Page 148 of Sinful Hearts

“Dude, this car issick.”

Hades glances up into the rearview mirror, grinning at Nora in the backseat. “Thanks. Do you drive yet?”

“No,” she sulks. “The Queen forbids it.”

I roll my eyes. “Idon’t forbid it, Nora,” I sigh. “Thelawforbids it. You’re fifteen.”

“Well, she can practice.”

I shoot Hades a withering look as he grins at me, clearly well aware of what he’s doing.

“Yeah!” Nora chirps from the back seat. “I can practice!” She sighs, shaking her head at Hades in the mirror. “She thinks just because she doesn’t drive, no one else should.”

I blush as he swivels his gaze to me. “You don’t know how to drive?”

“I’ve lived in completely un-drivable cities my entire life,” I shrug defensively. “So no, I’ve never learned.”

“Well, we should change that.”

I glance at him, simmering when I see that cocky grin and those piercing eyes lancing into me. He clears his throat as he looks back at Nora again.

“Hey, by the way: any other guys at school bothering you these days?”

She shakes her head, her lips pursing.

“No. After what happened to Theo—”

“He’s going to be fine, you know.”

“He is?”

Hades nods. “I know his dad. Theo’s got some physical therapy to do, and one more surgery on his shoulder. But he’s a tough kid. He’ll be okay. Nick’s on the mend, too.”

Nora smiles a little. “Well, I think the whole world had already heard the story of them getting kicked out of my apartment. So when they got jumped…” Her mouth twists. “Basically the whole school is now terrified of me. Or at least all the guys are.”

I smile.

“Good,” Hades grunts. “Keep it that way. Little shits should be scared of women with backbone.”

Nora grins.

“Listen,” he continues. “Do you carry a keyring?”

My sister nods.

“Here.”

Hades reaches across me, opening the glove compartment and plucking out something small before closing it again. He twists his arm behind him, handing the fob with a button on it to Nora.

“Put this on your keyring.”

“What is this,” she frowns at it. “A tracker?”

“Emergency button. It pings if you push it twice.”

“And then, what, you go full on Batman and come rescue me?” she says dryly.

Hades chuckles. “No, but your sister will. I’ll hook it up to her phone when we get to my place.”

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