Hades Knights MC Box Set, page 14
part #1 of Hades Knights MC Series
He’s not virtuous; he’s evil personified.
Maybe I shouldn’t think that way, but I can’t ignore this gut feeling that every transaction involves illegal substances.
When my mother passed, I started to think that he might have had something to do with her death. My heart tells me that he did and that I need to be careful.
I keep thinking that her death was not an accident. How did she drown on the lake if she never liked to go to the lake? She was afraid of going in or near the lake because she couldn’t swim. She was scared of drowning.
I was away at school, UC Santa Cruz, so I don’t know what happened. Keith doesn’t want to talk about it. He looks like he’s hiding something. I love my brother, but sometimes I feel as if Keith doesn’t return the sentiment. He’s a stranger to me, and that makes me sad.
But, now that I’m working with the business accounts, I notice that the transactions are ambiguous, I realize that there’s something more is going on than what Father and Keith tell me. There’s more than what the books say.
I want to ignore it, but I can’t. I feel like everything is wrong.
Hell, that makes me happy. I don’t need or like to interact with Father any more than required.
Furthermore, I feel as if my life is on the precipice, on the verge of falling into my death.
I can’t help but feel like, at any given moment, I’ll be killed, eliminated, or worse, used for profit or payment.
I’ve noticed that his gambling debts have been racking up exponentially, which is no good. I have this gut feeling that the imported products are more than just stuffed toys, more like illegal merchandise.
I take a drink of my mocha, closing my eyes. I want to simply disappear, leave the job, leave this city, or leave the state altogether.
But where would I go?
I don’t have that much money. I do get paid, but not much, just enough to buy clothing, pay my car payment, and stuff. I live at home because I can’t afford an apartment.
I think that Father does that on purpose, besides the fact that he can pay me what he wants for the work that I do.
I don’t have a large group of friends, only one, Karen. She’s always there for me and tries to get me to do stuff, but most of the time, I’m tired and scared. I was frightened of my Father. I don’t want to do anything to get him pissed off at me; it’s bad enough that I have to deal with him when he’s pissed off at other people.
My cell beeps, and I look at the screen.
Father: Where are you?
Lexi: I’m in the ladies' room.
Father: Hurry back.
Lexi: Ok
Geez, I can’t take a break, and I can’t go to lunch because he doesn’t want me to leave the office.
My cell beeps again.
Fuck!
What does he want now?
I look at the screen. I grab the cell to read the text.
Karen: Lexi, it’s Friday, and I know the place to go.
Lexi: Where?
Karen: It’s a secret, but I know you will love it!
Lexi: I don’t know. I’m exhausted.
Karen: Really? It’s Friday! You need to have some fun.
Lexi: I’ll think about it.
Karen: No, I’ll pick you up at 8:00. You have time to go home, take a bath, relax.
Lexi: Maybe.
Karen: Be ready. Look cute. Sexy.
Lexi: Wow, I don’t think that I can.
Karen: Yeah, you can. Wear that cute black dress that looks so good on you. Oh, and wear those sexy red pumps.
Lexi: Hmm. We’ll see.
Karen: I’ll be there at 8.
Lexi: Right.
I don’t know if I should go or not. I’m pretty tired, but Karen sounds so excited. She’s never wrong. I’ve known her since kindergarten.
My cell beeps. I look at it, noticing the time.
Oh shit, I need to hurry. Father is waiting.
I dart out of Starbucks; across the vast foyer and wait at the elevators impatiently.
I wait for the elevator to open, still thinking of over the invite from Karen to go out.
I take another sip of my mocha and the elevator beeps. The doors open, I take a step forward and suddenly collide with a hard body.
Wow!
Three
Seth
“Dante, Nicolas, wait for me. I don’t want to alert Mayor Baker, and have him run,” I say, chuckling darkly.
Dante and Nicolas both snicker nodding. They stand next to our bikes in the huge parking garage.
