Heartless (Steel Demons MC #6) - Crystal Ash Page 0,48

how to go about it.”

“Holy shit, Shadow.” I propped my elbow on the bar, rubbing my forehead as I tried to contain my laughter from echoing throughout the whole building.

“What?”

“Nothing, you’re just a cute kid in a big, scary dude’s body. In any case, you’re in luck.” I composed myself and let my hand fall to the bartop. “Mari knows you’re inexperienced. She’s also a big girl who knows how to use her words.” I gave him a pointed look. “Talk to her. Invite her to tell you what she wants. Tell her what you want, and let her decide if she’s up for it or not. Don’t get stuck in your head, dude. She’ll want to please you too.”

“She already does,” he sighed, his gaze drifting as he focused on some memory. “She doesn’t even need to do anything.”

“Alright, that’s it. I’m drawing the line there.” I slammed my second beer down and drew a line across my throat, signaling to the bartender that we were done.

Shadow stared at me, puzzled. “What?”

“Too fucking cute. I can’t handle that shit.” I punched him in the shoulder, making sure he saw my grin as we rose up from the barstools and headed out front to our bikes.

Thirteen

REAPER

“Oh really, now? You’ve protected my son and daughter-in-law, have you?”

Hades stretched out across my dad’s lap, nudging his head into his hand for more petting. Dad laughed, looking very un-general-like sitting on the floor with his legs stretched out in front of him and rubbing my dog’s belly. Already eager to be a doting grandpa, he pulled some strings with the building security to let Hades into the City Hall building.

“Yes, you did. That’s what a good boy does,” he continued as if they were having a conversation. What I would give to see the look on his face if Hades really did answer him.

But the ancient god seemed to lay dormant, only the goofy, drooling mutt with us now. Dad and I were in the City Hall conference room again, waiting for the governor to show up so we could brief him on the scouting missions we set into place.

“Will Vance have a heart attack if he sees his general sitting on the floor?” I remarked from where I leaned over the maps spread out on the table.

“Nah, I’ve crawled around with his treasurer’s grandson before. Can’t do it too often though. These old knees quit before I do.” Hades rolled off his lap and shook his fur out while Dad climbed to his feet with a groan, grabbing a chair for support.

“How’s Mom doin’?” I asked absently, scanning the maps for the routes we established.

“She’s alright. You know, hangin’ in.” He came up next to me and slugged my arm. “You oughta come over more and see her yourself. Noelle’s been there a couple times in the last week, but your mom misses her son.” Dad gave me a pointed stare. “You’re the only boy she’s got left.”

“Yeah, I know,” I sighed. “It’s just…” My sentence trailed off, no words coming to me in a believable way. I didn’t want to leave Mari out of my sight for even a moment because of what Daren had told me in that dream.

As days passed with nothing happening, my anxiety over it worsened rather than getting better. I felt like I’d been holding my breath for a week and a half, and the moment I let it out, disaster would strike. It was affecting my daily interactions with her and others. I knew I was snapping more, even more short-fused than I usually was. Every time I left her at the hospital or at home with the other guys, I wondered if it would be the last time I saw her. I stared at every door I passed by like a maniac, wondering if it was that door, the one I had to break down.

I felt like I was losing it, breaking down every word of Daren’s warning in my head hundreds of times. Looking at the faces of the people I surrounded myself with and wondering if they would be the one I had to kill.

“I can understand never wanting to leave that gorgeous wife of yours,” Dad chuckled sympathetically. “But she has other men. She’ll understand you spending time with family you haven’t seen in over a decade.”

His voice just got lost in the chatter in my head. I didn’t know what to listen to, what was real and what I should