Page 39 of Muzzled

Hades remained at the entrance, eying her. “Are you serving the role of lead or distraction?”

“Lead,” she and Ryan answered quickly. Bowing out of the conversation, she hooked her stained fingers into the sleeves of her jacket and hugged her knees.

Ryan’s jaw twitched as he stood by the window. “Micah’s being tracked by a shade. I believe it was the takedown from thirty years ago. The one that went full feral.”

“It would seem the last few have been full feral before you took them down,” Hades stated, his head cocking to the side. “Perhaps it’s time to take you off the lead position and pass that role to Bo.”

Persephone shook her head vehemently, flipping her skirt out as she crossed her legs. “Bo’s too young,” she protested. “I don’t want him put in danger. Use Alex.”

She caught the tightening of Ryan’s shoulders, the nearly imperceptible shift in his stance that made him appear almost chastised.

“If there’s actually a shade topside, and if it truly has been for three decades, I have to wonder how you’ve been spending your time,” Hades continued, glancing over at her. “Or wasting it.”

Her ire piqued, she straightened her back. “Ryan’s been out on the streets every night I’ve known him,” she offered, her eyes darting to him. “I would hardly say he’s been wasting his time.”

Persephone sighed and clasped her hands on her knees. “Honey, we aren’t saying he isn’t out there doing his best. Just that his best may not be sufficient.” She reached over and skimmed her hand over Ryan’s thigh. “Besides, I want this boy back home where he belongs. Not traipsing around with, well, notyouspecifically, but common people like you. I’m sure you can understand our concern.”

Hades stepped farther into the room, ignoring her as he addressed Ryan. “Are you equipped to handle the addition of a shade to your mission, if one truly has escaped? I think I speak for both of us when I say we’re disappointed if you not only allowed its escape but you failed to notice it for this long.”

“I assure you, it’s here. And I guarantee I will bring in both targets,” Ryan replied, his gaze locked on the back wall. “May I be dismissed?”

His boss looked at him long and hard for a moment before nodding, holding his hand out to Persephone, who promptly turned to Ryan and ran her hands through his hair, fussing over the length until Hades escorted her from the room.

Ryan peered through the curtains in silence for a few minutes, then closed them tight. His shoulders finally dropped and he turned to her. “I’m sorry about Seph. She’s not usually that nasty.”

“Completely unnecessary,” she assured him, her heart still thundering in her chest from the absolute power she felt radiating off of the deities. “Frankly, she was everything I would expect in a goddess.” She stood and walked over to him, reaching past him to open the curtains and check for herself they were gone. “I think I would’ve been disappointed if shehadn’tbeen so sweetly condescending.”

He chuckled humorlessly and locked his hands behind his head, arching his neck as he stared at the ceiling. “She’s definitely an acquired taste.”

“I’m sure she is,” she muttered, running her fingers through her hair self-consciously as she recalled the stunning goddess’s appraisal of her. “Does Hades know you acquired that taste?”

His biceps twitched. “It’s my job to ensure her security. There’s nothing more to it than that.”

Glancing toward the stack of canvases propped between the bedside table and the wall, she smirked and elbowed him gently in the ribs, unwilling to push him over an obviously touchy subject when he was already so tense. “You really should get a haircut,” she said, stepping in front of him and fiddling with his sleeves. “And straighten this out. You’re an absolute mess, honey.” He dropped his arms and rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into his back pockets as she continued to poke and prod at him. “These jeans. Is that awrinkle? Oh, Ryan. You didn’t shave today, did you? Look at how scruffy you are. You really must come home at once.”

He bit his lip and attempted to keep a straight face. “If you think that was bad, you should see her around Bo when he’s an incoherent, hungover mess.”

Feigning shock, she clutched her hands to her heart. “Bo is young and sweet and innocent. How dare you insinuate my baby is anything less than the adorable angel he is? Besides, he’s too young to know better.”

“That’s actually pretty accurate.” He grinned, the tension in his face easing away. “Regardless, I am sorry for how she spoke to you. For the record, I think you pull off the Gothic-chic look better than anyone.”

Smoothing the cuffs of her jacket, she smiled. “Technically, it’s more punk-chic, but thank you.” She spun on the spot. “It accentuates my commonness well.”

Something shifted in his eyes, and he took a step closer to her. “I’m sorry.”

Skimming her fingers along his belt buckle, she rose up on her toes and brushed her lips over his. “Stop. Apologizing.” She released him and backed up. “So what’s our plan?”

*

Ryan exhaled andlicked his lips.

What’s our plan?

Our plan.

Our. Plan.

He dove for her mouth as he tangled his hands in her hair and her fingers tugged at the collar of his shirt. Her tongue swiped across his lower lip and traveled across his jaw, her small hands pushing him against the window while she nipped at him.

---