7th Circle (Hades, #1)

by Tate James

I was a successful, twenty-three-year-old businesswoman and the head of a crime syndicate. I was a cold-blooded

killer and a merciless bitch to anyone who crossed me. To everyone who'd met me or heard of me in the years since my family's near massacre, I was all of those things rolled into one intimidating, fear-inducing name. Hades. The leader of the Tri-State Timberwolves.

"I never picked you for a sub, Hades. You legitimately ooze big dick energy worse than any gangster I've met. I can't imagine you giving up control in any situation."

Typical Zed, he never missed an opportunity to play white knight. Some things never changed, and I would never want them to.

Hayden Darling Timber was my birth name, and for all my legal businesses I was Daria Wolff, CEO of Copper Wolf Enterprises.

Her newest best friend had briefly used it, but only because my asshole sister had introduced me as Dare, rather than Hades. No one had filled the poor girl in until she’d known me a good four months, too.

Mentally, I wrote a quick eulogy for my panties because they'd officially drowned.

"I'm not asking for forever, Hayden. Just a chance. You carry so much weight on your shoulders... Let me be an outlet for all that stress, beautiful. I could be your lighthouse if you let me."

He gave a small nod, the lines of his face still tight and his fingers clenched in a fist. "I love you, Dare. More than anyone. Ever."

"Yes, you did. I was just too late."

The path back into my good graces was going to be paved with broken glass and jagged rocks.