Out Of The Shadows (HADES) (Whiskey Bend MC Series, Book #4)

Hope woke up later as the sun flooded the bedroom she’d shared with Hades. When she opened her eyes, she found him leaning over her staring at her. She shied away but he wouldn’t let her go far. He leaned over her and kissed her gently.

Her eyes widened, as she tasted him. She kissed him back but not gently.

When Chloe’s head popped up over the edge of the bed, Hope giggled.

Hades groaned as he moved off of her. “Well, maybe later we can… explore kissing some more. I think we have something here between us.”

Hope nodded. “I feel that way too.” She lowered her head.

He reached out and tipped her head up. “When this I over, I want you to think about staying here with me.”

Hope was surprised. “Really?”

He nodded. “I think I felt it the moment we met. Some kind of spark. Then I already feel like I know you.”

Hope sat up. “I feel the same way! Oh, wow. Then when I got here, it was a little scary. All these men. Your name is Hades I know that. Then the two guys with you were Aries and Demon?”

Hades chuckled. “Yeah. And the big man I called President…”

She nodded.

“We call him Lucifer.”

Hope laughed. “Of course, you do! That fits him perfectly.” She shivered.

Hades put on his shirt. “He acts and looks scary but he is a good man. Don’t let that fool you. There are reasons for the names.”

Hope stared at him. “You look so sad. I mean are they nicknames?”

He shook his head and got his boots on. “Hardly. Our call names. We earned them in the military. Now, they’re our road names.”

Her eyes rounded.

“It was a rough thing and maybe I’ll…” His voice faded away.

“It’s okay. When you’re ready.” Hope leaned toward Cloe and began speaking to her.

Hades had to smile. Not only did he have a woman to call his own now he had a dog too. He hadn’t even realized he wanted one until this very moment.

Looking back over his shoulder, he saw them together and his heart began to melt. Then he thought about why this woman ended up in his bed and in his heart and he vowed he would find the threat and neutralize it.

He got up and finished dressing and before he left he kissed her hard. When he joined the others in the main room, he looked around. Most all the brothers were there along with Charlie, Caden and Cole.

Caden had the little boy he found on his lap.

Jessie came up behind him and smiled. “How’s your girl doing this morning?”

Hades nodded. “She’s doing better, I think.”

“I brought some clothes for her to change into. Lucifer told me you brought her from bed last night.” She motioned at the yoga pants and t-shirt in her hand.

Hades felt bad all the sudden. “I guess I didn’t even think about that. Thanks Jessie.”

“I’ll just drop them off. Is she in your room then?”

“Yeah, she’s in my room.”

Jessie smiled. “I’m so glad.”

“Really?” Hades asked.

“Yeah, really,” she stated. “From what Lucifer tells me she’s worth it and believe me from him, that’s high praise.”

Hades chuckled. “Yeah, it is. Before you came along that man just hated other people in general. He barely put up with us let alone anyone else.”

Jessie looked down at the floor and her hands came up to her belly.

Hades frowned as he stared at her for a moment, then it hit him. He sucked in his breath and she raised her head when she heard his gasp. “Does he know yet?”

Jessie paled. “Does he know what?”

“That he’s gonna be a daddy?”

Jessie swayed and Hades caught her arm to hold her up. Jessie pushed away and shook her head. “No he doesn’t and I’m afraid to tell him.”

“Why?”

~* * * *~

Jessie looked out into the other room and her eyes softened when she saw the man she loved more than anything. “We’ve never talked about having a family and I don’t even know if he wants children. He lets me touch him but I’m not sure how he’d do with someone else touching him.”

Hades thought about her words for a moment then suggested, “I think he will do just fine. The war we fought messed all of us up one way or another but Lucifer? He deserves the best and that’s what you are to him. You’re his best and a kid? Well, I think that’s wonderful. He’s gonna love that baby just as much as he loves you. Just don’t keep it secret, he hates secrets.”

Jessie smiled. “I know. He doesn’t tolerate secrets and lies that well.”

Hades nodded his head, “The military lied to him, they sent us out on a mission they knew wouldn’t go well, they put our lives in jeopardy, then after four months as a POW they rescued us then forced us all out of the only life we knew. Lucifer found it hard to believe in anybody or anything after that. Then you came along and he came back to life. We all thought he’d lost his humanity until you. Now he’s almost back to being the man we knew once upon a time.” Hades smiled. “You might be surprised when you tell him.”

Jessie smiled. “I hope so, oh I really hope so.” She looked down at the clothes in her hand. “I better get these to Hope.” She nodded out into the big room at the men gathered around the table. “You’d better get out there, they’re making plans to find your mystery man.”

Hades growled, “He’s not my anything woman, except maybe a dead man when I kill him.” He stomped off.

Jessie shook her head as a shiver of fear ran down her spine. She’d seen that look in their eyes before and it never ended well for the man who caused it.

She shook her head and made her way down the hall to Hades’ room. She knocked on the door and opened it to pure chaos as Hope and Chloe were playing tug of war with a pillow. Jessie burst into laughter, as the pillow split down the side and suddenly there were feathers everywhere, floating down as Chloe shook her part of the pillow.

For a moment, Hope got a horrified look on her face and her hand covered her mouth as she was covered in feathers. Then she shook her head and laughed out loud, as even more feathers flew.

Chloe turned and stood between Hope and her watching Jessie carefully.

Hope noticed her dog on alert and turned her head toward the door where she saw Jessie standing there. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. She wouldn’t let go of the pillow. I’m so sorry about the mess.”

