7th Circle (Hades, #1)

by Tate James

To my first boyfriend, Nick. Thanks for letting me borrow some of our history in this story. You were a deadbeat, but goddamn your dick was huge.

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

Hayden Darling Timber was my birth name, and for all my legal businesses I was Daria Wolff, CEO of Copper Wolf Enterprises. But only a handful of people had ever been close enough to use a playful nickname like Dare. Seph was one, and she still insisted on using it. 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.

Aim for the stars and land on the moon, my mother used to say.

My gun was still against his side, my finger still on the trigger, but that seemed so very appropriate as we kissed like we were at war.

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

"Go work on your damage with a professional, Cass," I told him in a cool voice. "I've got enough shit to deal with."

Internal groan. Where did he learn those smooth moves? He was like a fictional character, for fuck’s sake.

"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."

"You feel incredible," he whispered in a husky voice before swiping his tongue over his lower lip and moaning. "And taste incredible. I'm so fucking addicted to you, Hayden."

A lighthouse in the wild storm that was my life.

I'm not asking to be your one and only, Hayden; I just want you... in whatever way you're willing to give."

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."

Maybe stop being a colossal cunt-plug in the first place, and you won't need to live with so many regrets."

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

Madison Kate must be a fucking saint to willingly commit her life to three meathead men; I'd probably rather become a celibate nun than inflict self-torture like that.