Timber (Hades, #4)

by Tate James

"That was for the look on Hayden's face when she realized you'd been lying to her. You ever make her feel like that again—no matter how noble your intentions—I'll fucking kill you. We clear?" I groaned, touching my fingers to my throbbing cheek. "Yeah," I spat. "Clear."

With just one flippant comment from Jeanette—Agent De Rosa—he'd achieved the one thing Chase had failed at for so many years. He'd broken me.

There was a lot to be said for the relief of a good pee, and I needed to bite my own cheek to keep from groaning out loud as my bladder emptied. Goddamn, it was good, though.

"Saint," I breathed, my eyes locking on his scowling face above the bed. "You're here." His brow furrowed deeper at my words, and he crouched down. "Where the fuck else would I be?" he grumbled. "I only left to get Doc, otherwise the hounds of hell couldn't have made me leave."

When the tears finally rolled free, I knew there would be no stopping them. So as carefully as I could, I curled into a ball and sobbed into my pillow, letting the emotions flow. But I stayed silent. Always silent and alone.

"No," I grunted. "I'm fine." I wasn't fine.

"Sounds like she doesn't think you'd properly educate me, Grumpy Cat. The Reapers were minor league compared to Timberwolves, right?" Cass glowered. "Shut the fuck up and turn your listening ears on, Gumdrop. We've got a lot to go through."

Because despite how much he'd hurt me, despite his betrayal and everything it had caused, I still fucking loved him with my whole sullied soul.

Cassiel Saint, international man of mystery and drop-dead sexy asshole.

"If you decide to kill him, make sure he cooks dinner first," Cass suggested. "I don't want you going hungry if I get delayed."

"Hayden," he murmured. "Words quite literally can't express how much I love you. There is no doubt in my mind: You're it for me. You don't just own my heart, babe, you are my heart. Without you, nothing matters. Every minute of the twelve days, four hours, and fifteen minutes you were gone, I was dead inside."

"I should go before Daddy Cass comes to drag me out of here." A sob caught in my throat, and I sputtered. "Never call him that again, please." Lucas grinned wide, proud he’d stopped my tears with humor. "Why not? He's old, for starters, and he oozes dom energy. Daddy Cass just fits."

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered in my ear. "No matter how long it takes, I love you, Dare. That will never change, and I'll never stop waiting for you."

"I'd burn the whole fucking world down for you, Angel." Ugh. Be still my heart.

"Vega confirmed for tonight," Lucas spoke up, his attention on his phone. "That's everyone." "Maurice?" I replied, surprised. Lucas shot me back a slightly feral grin. "He wasn't given the option to refuse." Fucking hell. Vicious was such a hot look on Lucas.

She didn't look offended, though—rather the opposite as she looked between the two of us with hearts in her eyes. Fucking hell, she was gazing at us like a kid whose divorced parents got back together.

"So, I want to go kill someone tonight," I announced. All conversation stopped.

"Nah, we had to do about sixteen rounds of rock paper scissors. Handled it like men, beautiful."

"Your main event fight for tonight got cancelled," he informed me. "But don't worry, Red, I've got you covered." Lucas made a sound that bordered on a laugh of disbelief, and I felt my eye twitch with rage.

"Zayden," she snapped. "I'd hoped to speak with you privately." "I'd hoped you might have died in your sleep," he drawled back. "I guess we're both disappointed."

"Don't be a shit, Gumdrop," Zed snarled. "Dare has business to do, and it doesn't involve your dick down her throat." Lucas quirked a brow. "But could it?"

Cass gave a low chuckle. "'Cause she could make you disappear and no one would ever find your body? Yeah. Same." He had a point.

She was dressed in a striking, red Valentino gown and oozed money, just like every single one of the other guests at the party. But this one? She was special. “How’d I do?” The woman asked, breathless with excitement. I gave her a proud smile. “Flawless. Welcome to the Timberwolves, Bethany.”

Cass sighed. “Back to reality already?” I grinned, nodding. “Yup. We need to plot three more executions, and I promised Diana I’d kill her parents for her.” Lucas gave me a lopsided smile. “Some might find that an odd thing to promise an eight-year-old, but from you to her? Cutest fucking thing ever.”

“Asked Archer if anyone in his crew got hurt in the shooting,” Zed told me with a huff of laughter. “He told me not to fucking insult him.” Cass chuckled. “Sounds like him.”

“I feel like I’m in the Sopranos or something,” he whispered as the elevator clunk-clunked its way down to the vaults.

Come on, let’s take care of the sad Gumdrop. You can’t kill anyone to make him feel better; you can only be there for him.” I knew that, but it didn’t stop me from itching to go shed some blood in Lucas’s name.

“I’m sure I don’t need to have this chat with you, Shelby,” I murmured, my voice like quiet death, “but my sister is off-limits. To all five of you.” His eyes widened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For what?” I asked, licking my lips to savor the feeling of his kiss. He gave me a wise sort of look. “For loving me.”

“Kinda irrelevant now, though. I’m alive and he’s dead, so, like, Rodney can suck my spirit dick.”

“Really?” I feigned surprise. “Well, that’s great.” She scoffed. “Yeah, nice try. His voicemail was literally Hades told me I don’t have a choice; be at my clinic tomorrow at twelve. But thank you. What are friends for if not leveraging their scary-ass reputations to get shit?” “I’m sure I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I laughed. “Must be a different Hades running around threatening people to get you shit.

“You bitch!” Anthony shrieked. “Chase should have finished you off when he had you! He should have just drowned you properly instead of—“ Oops. There went Anthony’s knee.

Seph wrinkled her nose in confusion. “I don’t get it,” she admitted. “Why is Cora here?” I frowned. “Cora?” Lincoln answered with a smirk. “Cora the Corvette. We were high.” Then he blanched and stumbled over his words. “O-on life. Obviously. High on life.”

She yelled over her shoulder to us that she needed more alcohol to stomach all the PDA, then disappeared into the crowd with Nix trailing behind like a loyal bodyguard... or lovesick puppy. Unclear.

"What's the other thing, boss?" Diana asked, mimicking the way Zed called me that. Little shit. I rolled my eyes. "I don't like children." The little girl scoffed. "You adore me, but nice try."

She knew deep down I wasn’t a ruthless, coldhearted crime boss, lording my victory over my opponent to make him squirm. I was a victim seeking justice.

Chase Lockhart’s hand had been wrapped around my throat for so long, I’d forgotten what it felt like to breathe freely. He’d tried everything to break me. He’d attempted to burn my whole empire to the ground, he’d even burned my gumdrop. And in the end… it was him who wound up a pile of charred remains on a dirty, blood-stained prison floor. Except this time, the only thing rising from ashes was my future.