8. 4 Brothers

D revi, what a smooth talker. If I wasn't Hades, his charms would have me panting as if I were a dog. That damn smile heats my already simmering core.

I take in the room around me as he led me to his favorite table. The dining room is as lavish as the hotel itself. The large windows give a perfect view of the pool. I can't help but wonder if what I see outside is why Drevi chose this as his favorite.

Guest watching perhaps?

We had a nice, simple conversation. That's something that doesn't happen much with me in the Underworld.

Don't get me wrong, Lainie keeps me on my toes, but most of our conversations are about the books she's reading or the souls I reap aren't much for conversation, it can be a lonely life.

We barely sit in the chairs before a bubbly redhead comes up to our table. She gives him a flirty smile and doesn't bother to look my way. She couldn't be more obvious.

"Can I interest you in a bottle of wine tonight, sir?" she asks, simpering as she bats her eyelashes.

Drevi is too busy focusing on me to answer her and her eyes narrow into angry slits as she turns to me. This one has a temper, I can tell.

"White wine for me," I say with a small smile, aiming for polite despite her rudeness. She purses her lips and nods, waiting for Drevi to finish ordering.

She perks up when he turns his attention toward her.

"Remind me of the specials," he says quickly.

His phone vibrates on the table but he ignores it as she rattles off the specials. By the time we finish ordering he's glaring down at the third call in a few short minutes.

I'm not at all surprised that the moment she leaves. Drevi excuses himself to answer the phone, casting me a quick apologetic glance.

In his absence, I glance around and check out the other guests in here. There is an older couple that just dumped a bucket of coins on their table and started to count out their winnings with big grins on their faces. I move to the next table and I'm startled as a cough interrupts my musing.

"Excuse me, miss, my brother requested that I bring you your drink and introduce myself while he takes a work call. I'm Frank, it's a pleasure to meet you."

I turn toward a stunning man, with hair black as coal and honey brown eyes. He has little more than a five o'clock shadow on his square chin that trails down his neck.

Dressed more casual than Drevi, his white button up shirt has the top two buttons open. I long to peek under the rest.

In this moment my words fail me. A fourth brother? Makes sense. They did name this place the 4 Horses, but I never put it together that four brothers were the owners.

"Do you have any more brothers to surprise me with?" I joke. His face splits into a smile as handsome as he is .

Frank laughs. "Well, if there is, we're all in trouble."

I raise a brow and tilt my head to the side, studying the man standing in front of me. "Hayden," I offer with a small smile.

"I'm glad I got a chance to say hello, Hayden," he murmurs. "If you'll excuse me, my normal bartender called in sick, so the bar needs tending. I hope Drevi doesn't scare you off before we get to chat."

"It was nice to meet you, too, and don't worry… I don't frighten easily."

My eyes are mesmerized by Frank's ass as he walks away. That is, until Drevi comes back into view.

He smiles widely at me, giving me a knowing look. "Was my brother nice?"

"He was easy on both my eyes and ears."

"Frank is a ladies' man."

"Oh, and here I thought that was you," I tease. I've never considered myself a sociable person but laughing and joking with these men comes far too easily.

"I have had some luck, I will admit, but not like my brothers. I'm a little on the shy side."

"That I find hard to believe. Your smile and charm probably has the ladies falling at your feet."

He gives me a shy smile and his cheeks have a pink tint to them.

"More like into his bed," a voice says in my ear.

Pyro takes a seat next to me, as Warrick pulls one up in between Drevi and me.

"Hope you don't mind if we crash your dinner." Warrick smirks like he isn't at all sorry about it.

"I certainly do. I invited Hayden out. You two I see enough daily," Drevi huffs in irritation .

"Oh, Drevi. You need to loosen up, brother. We all would like to get to know this gorgeous woman. If you insist on hogging her for the evening, so be it," Pyro states then turns toward me. "Can I interest you in a breakfast date since he isn't going to share?"

"How about I get back to you in the morning? Drevi and I never settled on how long of a dinner we had planned."

Pyro raises an eyebrow at me. "Fair enough. I'll see you in the morning. Come on, Warrick, let them have their dinner in peace."

"Since when are you the mature one?" Warrick asks Pyro as they stand. His icy blue eyes peer down at me as he pulls my chin up so that I am staring into them. "And you, I will be seeing later."

It was a promise and one I hope he keeps.

When he slips a card just under my water glass, I raise an eyebrow at him. "In case you have any more run ins with rude guests. This has my direct line."

Pryo heads back toward the bar and Warrick follows. I have a hard time not watching them leave.

That is, until a cough brings me back to reality.

"Forgive me," I say sheepishly as I refocus on Drevi. "You were telling me about working with your brothers. Please, go on."

"We have always worked together. I can't recall a time when we've been apart long. After being successful in many ventures for different employers, we decided it was our turn. We bought this plot of land, and thus the 4 Horses Casino and Hotel was born."

I stifle a little yawn. All the drama and excitement of the day seems to be catching up with me. Drevi didn't missed it, but the unpleasant waitress is back with our food before he can comment.

My soup is still steaming as she goes to place it on the table. She misses, and it lands in my lap with a splash. The warmth of the hot liquid doesn't burn my skin, but I jump up like a mortal would.

My temper is surfacing. I know without a doubt that bitch did it on purpose.

Drevi, on the other hand, is really freaking out enough for the both of us.

He jumps out of his seat in a flash, and with his cloth napkin, he tries to absorb as much of the soup as it will allow.

"How could you be so clumsy?" he yells at the waitress. "That soup is hot enough to burn someone."

As he rants on, I notice the sky has darkened and the flowers in the vases have started wilting. I'm taken aback when my eyes land on the poor waitress that is in the path of Drevi's wrath.

She's no longer the young, beautiful woman that was rude to me. In her place is a white-haired old lady shaken to her core. I have no idea how the guests didn't notice, but I'm not about to risk it now.

I reach for Drevi's face, placing a palm on each cheek and repeating the words 'I am ok,' until I discern that his breathing has leveled out and he is no longer yelling.

As he stands there staring at me, he takes a few deep breaths. The skies are no longer dark, and the flowers and most importantly, the young lady, have returned to their former glory.

Thank the gods the clouds dimmed the room enough that no one noticed. Everyone else is too absorbed in their own conversations .

"What are you?" I question him, my tone full of curiosity. I pitch my voice low enough that no one else can hear.

"A casino owner with a temper," he says, no trace of emotion on his face.

"Well, I've never seen a temper darken the sky, let alone wilt flowers or age a young woman. Until you're ready to be honest, I think that it's best this date is over."

With that, I turn on my heel, not looking back at him. There is a little flair of anger surging through my body, I flexed my hands to extinguish the flames that are starting to form there before I manage to wave to Frank as I pass the bar and head to the elevators.

Drevi did well attempting to play it off, but I'm no fool. I have never met a human that can control mortality or age progression.

There's more to these brothers, something that I can't quite put a finger on.