Hades's POVI entered the kitchen and saw Stella in a pose that could only be described as fight mode. She held a plate of food like a lifecoat, while two of my men glared at her with a gloomy expression. I could see anger flashing in their eyes, and, hell, I didn't like it one bit. They were surrounding her like predators, and that made my blood boil. " What the hell is happening here?" I asked, coming closer. Stella glanced at me with panic, but she stayed in her spot. She was slightly shaking, and I knew this was my fault. "Go to your room," I ordered her, and for once, she did not argue. She quickly left, visibly happy to be out of here. When Stella was gone, I went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. I have opened it and taken a long sip. My men probably took my action as a sign of calmness and started chatting among themselves. " What the fu*k was that?" I yelled, slamming the bottle against the counter. Both of them looked at me in panic and took a step back as a
Stella's POV I closed the door to my room and let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. Cold sweat ran down my back as I slipped onto the floor, completely numb. What had just happened? I hid my face in my hands, shaking uncontrollably. Did I just threaten the most dangerous man in this city? What was wrong with me? I was not in a position to make demands, especially since I was locked in his house, surrounded by his deadly helpers. We made a deal, and I hope he would hold to his end of the bargain. But demanding it just like that was like a death wish. What if he was mad at me? What if he will tell me to leave, or worse, he will ask his men to take care of me? You should not mess with mafia members, and you should not mess with their boss. And I just did that. I sat in silence, desperately trying to calm down my heart. I listened to the steps in the hall, but the house seemed quiet. Finally, I forced myself from the floor, even if my knees were still weak.
Hades's POV Everything went quiet when Stella entered the dining room. She looked gorgeous in the gown I gave her. Marissa had an excellent taste. I made a mental note to thank her later. Stella gracefully came closer, and I noticed Javier had stopped breathing momentarily, admiring her. I did not like it one bit. " There she is," I spoke, standing up. Stella shyly looked around, and I rushed to her side. " Come on, dear, meet my friends," I said, ensuring her attention was on me. I leaned forward as if I tried to kiss her, but instead, I whispered. " Showtime." Stella nodded, and I took her hand. " Javier, meet my love, Stella," I introduced her, ensuring to put an accent on the word 'my'. He was known for constantly hitting at women, usually way above his league. I pulled Stella closer to me, hoping he would get a hint. Then I glanced at the woman sitting next to him. " And this is his sister, Vivian," I added coldly. Stella seemed to recognise my tone, and she imme
Stella's POV I looked around the room Liam had assigned to me. It was spacious and bright. In the middle was the enormous bed with beautiful silk sheets. I touched the soft fabric. The air was filled with the delicate scent of flowers. I noticed a small bouquet standing on the bedside drawer. This room was nothing I expected from a place like this. But I wouldn’t be myself if I hadn't done one thing. I opened the wardrobe and looked inside. There were no skeletons, but I had to check. To be honest, it was completely empty, so I placed my own bag inside. Since 'unpacking' took me ten seconds, I had more time to familiarise myself with the place. Soon, I discovered a bathroom with a giant bathtub in the middle. Soft towels were neatly folded on the table next to it. Drawers were filled with every accessory a woman could ask for. There were various shampoos, conditioners, creams, and other things I could barely recognise. I sat on the bathtub's edge, wondering if Liam had
Hades's POVI watched Stella's eyes widen in... shock, fear, I could not tell. She seemed to be frozen, unable to speak. " Hello, " I said, hoping my voice would sound calm. It looked like this single word brought her back to reality. " You are the boss?" She asked, but the question came out as a squeak. People usually reacted like this, but in different circumstances. I was not a threat to her. " I am." My reply was simple. Stella shook her head. " You did not tell me." This time, it sounded like an accusation. I raised my brow, surprised by how quickly she composed herself. I was genuinely impressed. " You never asked," I replied with a slight smirk, and she gasped. " I usually do not ask people if they were involved in the criminal industry."" Fair enough," I chuckled. " Do you want to sit?" I asked, pointing to the chair in front of my desk. Stella offered me a suspicious look, so I moved to my seat, leading by example. She slowly followed my lead. " I am sure you have some
Stella's POV My body felt numb. Liam offered to take me home, but I politely declined, too scared that her would notice how freaked out I was. He did not pressure me; he just called the cab and waited until I was gone. When I reached my home, my body gave up completely. I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall for support. He was a member of the mafia! My head was spinning whenever those words appeared in my mind. Of course, it could be some kind of sick joke, but my guts were telling me it was a freaking truth. Now, it all made sense. His terrifying, mysterious aura. How the others stayed away from him, too scared to bother him. But, mafia? I could not even believe it was a real thing. Maybe somewhere else, but here? It seemed surreal. I have spent another fifteen minutes staring at the wall. What have I done? I could easily answer that question. I got myself bound to a member of the mafia. If that wasn't scary enough, I offered to do anything in exchange for his h