Ruthless

21

Donna, who had arrived with Hades a week earlier, shot me a gaze as intense as an approaching storm when I clasped her hand. If glares could be deadly, I'd be buried six feet deep by now, burdened by the weight of her disdain.

"What do you want?" Donna sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.

"I know you don't like me," I acknowledged, her eye roll brushing off my comment. "And the feeling's mutual," I added, infusing my words with unapologetic honesty.

Initially twisted in mockery, Donna's face shifted to one of offense.

"You—" she began, but I cut her off, realizing that a petty confrontation was ill-timed. "Now's not the time to quarrel. Just hear me out. Hades has kept me captive here, and I need your help to escape," I urged, injecting urgency into the conversation.

A mocking laugh escaped Donna's lips, leaving me bewildered. It was as if she found amusement when seriousness was needed. After nearly a minute of laughter, she abruptly turned serious, pulling her hand away from my grip.

Donna's face settled into an aggrieved scowl. "What a 'pick-me' you are," she sneered, accusation tainting her words. "You think Hades is holding you captive. I've seen your type. Just trying to ensnare a handsome, wealthy man."

"I-I..."

She furiously cut me off, walking away. "Save it. I'm not interested in hearing your nonsense."

The distant sound of footsteps reached my ears, and my gaze shifted towards the approaching threat—Hades. He was dressed for an occasion, radiating an air of readiness.

"Hades, baby, can you believe this girl?" Donna began venting her fury at me. The room seemed to close in around me, panic setting in as my mind scrambled for something to extricate me from this predicament.

Caught in a moment of peril, I uttered the name of the devil for the first time. "Hades."

The air thickened with unspoken tension as I summoned the courage to address him.

He halted in his tracks. A shiver ran down my spine as his ocean-blue eyes appraised me from head to toe.

Taking a step toward him, I stopped at arm's length. Even at this distance, his musky scent enveloped me.

"Can you take me to the market? I actually need a few things," I asked, attempting to shift the focus.

Anger surged within me as he resumed his walk, ignoring my question completely. How could he just stroll away without answering me? I couldn't help but think frustration simmering beneath that is surfacing, but I kept my composure.

"Hades, please," I pleaded, desperation seeping into my voice as I trailed after him.

"You'll get what you want," Hades responded coldly without breaking his stride.

"But you don't—" I began, only to be abruptly cut off when he stopped again, roaring in an authoritative tone. "You're not going anywhere. Shut up before I chain you. I still haven't forgotten the stunt you pulled the other night."

"But—" I started again, aware that I was testing his patience, but I needed to take some risks.

In the blink of an eye, he grabbed my hand, swiftly pressing me against the wall, catching me off guard. A hiss escaped me as my head collided with the wall behind me.

I futilely pushed against his chest, but he didn't budge an inch. Instead, he moved closer, pressing me against him. I could feel the wide, sculpted chest, pure muscle, rippled and well-defined abs, and even a bulging erection.