My Maddie (Hades Hangmen #8) - Tillie Cole Page 0,57

would find my being pregnant difficult. But I did not know to what extent it would affect him. Just how open the wound of Isaiah’s death still remained in his heart. “I would not survive,” I allowed myself to confess to my sisters. “I would not survive if something has happened to him. If something has happened to Asher. He is just a child. A child who is lost.” My head fell into my hands. “I cannot find him through his sadness. I cannot reach him no matter how hard I try. I am not sure who can.” I thought of Asher’s hard face, the granite stare in his black eyes, the hatred and pain that filled the air with every exhaled breath. “I pray there is someone out there who can bring him back to us, as I have done before with Flame.”

“The Cade brothers,” Lilah said. “Bless their hearts. I will pray that they find respite from their troubles. That you find them well and bring them back here, to their family who love them.”

Styx walked out of his study and stopped at the door. Mae swiveled to face her husband and got to her feet. She took his hand and led him into the hallway. I heard the low murmurs of them speaking. No one ever heard Styx speaking to Mae, yet I heard Mae plead, “Do not let anything happen to her. Please, River. Promise me.” Kissing Lilah on her head, I stood and caught sight of Styx with his arms wrapped around Mae, kissing her lips. I averted my eyes. I longed for Flame’s kiss.

I was determined I would have it again.

A knock sounded on the door and Bella walked inside. Ruth and Rider came next. Ruth smiled and came over to me. “Bella and Rider told me the instructions the hospital doctor gave about your after-care.” She wrapped her arm around me. “I will not let anything happen to you or your baby. You have my word.”

“Thank you,” I hushed out. A car horn sounded outside.

“They’re here,” Rider announced. Styx kissed Charon, Mae, then left the house. Ruth took my bag. I followed her and Bella outside. AK jumped out of the van. Viking followed him. Viking rounded the van and a huge smile splayed on his face when he saw Sister Ruth. She seemed to hesitate at the sight of him.

“Sister Ruth,” Viking acknowledged. He rushed over to take the bag from her hand. “Allow let me take your bag.” I heard Sister Ruth sigh. She was dressed in jeans and a white linen shirt. Her brown hair flowed down her back. She was beautiful and it was easy to see where Rider got his good looks. Viking deposited the bag in the back and came to open the side door. “M’lady,” he bowed slightly to Sister Ruth. “Madds.” Ruth helped me climb into the van and then into my seat. Sister Ruth sat beside me, and Bella sat with Rider immediately behind us.

“Solomon and Samson are staying with your sisters. Styx has ordered them to stay here, altogether. Zane is staying too. Everyone else is coming. Those fuckers aren’t gonna know what hit them when we fucking rain down on them,” AK said. But I heard the rest of the sentence hang silently in the air … as long as Flame and Asher are still alive.

Through the window I watched the Hangmen form a ‘V’ with their bikes, then pull out slowly onto the back road. “Tell me if you feel any discomfort,” Ruth said beside me. “If you feel faint or lightheaded.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “I know, in theory, we should be back in the space of a day, but I have brought my kit just in case this takes longer.” It was why Mae had packed me a bag. None of us knew what we are walking into. The Hangmen were used to this way of life on the road, I was not.

“So, Sister Ruth,” Viking said, turning in the passenger seat to look our way. She met his gaze. His eyes roamed over her and he smiled wide. “Tell me about yourself. I want to know everything.” The air became strained in the back of the van. The four of us, including Ruth, knew what her entire life had been like. It had been hell, as it had been for us all who came from The Order. AK punched Viking in the arm. He was with