I stretched out for him, but kept my eyes closed as I let him memorize every inch and dip, hollow and curve that made up my body.

  He murmured how good I made him feel, how addictive I tasted, and how sweet I smelled.

  He made me come twice. Then he wrapped his hand around my throat, tilted my head so he could give me a deep, thorough kiss, and murmured against my lips to be a good girl for him today.

  Hades covered me back up, got dressed in his three-piece suit, and left for work.

  I lay there for an hour, unable to go back to sleep, my body still humming with what he’d done to me.

  That had been hours ago. Since then I’d eaten breakfast, showered, and dressed for the day, and spent Sunday familiarizing myself with the house even more.

  There were so many nooks and crannies, halls and rooms I’d never ventured to. I hadn’t realized just how big the house was from the outside.

  So I used today to just get acquainted with everything.

  I was in such a strange place right now. The situation with Hades wasn’t something I’d ever expected, but even still, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to see how far we’d go.

  I weaved down one hall until I entered the kitchen. I found myself in the staff quarters. I could smell fresh baking bread, the sound of the clanking of utensils on dinnerware loud.

  A few of the staff were talking, their voices animated. I didn’t want to eavesdrop or invade their privacy, but the surrounding atmosphere was pleasant.

  It was almost familiar. It was very clear they cared for each other by the way they poked fun at each other, by the genuine laughter that came from each of them.

  I supposed they had to have formed some kind of family unit living with a man like Hades, who didn’t show emotion. I was pretty sure if he had a gun to his head and his life was on the line, Hades still wouldn’t break.

  I’d never had that with my parents, not really. Certainly not with the few staff that had worked in our home throughout the years.

  I hadn’t been lying to Hades when I said I loved my father and he loved me. That was all true. When he was home, he doted on me, gave me affection.

  The fact of the matter was, he hadn’t been home that much. He’d always been traveling for work. We never sat down as a family and played board games or had Sunday dinner together.

  So this wasn’t that much of a change in my life. I was used to being alone. The only real family time I had was when I’d been forced to go to their parties, to be around people I didn’t know, but wouldn’t have liked even if I had.

  I moved away from the kitchen and kept on with my exploration. Although I’d said a few friendly words here and there, the staff was still a little standoffish with me. And I wondered if it had everything to do with them not wanting to associate with me because of him.

  He could rub people the wrong way with just a look.

  I spent some time walking the gardens outside before I found myself back in the house. I came to a part of the estate I hadn’t been to. I checked in a few of the rooms, the inside feeling cold and almost dead, as if no one had lived in this part for a long time.

  Everything was sealed up, with the furniture and light fixtures draped with white cloth to keep the dust off.

  There was a room at the end of the hall, a heavy wooden door with ornate engravings around the trim. The handle was thick and large, a shiny brass object that was a little intimidating for the entrance to a room.

  I stopped in front of the door and reached for the handle, about to open it, when I felt a hand land on my shoulder, the motion causing me to startle and spin around.

  One of the staff glowered down at me, her forehead becoming extra wrinkly. Her expression made me feel like a petulant child who had been caught breaking the rules.

  “You’re not supposed to be in this part of the house.”

  I couldn’t remember her name, but she was one of Hades’ employees who barely even looked at me. She pulled me away from the door, her scowl deepening.

  “Mr. Cronus surely told you to stay out of this part of the estate.”

  He hadn’t, but I didn’t bother telling her that.

  As we retreated, I looked over my shoulder, wondering what secrets Hades had in that room.

  A secret lair? A room full of bondage and dominance equipment?

  Maybe that was where he kept his enemies so he could torture them?

  All I knew? I wasn’t allowed to go in there, that made me want to do it even more.

  Chapter 21

  Hades

  I could still taste her on my tongue, could hear her cry out as she came with my cock buried deep in her pussy.

  My shaft throbbed, and I groaned, shifting in my chair, adjusting my length so the fucker wasn’t digging against the fly.

  I was starved throughout the day until I could look at her, touch her, and hear her beg me for more. Obsession, addiction, had never been an ailment I suffered from. But I realized Persephone was my drug of choice.

  I got in late Sunday night, found her sleeping in my bed like the good girl she was, and gave her an orgasm before I let her go back to sleep. She didn’t complain, didn’t push me away. She was just as hungry for me as I was for her.

  And I was falling deeper into her web. Lines had been good and crossed. But I’d always been one to break rules, and fuck, did it feel good.

  I heard the deep rumble of Judge Wilcox shouting just beyond my office doors.

  “Do you know who I am?” he roared out.

  My secretary murmured something inaudible.

  “I don’t give a shit if I need an appointment to see his arrogant ass. I’m talking to the bastard now.”

  I leaned back in my chair, giving it three… two… one.

  The double doors burst open, and I grinned at the judge, who stormed inside. His face was ruddy, his anger tangible.

  “You bastard,” he cursed, spit flying out of his mouth.

  He didn’t bother shutting the door and Lisa, my secretary, came bustling in, looking flustered. She was frantic as she looked between me and the judge.

  I waved her off, letting her know without words that I didn’t need the police called. I could handle this fucker myself.

