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TOB 59 ROSE AMARA POV The door opens, and I grit my teeth. The only people who would barge in like that are either one of the elite group or Uncle Raven. My options are narrowed down since my granduncle has an appointment with a doctor today. Sure enough, Hades saunters in, eyes flaming and face tightened in a permanent scowl. Of course. It was only a matter of time before he followed. Keith smiles at him. 'Hades, long time no see." 'Keith." Hades greets back, barely tipping his head in the Japanese's direction. He looks like a man on a mission and in no mood for small talk. Not that he ever is. Keith's smile remains as he stands up, buttons his jacket, and then shakes my hand. "I'll be in touch." 'Looking forward to it." His hand remains in mine for a second too long. 'Before I go, may I give you a piece of advice?" 'Yes, of course." 'History does repeat itself, so you might want to look closely at that." And with that, Keith releases my hand and steps out of the office. When the door closes behind him, Hades is in my face. "Why the f-ck did you let him escape?" I sit down and continue drinking my coffee even though it's turned cold.  "Because he was useless." 'Useless? You had to feign amnesia for uselessness?" 'I overestimated the information he had. Turns out it holds no value to us." 'We get to decide that after we torture him. Besides, since he obviously kept things, he deserves death." That asshole has too many enemies to count. If he got the chance, Hades would be the first person to shoot Ethan in the face. Pakstan, Thorn, and even Pharaoah would follow.  None of them liked him because he rose in the ranks so fast and didn't work hard enough like the rest. And while Ethan's sin—that he plotted the brotherhood's demise—is punishable by the worst form of death, I just couldn't do it or let anyone else do it for me. The breaking of my heart I heard earlier still resonates in my chest like an echo. Even though I tried to ignore it during the afternoon, now all I want to do is curl up in a ball in a dark place and stay there. 'Just let him go, Hades." 'I can't just let the motherf-cker go. He needs to pay in blood." 'Have you forgotten that he's still my husband?" 'That doesn't make him untouchable." 'No, but if everyone else finds out he's a traitor, it'll reflect badly on me. Pharaoah and Thorn are already plotting my fall, and if I give them this chance, they won't hesitate to chop my head off. So… just let it go. For my sake, Hades." His lips twist, and I'm sure he has a thousand objections, but I played the card he can't refuse—me. It's a low blow, but it was the only way he'd agree. Besides, none of what I said is a lie. 'Fine, but if he shows up again, I'll f-cking murder him." 'If he shows up again, I'll do it myself." Hades gives me an undecipherable glance as if he doesn't believe me but leaves it at that. I leave work late and barely check on Bella before my numb feet lead me to my room. When I open the door, the first thing that hits me is his distinctive scent, which I hate. I hate that his presence is a breathing being in every corner of the room. It's not only about his jacket that's casually flung on the chair or the masculine traces he left behind. That's only the beginning because everything in this place reminds me of him. It reminds me of how he sneaks up on me from behind and picks me up to fuck me on the bed.  Or when I wake up to him either spooning me from behind or eating me out until I scream. Or when we wrestle to see who gets the upper hand. I lose—mostly on purpose—just so he'll f-ck me roughly. Or when he thrusts toys into me, his gleaming eyes never leaving mine because we both love the depravity of it. It hasn't been a long marriage, but he's become an inseparable part of my life. Now that he's gone, I don't know how to pick up the pieces. I wish I really had amnesia so all of this would be easier. But would it, really? I don't bother with a shower or with changing my clothes. Removing my dress, I kick it and the shoes away and flop on the bed in only my underwear. Even the damn sheets smell like him, clean and masculine. It won't be long before his presence completely vanishes. It's for the best. I know that, but a tear slides down my cheek as I close my eyes. God, it hurts. It's not supposed to, but I can almost hear my heart shattering again. The pain is so raw I gasp for air. It's like I caught a nasty disease with no cure. I try telling myself it'll be better with time, but I said that lie seven years ago, and it never worked.  If anything, I kept thinking about him day in and day out like an addict. I hated it. I hated myself back then. So why am I repeating it again? No answer comes to mind, but tears do. They won't stop, and I fall asleep, my eyes wet and my heart in shreds. Soft fingers wipe them away before they slide down my body. I startle, eyes snapping open. A large shadow looms over me. I scream, but his hand muffles any sound I might make. I pause as his scent fills my nostrils and seeps into my bones. Is this a dream or a nightmare? It could be both. "You didn't really think you would get rid of me, Princess?"