Page 78 of Hades

“I was a little girl, and I was at the clubhouse playing with Reaper. He was amusing me honestly, mainly keeping an eye on me, but he was being a good sport. Brothers showed up, driving like crazy. One of them got off their bike and was staggering. He had gotten hurt. I watched as they helped him inside and called for a doctor. When he got to the clubhouse, I watched him fix the brother up and knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people like that, be the one they called. My dad didn’t believe I would do it, that I could do it, but Reaper did. He believed me and told me he would make sure it happened if it was really what I wanted. Then every year before my tuition was due, he would make sure that this was the path I still wanted.”

“And it was.”

She nods. “Always. The thought of not being a doctor anymore terrifies me.”

“No matter what, you’ll always be a doctor. You’ll always have the knowledge and skills. The only thing they can take from you is your license, but nothing else,” I say adamantly.

“I hope you’re right,” she murmurs.

We both fall silent, and after a while, I realize that her breathing has evened out, that she’s fallen asleep against me.

I tip my head back, making myself more comfortable.

I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this helpless before. Logically, I know there is nothing I can do to make this better. That there was no way I could have foreseen or stopped this from happening.

Evelyn was right about one thing.

Dansworth has been several steps ahead. Only now we have evened the playing field. We have men on the inside, working hard to gather all the intelligence we need to take him down once and for all. I just hope we can make it happen before she loses everything.

If I thought I could just walk right up to him and take him out, I would. Knowing my luck, though, I wouldn’t get away with it. Sure, it would be easy to run and live under the radar, but that’s not what I want.

I don’t want to walk away from the woman in my arms.

As soon as the realization hits me, my grip on her tightens.

I’ve gone and done it. I fell in love with someone I don’t deserve. Worst of all, I don’t know if she feels the same. She must care for me, but could she love a man like me?

I look down at the woman in my arms and realize that it doesn’t even matter. Her brother has made it clear he would support whatever happens between us, and everyone else already assumes we are together.

The only one not on the same page is her, but you know what? I can convince her. I’ll show her what it means to be my old lady. Starting with taking care of her when she needs it most. Even if she tries to put up a fight, I’ll be there, waiting to swoop in and clean up the mess. Waiting to hold her together, and it will be the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

Evelyn

“You got this. Knock ’em dead,” Hades says.

“Pretty sure that’s the last thing I want right now. Someone dying is the reason I’m in this mess,” I mutter, making him wince.

“Sorry. I’ll be here waiting for you.”

He leans down and kisses my lips softly. When he pulls away, I take a deep breath and turn, heading toward the guillotine. Dressed in slacks, a white button-down, and a business jacket, I enter the hospital. I felt stupid when I got dressed this morning, but I wanted to feel strong. Confident. I just wish that feeling would have lasted. I scan my ID to get up to the administration floor. I step into the elevator, and as the floors tick by, my heart races.

I already know what’s going to happen. I know how the system works. I just never thought it would happen to me. I never thought I would be investigated, especially for something I didn’t actually do.

I wish Melanie wasn’t dead. All I wanted to do was help her.

Her scared voice whispers through my mind, and I flinch.

No, I can’t go there.

Not now.

The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open. I step out onto the floor and check in with the secretary, who leads me down the hall to the conference room. The room is already full as I step inside. Pembrooke, Betty from HR, the head of PR, Lana, and the hospital lawyer wait.

“Please, sit,” Betty says, offering me a smile.

Taking a deep breath, I sit across from them and roll my shoulders back.

Never show weakness.