Chapter 78

78

Hades burst into the hospital hallway. He’d been running for the past forty-five minutes, ever since he got the message that Persephone had gone to the hospital for an ‘emergency.’ That was all his man could tell him. And that she’d been walking upright when she dashed into the hospital, but that was it.

The nurse at the desk wouldn’t give his man any more information, declaring he wasn’t family and saying she’d call security on him if he didn’t back off.

She’d continued stonewalling until Hades himself arrived. He’d called the hospital Chief of Staff, a man who owed him more than one favor, so by the time Hades got there everyone was falling over themselves to guide him where he needed to go.

And now, at the end of the long hallway, sitting on the floor with her head in her hands, was his wife.

“Persephone.”

Her head jerked up as Hades jogged down the hall towards her. He crouched down in front of her as she swiped at her eyes.

“You’re okay?” he asked, heart in his throat even though he could see with his own eyes that she was all in one piece. “My man said you needed to come to the hospital.”

She winced. “Not me. Aphrodite. A man beat her up. I should have explained.”

What man had fucking dared lay a hand on his wife’s friend? He would find out and make them pay. “She alright?”

“No.” Persephone’s eyes filled but she tilted her head back to keep in the tears. “She hit her head pretty bad when he knocked her to the ground. That’s why they’re keeping her overnight. The bruises will fade in a while. But her arm was wrenched out of its socket and she’s got a concussion.”

Persephone shrugged once, twice, and then her face crumpled. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed lightly, putting her hand over her face. “It’s hard seeing her like this.”

Hades could relate, if it was anything like what he was feeling, seeing Persephone so torn up. His chest felt tight and all he wanted to do was make it better. She was trembling, and the thought of her sitting here all alone on this cold, antiseptic floor was enough to drive him nuts.

He pulled off his suit coat jacket and settled it over her shoulders. Her fingers grasped onto it like a lifeline as she pulled it around herself and leaned into his chest as she cried.

Hades waited. He exhaled, the tension he’d been carrying all week since he’d last seen her finally easing. It had been hell, sitting in that safe house, not being able to communicate with anyone, not knowing where she was or how she was or if she was safe.

He was done being Mr. Nice Guy. Persephone was going back with him. The only place she was safe was by his side. He was the only person he trusted with her safety. With her life.

When her tears finally subsided, Hades took his handkerchief and wiped her face. He watched her carefully.

“What did the doctors say?”

“They want her to talk to a cop. She’s pressing charges. And breaking up with her boyfriend who was too involved in a brawl to realize what was happening and to stop it. Max Mars.”

“Pretty boy. His movies suck,” Hades said.

Persephone couldn’t help herself, she laughed sadly. “Yeah, he sucks a lot.”

Hades took her hand and brought it to his lips. He wanted to yank her into his arms or better yet, throw her over his shoulder and drag her to a basement somewhere he was sure she would be safe. Instead, he forced himself to let her hand go after pressing the briefest kiss.

He didn’t know quite what to do with the two voices raging inside him, one screaming at him to go with his barbarian impulses and the other whispering to fight for his better nature. Things in his life used to be simple. So cut and dry.

But after knowing Persephone, he could never go back to simple. She was beautifully and wonderfully complex. She blazed with the light of the noonday sun and cast a prism of colors over his previously colorless life. He couldn’t go back to black and white after living in glorious color.

But how did he let her be free and also make her do what he wanted her to do? What he needed her to do so that he knew she was safe?

Every day since she’d left him, he’d only grown more and more impatient treading that thin line. Yet still he knew, somewhere deep down, that the only way it would ever work was for her to choose him. She had to choose their life together.

Her puffy, tear-stained eyes met his, suddenly crinkling with concern. “Shouldn’t you be in hiding?”

“I needed to make sure you were all right.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “Guess I’m still in the running for worst wife ever.” Her lower lip trembled.

Hades blew out a breath in an almost laugh. “Come here.” He stood and drew her up. He held out his arms. Offering comfort.

Persephone slid into his arms and his entire body relaxed at how right it felt. How natural. His arms closed around her and his eyes sank shut. He needed to memorize how she felt in his arms. She might pull away soon and he needed this to fuel him until she was in his arms again.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Of course.”

She stayed there for long minutes. “I can hear your heartbeat,” she whispered into his shirt.

His arms tightened around her. He wanted to feel her heartbeat in the place he loved best, her pulse throbbing while he sucked her clit.

He wanted her back in his bed, underneath him, screaming his name, acknowledging she was his wife, that she was his, only his—not in the throes of one night’s passion but in the morning and every morning for the rest of their lives.

She pulled back, and he forced himself to merely stroke the hair back from her face. For her, he could and would hold back. “What do you want me to do?”

Persephone bit her lip like she was actually considering his offer when a woman in a white coat cleared her throat.

Persephone swung around. “Yes? How is she?”

The doctor took them in with a dispassionate gaze. “She has a concussion, but no brain swelling we’re worried about. Normally we’d discharge her but we want to monitor her through the night.”

Hades nodded. “Thank you, doctor. Can you keep our numbers in case there’s any change?”

“Of course, Mr. Ubeli.”

Persephone looked startled, probably wondering how the doctor knew his name.

“She can bring this to the cops. Assault,” the doctor said.

“We’ll talk to her.” Hades glanced at Persephone.

“She’s sleeping now,” the doctor put in. “I’d recommend letting her rest and visiting her in the morning.”

Persephone nodded, blank like she was numb. Hades needed to get her out of here. He pulled the doctor aside for a moment and spoke to her for a few minutes about Aphrodite’s continuing care, all the while watching Persephone. He came back to her as soon as he was done with the doctor.

“Persephone?”

She looked up blearily.

“You ok?” Stupid fucking question. Obviously she wasn’t okay.

“I’m ok.” She stared blankly at his shirt buttons. She looked so lost, it killed him.

He held out his hand. “Come on, goddess,” he said. “Let’s go home.”

Without pause, she slid her small hand in his and followed him out.