Page 169 of Stolen Hearts

So I’m not going to.

I’m just never going to let him go.

Ever.

40

CALLIE

Hades is waitingfor us the second the elevator doors to the Drakos estate foyer glide open noiselessly. His eyes snap right to Castle and narrow dangerously.

Instantly, my pulse spikes, and I yank my hand out of Castle’s to lurch between him and my brother.

“Back off, Hades!” I hiss. “No. Don’t even fucking think it!”

My brother frowns deeply, staring at me like I’m nuts. “Think what?”

I shake my head. “You arenotattacking him!”

A small smile lifts the corners of Hades’ mouth. “Attackhim?” he snorts, raising his eyes to my husband.

Hades is tall, and seriously built. But Castle’s taller and bigger.

My brother glances back at me, frowning. “Do I look fucking suicidal?”

“Ilove him, Hades,” I mutter fiercely. “So you can get on board with that, or you can fuck right—”

“I know you do, Cals,” he says softly, reaching out and messing up my hair before I whack his hand away. “You’re…not exactly subtle, you know.”

My face heats as Hades grins at me and then raises his eyes to Castle. His grin fades.

“I love her right back, Hades,” Castle growls quietly. “And I’m not ever going tostoploving her. So we can make something of this right here and now, or we can shake hands and—”

“Will you two fuckingrelax? Jesus Christ,” Hades sighs, smirking as he reaches out a hand and claps Castle on the shoulder. “I was going to thank you for saving my sister’s life, Captain America. That okay with you, or did you want to throw down in my grandmother’s fucking foyer?”

Slowly, Castle’s lips curl into a grin as he reaches out and shakes Hades’ offered hand.

“I mean, wearetechnically brothers-in-law.”

Hades groans. “Easy. I’m just tiptoeing in the door of accepting this whole thing. Let’s not go crazy and start buying each other Christmas presents.”

“Shit. Does this mean I should return what I already got you?”

Hades’ brows lift. “Is it good?”

“Definitely.”

“Then fuck no. I want it.”

I laugh as I throw my arms around my brother and hug him close.

“Thank you,” I whisper as he hugs me back.

“Yeah, well, keep the fucking PDA to a bare minimum, yeah?”

“No promises,” Castle chuckles, pulling me back into his arms and leaning down to kiss my cheek.

Hades makes a barf face and rolls his eyes.

---