  “Please, Lisa, shut the door for me.” My voice was even and clear, my focus on Martin.

  He was huffing and puffing, his nostrils flaring, his face growing redder by the second. He was getting pissed, and I held my hands out.

  “What can I do for you, Martin?” It took him a moment before he answered. I could see him trying to gather his composure, telling himself that he knew who I was, what I was capable of. He needed to tread lightly. Carefully.

  But he was an arrogant fool. He thought he was above rules, the law. He thought he was above my wrath.

  “You severely injured my son. He had to go to the ER for a broken nose. They couldn’t believe his jaw hadn’t been fractured.”

  I tsked. “I’ll have to perfect my aim next time.”

  Martin’s face got redder. “His left hand was crushed, and you broke two of his fingers on his right. He won’t be able to play ball. And they don’t know if he has permanent nerve damage.”

  I kept my expression blank. Because if I didn’t, I’d let all that rage for that little piece of shit wash through me all over again. I’d find myself back at that party, seeing him accost Persephone.

  And then that would have me hunting the bastard down and finishing what I started.

  “Your son made a mistake.” I leaned forward in my chair, bracing my forearms on the table. “A really big fucking mistake I corrected.” I didn’t hide the venom in my voice. I let Martin feel it surround me.

  And at least the bastard had the sense to take a step back.

  “You crossed the line, Cronus. You think you’re untouchable, but you can be hurt. I’ll make sure of that before you take your last breath.”

  I smirked. He knew he couldn’t do shit to me. And the law? The law worked for me, not the other way around. Of course, I didn’t say any of that. I didn’t need to. He knew. He was just trying to exert his dominance when he knew damn well I’d have his ass submitting so fast he wouldn’t know what hit him.

  Martin knew fully that when push came to shove, I had a hell of a lot more power than he did.

  “Your son is a motherfucker. He needed to be taught some manners. And so I did that.” I pointed my finger at the bastard, unable to hold back my anger. “He put his hands on Persephone. I won’t fucking stand for that. I don’t give a shit who you are, who he’s connected to. You touch what’s mine and I will break you.”

  He took a step forward, the ballsy asshole. I lifted an eyebrow, impressed that he was letting his anger control common sense and his survival instincts. I had a gun in a holster strapped to my side. I didn’t need it.

  No, I much preferred to do the damage with my bare hands. Maybe a knife if I was feeling creative.

  I slowly stood, bracing my hands on the table and leaning forward.

  “You have something else to say?” I crooked my finger, urging him forward. “Come closer, Martin. Tell me so I can hear you better.” I had too much against him, so much incriminating evidence to put him away for life.

  But he wouldn’t last in prison. He put too many of those men in there. They’d be salivating to settle the score.

  “Let’s make one thing clear. You need me more than I need you. You’re expendable.” I walked around the desk and saw him swallow.

  I slipped my hands into the pockets of my slacks and watched him. I liked seeing Martin become uneasy, not expecting what my next move would be.

  “If Trevor puts his hands on Persephone again, if he even looks at her...Hell, Martin, if I find out he thought about her, I don’t care who he is, or where he’s at. I will hunt him down and I will destroy him.”

  I leaned in close and saw his fear and anger mix.

  “Think you forgot who you’re talking to—”

  “I know who exactly I’m talking to. A corrupt asshole and a sexual offender. I’m talking to the man who will go away for hard time with the evidence I have on him. Just think, if all that got out in the public, Martin? You rubbing elbows with the city’s underworld. You buying votes, blackmailing, and taking bribes?”

  He breathed harshly through his nose, like a pissed-off bull wanting to charge.

  “But that won’t be all I’ll do to your sweet son. I’ll crack his kneecaps, make sure he has to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. When I get done with him, the piece of shit won’t be able to walk and will have to eat out of a straw.”

  I took a step back and smiled slowly.

  “You’ll regret this.”

  I chuckled and shook my head. “Get the fuck out of my office.”

  He stared at me, and I knew he had a lot more to say. But he kept his fucking mouth shut.

  After a second, he smoothed his hands down his suit jacket, exhaled slowly, and turned around to leave. Martin was too much of a pussy. He was all talk, no game.

  But if he tried something against me…

  I rolled my head around my neck, cracking it, and felt that dark tendril of rage fill me.

  I looked forward to showing him exactly the monster I really was.

  Chapter 22

  Persephone

  As soon as I stepped out of the car, I knew something was different about today. Bruno had taken me to school because Hades had to be in the office early.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and glared at me. I could hear Hades’ car idling at the curb, and I wanted to shoo Bruno away because it made me feel even more noticed, like I needed a bodyguard.

  But then another part of me wanted to jump in the car for the protection it wielded, a shield against prying eyes and inaudible whispers.

  Because I knew what all this had to do with.

  Trevor getting his sexual-assaulting ass handed to him by Hades.

  And I hadn’t much cared for the fact I’d felt this pang in my chest that his side of the bed had been cold, meaning Hades had left probably before the sun had even risen.

