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.

Unknown: I can't stop thinking about you.

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

"Don't call me that," I reprimanded, but it lacked heat. There was something about hearing my first name on his lips that I liked way too damn much.

Also damn near stopping my heart. How the fuck was he affecting me so hard? This wasn't a sappy vampire romance novel.

I grew up way too fast, but something about Lucas made me feel young again. Carefree and impulsive. I loved it.

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

Zed heard it too, the perceptive bastard. His eyes widened, and the corner of his lips tugged up. "Are you jealous?"

"I have a tail," I told Zed in a low voice, not wanting Alexi to overhear. He was a valuable employee, but that was as far as my trust in him went. Zed gave me a smirk and craned his neck to look at my ass. "Do you? That's new."

"Stop staring at me." "You never used to mind." His tone was even, not betraying any emotion at all. I frowned deeper, and he shrugged. "Or maybe you just never used to notice."

My gaze flicked up, catching on his as he brought my wine glass to his mouth and drank from it. Holy fuck, that was sexy. It shouldn't have been, but somehow my mouth went dry and my panties went... well... not dry.

He gripped the seat of my stool and spun me around, then placed his hands on the counter to either side of me.

"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."

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.