Jessie laughed and came into the room. “Oh, don’t worry about that. A broom will clean it up.” She giggled as she came closer to the bed. Offering the other woman the clothes she brought her she said, “I thought you might like clothes to wear inside of your pj’s.”

Hope blushed and grabbed the clothes she was offered. “Oh yes please. I’ll be right back.” She scurried into the bathroom and changed quickly. Coming out again, she found Jessie sitting on the bed petting Chloe.

Hope flushed at the mess they made this morning. “Her name is Chloe and I’m Hope.”

Jessie turned to her and smiled. “I’m Jessie.” Then she really looked at the other woman and saw so many questions in her eyes. Patting the bed next to her she said, “Come over here, and we can talk.”

Hope sat down next to her with Chloe between them. Gathering her courage, she looked around the room and asked, “What is this place?”

“This is the clubhouse for the Hell’s Guardian Warriors. The men here are all ex-military. My man is Lucifer and he the President of the group.”

“You are with—with him?” Her eyes grew wide.

Jessie laughed out loud. “He’s not as scary as you think. This entire farm belongs to Lucifer, it was at one time his family farm, and when the guys were discharged from the military, they came here and formed this club. He brought his men here to heal and recovery. For most of them, the military was the only life they knew and Lucifer figured they were better off here until they could assimilate back to civilian life.” She shrugged. “When war is all you know it’s hard to get used to life on the outside. Anyway most of the guys that live here suffer from PTSD.”

Hope cocked her head to the side. “Does Hades?”

Jessie petted Chloe and nodded. “His problem is the dreams he has every night. He doesn’t think the brothers know but he never sleeps more than an hour at a time. On his last mission, Lucifer and a dozen men were scouting an area when they were ambushed. When the shooting stopped, only four were still alive. They left eight men in the desert to rot and took the four remaining to a hideout they had and for the next four months, they tried to break them. They couldn’t, they were military men, but it took four months to find them.”

Hope stayed quiet while she waited for Jessie to continue.

“No one knew it but Hades was one of the men the rebels left in the desert to rot. The men following the main group found him alive and brought him to the same camp. They kept him separate from the others and left him. They figured he’d die from his wounds but he hung on. They told him his troop abandoned him in the desert and they played mind games on him. They let him hear the others screaming as they tortured them, telling him every day he would be better off to tell them what they wanted to hear rather than heal enough to go through the torture they had in mind for him.”

“What did he do?” She looked horrified at what he’d gone through.

Jessie shook her head sadly. “He never said a word. He kept his silence for four very long months. He wouldn’t even tell them his name. They would beat him, starve him, play their sick little mind games with him but Hades wouldn’t break. None of the men did and that just pissed off their captures even more. When they were rescued, no one realized Hades was even there. He laid in the military hospital alone and forgotten. The others all came home in a group, Hades followed them a couple weeks later. Then he found them here and Lucifer insisted he stay here with them. They were so glad he survived that hellhole. One by one, the men who served under Lucifer have made their way here and he’s welcomed them all.”

“So how many men live here?”

“Maybe a dozen or more. They come, they go. Lucifer told them all they would be welcome. More and more men are finding him and staying. He offers them a place to fit in when the civilian world doesn’t.”

Hope looked toward her and had to ask, “Are we the only women here?”

Jessie chuckled, “Lord no, there are a couple more. I belong with Lucifer, then there’s Luna- she’s Aries’s woman and Shiloh belongs with Demon. I’m sure as more time passes the guys will claim their own women but that’s what we got for now.” Nodding she assured Hope, “I’m sure you’ll meet the others very soon.” Then she looked down at Chloe. “We’ve all been where you are right now. The guys rescued us from dangerous situations and we’re slowly becoming a family here. Don’t worry about fitting in.”

Hope felt tears welling in her eyes. “I’ve never had a real family before. I’m not sure about staying. Usually, I had no one that wanted me for me.”

Jessie smiled. “I think Hades is going to ask you to stay. I’ve never seen him look like he did today. He will protect you. I am also warning you. He may claim you as these guys call it. You’d better be ready.” She laughed. “When they find the woman they want… They are determined men.” She patted her hand. “What do you say we go get you something to eat and see what the guys are up too? Charlie is back and they’re making plans to hunt the creep down.”

Hope nodded and got to her feet. Looking around the room, she shook her head. “I need to clean up this mess anyway.”

Jessie hooked her arm through Hope’s and led her down the hall. “Breakfast first, then we clean your room.”

Hope stilled at her touch and shook her head. “Please I need to clean up the mess.” She began working her hands rubbing her skin so hard it was turning red.

Jessie nodded and said, “Well, let’s go find a broom then.”

A few minutes later, the room was spotless. Jessie watched as Hope had cleaned the room thoroughly. She moved quickly and got into every corner even after the feathers were gone. Jessie knew there was more to her story but didn’t press it at the moment.

Hope finally put the broom aside and smiled nervously. “I’m done. I’ll just put the broom away and then we can see what the others are up to.”

“We need to get some food in you before we see the guys. Hades will have my head if I neglect your wellbeing.”

Hope ducked her head and nodded.

They walked down the hall and entered the kitchen.

Two other women looked up at her and smiled. “Hey there, you must be Hope, I’m Luna and this is Shiloh.”

She nodded at both women then looked around at the massive amounts of food they were preparing. Huge bowls of hash browns and scrambled eggs along with three plates of toast were there and Shiloh was grabbing dishes of sausages and bacon out of the oven. There was enough food to feed an army and they were all setting it out buffet fashion.

Jessie grinned and told her, “You better grab a plate and take what you want because these guys won’t leave you anything if you don’t.”