“Right, but if you’re not back in an hour, we’re coming in,” Dante says, cracking his knuckles.
“Damn straight,” Nicolas says, crossing his arms, spreading his legs.
“Right,” I say, shaking my head. I walk towards the elevators.
Fuck! I need to collect something because this asshole is getting further and further in debt, and that’s not acceptable. He needs to pay up, and I’m going to make damn sure that he does.
Like I always say, a debt owed is a debt paid. I don’t give a damn that’s Baker is the Mayor. That is something that he should think about before placing high roller bets and fucking young girls.
I have proof of each that I know would be detrimental to his political career. That means that this motherfucker is paying.
Hell, yes, it’s late, and most of the people in the building have left, done for the day. I know that Baker is here looking over the darker side of his business.
I walk into the elevator, which is empty, that’s good. I push the button to the fifth floor. I cross my arms and look up at the numbers flashing as it ascends.
I can’t wait to get this done; my family is waiting for me. I love my mom’s cooking. Then I need to get back to Hades Asylum because it’s Friday, and the party is on.
I grin, closing my eyes. I feel the elevator jolt as it stops, and the doors open. I walk out into the hallway; I look around. I walk down to the last door on the right, and I walk inside.
The receptionist is gone reception area is empty, or maybe they don’t have a receptionist because I’ve never seen one when I visit our esteemed mayor.
I walk down the hall, grab the doorknob, and walk inside his office.
“Hey Baker, my man,” I say, closing the door and walk over to stand in front of his dark wooden desk.
I look at him deadpan, watching him like a hawk.
Baker swallows, dropping the pen leaning back into his dark brown leather chair. He smiles, warily pushing up his eyeglasses.
He’s scared.
I don’t blame him; he should be shitting bricks. He knows that he’s on our shit list.
“Hi Seth, what can I do for you?” Mayor Baker says, clenching his hands on his legs. His dark brown eyes look tired, bloodshot.
The man always looks tired. He’s burning the candle on both ends. I don’t get him, he’s working as the Mayor of Sacramento, his shady business, and enjoys to gamble and the girls. That’s what got him owing us the money.
“I’m going to make it short and sweet, Baker. I told you last month that we want our money, and that hundred grand you gave us was paying the interest and grant you some time, but that’s over. We want our mill. Consider this your first and last notice,” I say, tilting my head back. I look at him through hooded eyelids, stone-faced.
Baker’s nostrils flare as he inhales, exhales quickly, and runs his hands through his hair. He pushes off his desk and walks around his desk. He stands in front of me, resting his hands on his slim waist.
Baker is thin, tall, and his hair is thinning. He wears thick black-rimmed glasses that sit at the narrow part of his nose. He looks at me over his glasses, nervously swallows.
“Seth, I’m working on getting you the money,” Baker says anxiously, moving his hand to rub his neck, furrowing his forehead.
“As I said, we want our million. Let me tell you in layman’s terms. You’re a dead man. You have a few days, until next Friday, to have our money in cash. I have some photos that will give you some motivation to get the funds,” I say, clenching my jaw. I toss the photos on his desk.
He runs over to grab them; he looks at them. His face turns white; all color drains from his body. His forehead is shining, sweaty. He turns to look at me wide-eyed, alarmed.
“How did you get these photos? It was an intimate private moment. How dare you invade my privacy,” Baker yells, throwing the photos back down on his desk. He paces around his office like a caged animal.
“Baker, don’t give me that bullshit. The Styx club, where you enjoy exercising your depraved cravings and extreme gambling habits, is owned by us. Therefore, that means your ass is ours. We want our money, and this is the only warning that you get,” I say, squinting my eyes. I look at his angry face, and I can smell his fear wafting from every pore on his body.
He stops in front of me, standing defiantly, and I admire that he looks me in the eye. Fuck! The man has a spine, which is good to know, but I’m still going to break him if I need to.
“I can get you half by next Friday,” Baker says, squaring his shoulders.
