks up at me, her eyes wide.

“What happened?” I cup her cheek.

She lets out a shuddered breath, her eyes falling closed as she leans into my touch.

It’s such a small act from her, but it speaks volumes. Whatever happened, it is serious.