Misted (Team Zero #5) by Rina Kent

“I didn’t ask him to save me from killing her.” His voice sounds irritated. “I had so many plans to punish Nero’s killer. Since he took my pleasure away, he needs to be put down.”

I reign in my emotions and say in a cool voice. “Since you’re talking to me, you want something.”

“That’s my Mist.” His lips curve, but it’s neither a smile or a smirk. “What are you willing to do for his life?”

“What do you want?”

“Inside info on Ink.” Hades taps his chin. “You see, no matter how I torture that little rubbish, I haven’t been quite able to break him. I don’t like it.”

The sick freaking bastard.

Despite the urge to stab him with his own finger, I nod anyway.

Hades is mistaken if he thinks he can get anything on Ink. Even I don’t know much about his real identity and how deep he really runs.

Ink and I will work together and I’ll only tell Hades what Ink approves of. If he believes any of Team Zero’s members would side with him against each other, then he must’ve not been watching us closely enough all these decades.

“Let Hawk out,” I demand.

“I will. I just need to know that whatever information you give me is authentic.”

“How will you make sure of that?”

“Is Ink on or off Omega?”

I gulp. This is his way to test my authenticity. He wants me to say no so he’ll capture Ink again, but I know Ink enough.

“On,” I say calmly. His eyes were somewhat glassy and I pray he didn’t begin detoxing.

“Correct.” Hades sounds bored. “For that, I’ll give you a reward once I’m out.”

He heads to the door.

“How about Hawk?” I call after him.

“I need to take out my frustration on him first. Whether he survives or not is up to him.”

“Wait!”

The door swings shut behind him. My chest rises and falls so heavily, my heart almost bursts open.

Dammit. How long am I supposed to survive without Hawk? It’s been fifteen years. Whole damn fifteen.

A commotion sounds outside before the door swings open and… Hawk is shoved inside.

He curses at whoever shoved him and then he turns in my direction as if sensing my presence.

My body is already rearing towards him. I trip over from the bed and fall to my knees. Hawk runs my way. I stand on wobbly legs and meet him halfway. His arms wrap around me and mine clasp his waist as I breathe in his ocean scent and drown into his comforting presence.

Even with the video, a small part of me thought it could all be a dream. Now that his heat surrounds me, I know it’s a reality. I soak into him harder, wishing I can melt inside him and never find a way out.

Since that day I was thrown into a similar white room and he was the only one who lifted his head and looked at me, Hawk has become my life. I survived without him for too long, I can’t do it anymore.

“I thought you died.” His voice is thick with emotions. He pulls back and slides his hands up to palm my cheeks. The deep turquoise of his eyes stares at me with so much pain, it knots my heart. “I thought you fucking died. Why did you stop fighting her?”

“She said you were dead.” An involuntary sob tears past my lips. “I didn’t want to live after hearing that.”

“Fuck.” He wraps a hand around my nape and presses a kiss on the top of my hair.

I break down and tell him all about Molly and what she did to us. He sits me on the bed, but I climb into his lap and curl into him. He holds me through all the horrible re-telling.

He holds me through it all.

Hawk has always been my anchor even when he hated me and I pushed him away. He’s been my constant rock who brought me strength and comfort.

“She killed our baby, Hawk.” I finish in a hoarse cry. “She killed our baby and I trusted her like a sister.”

“I wish I killed her more painfully.” He sounds controlled, his chilling temper simmering under the surface. “It’s not your fault. None of it is your fault, Hellion.”

That makes me cry harder and louder. How much have I waited for anyone – especially Hawk – to tell me that? How many times have I slept at night thinking that Hawk would never forgive me?

“I love you, Hawk. There hasn’t been a day where I wasn’t in love with you.”

His ocean eyes shine with raw heat that curls my toes. He flips me on my back. I yelp, but I don’t have time to readjust.

Hawk yanks his trousers down with one hand and tears my nightgown with the other. My nipples tighten and I’m already soaked. He slams inside me in one deep, raw thrust.

I almost come then and there.

“Even when I thought I hated you, I loved you.” He groans against my ear as his thrusts turn more fierce and out of control. “I don’t only love you, Hellion, I’m fucking obsessed with you. I want you and need you and I can’t imagine my life without you.”

This time, I do come, screaming his name.

Then I’m mumbling everything on my mind. I tell him how much he makes me strong. How much I only want to be strong for him and with him alone. How he owned me body, heart, and soul since the first day we met.

He comes with a grunt, holding me close like he’s also afraid to let me go.

At this moment, I feel alive and know that I also brought him to life.