“That’s not going to work unless you want to use that as time out for another week,” I say, shrugging my shoulder nonchalantly. I gaze at Baker’s wild brown eyes.
“What the hell? Half a mill is a large sum of money; I’ll get you the other half in a month. I can’t give you all of the cash I have on hand; I need it for my campaign,” Baker says, smiling his politician smile.
“As I said, that’s not going to cut it, we want the entire mill, or we get the five hundred grand to buy you some time out. Take it or leave it,” I say coldly.
Baker shakes his head and paces around the room again, running his hands through his hair. He stops in front of me, pushes his eyeglasses up his nose, nodding.
“Right, I’ll get you the half mill, and I’ll give you my daughter as collateral. That way, you have a good faith that I’m going to pay you the other half next month. I’ll try to get the money for you tomorrow or the latest Monday. I’ll call you if I have it tomorrow.” Baker says, smiling.
I stare at the fucking bastard. How in the fuck can Baker even consider offering his daughter up as collateral? What the fuck! Doesn’t he care that the Knights will use her? What a fucking bastard. I can’t even stand to be in the same room as him.
“Look, motherfucker! You’re lucky that I don’t kill you now for offering your flesh and blood to us as collateral. What the fuck? I shouldn’t be surprised considering how depraved you are. I’ll be here soon as you call me, and if I were you, I’d make it tomorrow.” I say, growling.
Baker takes a step back; scowling shakes his head.
“I don’t care what the hell you think of me! I know that you wouldn’t hurt her. I know everything about you, Seth Ward, and I do mean everything! I know how honorable you are, and since you are the president of your little gang, I know that you wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her. I can do what I want with my daughter, and she’s worth your million and then some. I’m going to get you half mill, and you will take my daughter as collateral. I’ll get you the rest by next month,” Baker says, nodding.
“You’re a fucking bastard. You’re not allowed back at Styx, I’ll be back tomorrow to collect,” I say, clenching my jaw.
“Great, you do that. My daughter will be here later,” Baker says, grinning. He shrugs and walks over to his chair. He picks up the photos and tears them up in small pieces and throws them in the trash can under his desk.
I glare at him as I extend my middle finger out in the classic fuck you gesture. I walk out of the office before I lose the tenuous grip I have on my temper, and fucking kill him.
I couldn’t stand him before, and now I detest him. He’s a fucking cockroach on this earth!
I walk down the hall, into the elevator, furiously punch the button. The elevator jolts stop, and then start to descend to the first floor. It stops, beeps, and the doors open.
I walk out of the elevator furiously, blinded by rage. I don’t see the young lady waiting for the elevator, and I run right into her.
I automatically extend my arms and catch her before she falls. An electric chill races through my body, straight to my cock. I gasp, looking into dazed eyes.
Fuck! She’s beautiful, and her touch is setting me on fire.
“Oh my,” she says, looking up at me. Her huge brown eyes widen as she holds onto my strong arms.
“Hey, sorry about that,” I say, studying every detail of her beautiful face. I gaze into her warm eyes, for a few seconds, I fall into her pure soul.
Damn! She’s sweet; she’s pure light. And I breathe deep, she smells amazing.
I steady her and release my hold, nodding. I watch the soft red blush spread over her face.
“No worries, I’m okay,” she says, nodding, releasing the hold she has on my arms. She takes a step back, nervously tucks her hair behind her ears.
She turns and walks into the elevator pushing the button. She looks at me as the elevator doors slide to close.
I stand in front of the elevator doors for a minute, like an idiot.
Fuck!
I should have stopped her and got her name.
Damn it!
I walk out of the door and into the parking garage. Dante and Wyatt, smile, nodding get on their bikes.
“Hey,” I say, getting on my bike.
“Was it good?” Dante asks, looking at me as he straps his helmet on.
“Yeah, but we need to discuss the outcome in church,” I say, pulling on my helmet.
“Right,” Wyatt says, turning on his bike.