  I took a shuddering breath and wondered how Hades would handle this? Definitely with his head held high and his middle finger in front for all to see. But truthfully, no one would have given him this kind of reception. They were too afraid of him, and rightfully so.

  When I’d tried sleeping in my bed the night after he’d taken my virginity, he’d made some inhuman sound and said I was to sleep beside him from now on.

  And so that was what I’d done. And I enjoyed it. I loved how he wrapped an enormous arm around my middle and hauled me close to him, how he buried his nose in my hair and inhaled deeply, as if scenting me.

  Not the time for those thoughts.

  I garnered my resolve and pulled my shoulders back. Taking that first step was uncomfortable, especially when I noticed many of the girls all but snarling at me.

  Maybe if they knew he was trying to actually assault me, they wouldn’t be looking at me like I was the person who brought down the fall of one of their beloved. But I shook my head as my thoughts told me these people were like a pack of wolves. I was an outsider they saw as an enemy.

  And I brought down one of their members. Today was gonna suck.

  And by the end of the day, those four words had never been truer.

  With the shoulder checks in the hallway from the girls, the nasty words being thrown at me in all directions from the guys, and every single person drilling holes in the back of my head, I was mentally and emotionally drained.

  I skipped last period, not caring if they notified Hades, and certainly not giving a shit if he got pissed.

  I went to the bathroom and locked myself in the stall without using it. I just needed a minute to gather myself and wait until the hallways cleared out as everyone went to class.

  Then I’d leave. I’d walk back to the estate, because truth be told, I just wanted to be alone.

  I heard someone enter and then the sound of giggling proceeded.

  “She’s the one who put Trevor in the hospital, the skanky bitch.”

  “I thought it was the big dude who showed up and kicked Trevor’s ass?”

  “Shut up, Beth. Trevor didn’t get his ass kicked. He was drunk, so he wasn’t at peak performance. If he’d been sober, he could have taken the dude.”

  Hard no.

  “Of course it was that asshole. He put Trevor in the hospital. But clearly he did it for her.”

  I didn’t recognize the voices, but I peeked through the crack of the hinges on the stall door.

  I could make out the trio of girls, all of them with blond hair that ranged in shade.

  They primped and prepped, re-glossing their lips and touching up their eyeshadow.

  “Like who even is she?” the one in the center said. “Some bitch who shows up at a brand-new school her senior year? I’m sure she had a lot of skeletons in her closet. She was probably a whore at her last school.”

  The one speaking gasped like she’d just come up with the most perfect conclusion.

  She looked at the other girls. “I bet she got knocked up. Popped out the kid and had to transfer to a new school.”

  There was a round of laughter, a couple more insults thrown my way, and then two of the girls left. I could still see one standing by the sink. I realized she had said little the entire time her friends had been talking shit about me.

  She exhaled and turned to leave, but she froze, her gaze trained on the ground. I realized she could see my shoes between the space underneath the stalls.

  “You can come out. They’re gone.”

  Her voice was soft and coaxing. Almost nice. I couldn’t hide in here forever. I stepped out, and we stared at each other. She stayed by the sink, looking more curious than anything else. But there was a strange cast in her eyes. She averted her gaze and cleared her throat.

  “I just want to let you know—”

  “If you’re going to call me something colorful, save your breath. I’ve gotten enough thrown at me today. I really don’t have the energy to entertain you.”

  She shook her head, her dirty blond hair sleek and shining as it coasted over her shoulders. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry that he did that to you.”

  I felt my eyes widen. “Excuse me?” My voice was threadbare. Of course, I knew what she was talking about, but as far as I knew, nobody had seen Trevor attacking me. Sure, the rumors on how he’d gotten his ass kicked had run rampant, all painting me in an awful light and making him out to be the victim.

  She took another deep breath and looked down at the ground, tracing the edge of a tile with her Mary Jane. “I heard what that big man kept saying to Trevor. He was shouting loud enough the entire house could hear. They act like they didn’t know what Trevor was doing to you, but they do. They all know because this isn’t the first time he’s done that to a girl.”

  She looked up at me then, that sadness something I instantly was familiar with. She empathized with me. Because she’d gone through the same thing.

  She lifted her hand to her throat, and I could see her fingers shaking. “He did the same thing to me last year. We were at a party. We all had too much to drink. The only difference is…” She turned away from me and gripped the edge of the sink, staring at her reflection. “I didn’t have somebody to protect me.”

  “I’m sorry, not only because Trevor tried to take from you what you weren’t offering, but because everyone thinks you’re to blame.” My voice was soft, my tone laced with all the empathy I had for her.

  My heart was racing, and I took a step toward her, but she faced me and shook her head, putting on a fake smile that I knew she probably perfected to hide how she really felt. The truth was in her eyes.

  “Nobody knew what he’d done to me. I told no one because he said nobody would believe me. And he was right. Not only is his father a judge, and a corrupt one at that, but Trevor is adored in the school. It doesn’t matter that what he did to me was wrong. Doesn’t matter that he took things from me I didn’t consent to. I could’ve shouted it from the rooftops, and it wouldn’t have mattered. Because it was my word against him and his family.”