We pull out, in our ranking position formation.
Four
Lexi
Fuck, that man took my breath away. I’ve never seen that man in the building. My lord, he smells so damn delicious, and he’s so damn gorgeous.
I wait for the elevator’s doors to open.
Great, of course, I ran into Prince Charming, and I ran. It looked like he wanted to talk to me more. I can’t believe it. I’m such an idiot.
I walk into the hallway on the fifth floor. I look at my mocha, shrug, and I drop it in the waste can.
I stride down the hallway to the office. I walk inside and head to my office. I drop my big Michael Kors leather purse on my chair. That’s the only good thing about working with Father, is that I can afford to buy all the stuff that I like.
I adjust my pantsuit and make my way to my Father’s office. I walk inside because I know that he’s waiting for me.
“Well, hello, glad you finally decided to get your ass in here. You know that you can’t do what you want when you want, especially when I need you here working. I pay you good money for you to be fucking around. You know what time I get here to review with you, but you always decide to take off as soon as I get here. I need you in the office ready to go when I get here,” Father says, barely looking up from the laptop.
“Hello, Father,” I say, smiling. I take a seat in the chair in front of his desk. I move my hands to tuck my long black hair behind my ears.
I look at Father’s cold brown eyes, and I clench my hands tight on my lap. I inhale and exhale control my heartbeat. I carefully school my face to look at him emotionless, calmly.
I know that he hates that I don’t respond to his verbal abuse.
“Don’t ignore me! You’re an ungrateful bitch. I give you everything that any girl would die to have! All I ask is for you to do some work here in the office to help me run the family business while I’m slaving at the Mayor’s office,” Father says, squinting his eyes. He leans back into his chair.
Oh fuck, he’s furious.
“I’m sorry, Father, I was in the restroom,” I say, nodding. I smile calmly at him, hoping to bring his anger down a notch.
“Right, I reviewed the books and all the transactions. They look good. We’re going to receive a huge shipment this weekend, and I need you to have our merchandise moved asap,” Father says, nodding.
“Ok, will do,” I say.
I don’t have a clue where all of those stuffed animals end up. Well I mean, all those companies buy a lot of stuffed animals, so that’s where I get suspicious. Of course, Father wouldn’t ever enlighten me.
I wonder if I’ll ever get away from Father. Will I ever meet someone good around the people that Father forces me to associate within the family business?
Maybe I should listen to Karen and go out more often.
“Ok, I’m glad that you understand your priorities. I need to get going because I have an engagement this evening that I can’t miss,” Father says, smiling.
“Ok,” I say, nodding. I get up from the chair and walking out of Father’s office as calmly and quickly as I can.
I walk into my office, and I close the door. I take out my cell phone, and I text Karen.
Lexi: I’ll be ready. Don’t be late.
Karen: Awesome!
Five
Seth
I walk out of the Hades Asylum, looking down at my cell and noticing that my little sister had texted me. I read the text, smiling and shaking my head.
Gina: Seth, we’re waiting for you. Dinner is ready.
Seth: On my way.
Gina: Awesome.
I walk over to my bike, grabbing my helmet, pull it on strapping it. I slide my leg over my bike, turning it on. I pull out of my space, down the parking lot, and onto the street. I cruise down the roads to get to my parents’ house. I park my bike next to Creed’s bike in the driveway. He’s already here. I take off my helmet and set it on my handlebars.
My baby sister Georgina, well she’s not a baby anymore, runs out of the house. We call her Gina, and she’s a little imp.
“Seth, I’m happy that you’re here! Creed’s been here for a while. Dinner is ready,” Gina says, throwing her arms around me. Her long wavy hair swirls around her.
“Gina, you’re such a drama queen,” I say, laughing. I start walking up the walkway to my home.
“I’m not; it’s that I’m excited that you’re here! I have so much to talk to you and Creed about,” Gina says, laughing. She hugs my arm as we walk into the house.
