Nights Burn With Regret — by Nathan Perez 43

A lies don’t depetisant store momnep

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A discount department store mannequin

Hades

I watched Alec carry her toward the exit, the sway of her hair catching the light until she was out of sight.

Normally, I wouldn’t tolerate another man laying so much as a fingertip on what was mine. But Alec wasn’t just any man, he was the one person I trusted more than anyone else in the world. A man who would sooner cut off his own hand than touch my woman with anything resembling an indecent thought.

Not that Alec seemed interested in women at all. Or men. Or anyone, for that matter. He’d always been detached, focused only on what he deemed worthy of his attention. And today, that worth was keeping Violet safe while I handled the rest.

I came straight here the moment I got off my private jet. I didn’t even bother going to the company when I heard the board of directors, and my father were waiting for me. They could wait years for all I cared. In fact, most of them were probably relieved I didn’t show. They were afraid of me, and would do anything to see me gone.

But that wasn’t the point.

I couldn’t wait anymore.

Fuck. I couldn’t wait to see that woman and claim her as mine. How could a single night leave me like this? The desire to kiss her, to fuck her, to hold her had been gnawing at me every day since I laid eyes on her.

I’d been with countless women, but none had ever made me feel this desperate, hard, and obsessed.

It didn’t take long to track her down, I’d had people watching her from the start. When I arrived, I wasn’t prepared for the sight that greeted me.

She was on her knees, head bowed, humiliated.

How dare they.

Only I had the right to put her on her knees. No one else was allowed to touch her, hurt her, or make her crumble.

If they’d made her suffer, I’d make them beg for death before I was done.

“B-baby, did you see that?” the woman’s shrill voice rang out behind me. “Are you just going to let her go? Let him disrespect me in front of you like that?”

Another voice joined hers, lower but no less irritating. “Of course not. I’d never let anyone treat you like that, baby.” He yelled. “Hey, man! How dare you disrespect my girlfriend like that! Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I tilted my head slightly.

Right. It was time to take out the trash.

Without rushing, I turned toward them and slowly rolled up my sleeves. The fabric slid over my forearms,

revealing skin, muscle, and the faint lines of veins beneath,

“Fuck, someone pinch me. Am I dead? Is this heaven?”

“How can a man be this attractive? It’s not fair.”

“I know, right? It’s Ike I’m staring at a painting. I don’t even want to blink.”

“Wait… did you hear him call that girl his woman earlier? So they’re together? If that’s true, I doubt what those

two said about her is real.”

“Exactly. Why would she flirt with a guy that looks like… what’s a good word? Oh, a discount department store

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Account department store marmers

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mannequin, when she has a man who looks like the reason gods created humans?”

The murmur of agreement spread through the crowd. I let my gaze wander over them, bored, but I saw the way the couple’s expressions twisted at the shift in public opinion.

They didn’t like it.

The man’s jaw tightened, a faint vein bulging in his temple as he took a step forward. “Who the fuck do you think you are,” he growled, “to just come in here and act like a king? Bring that girl back right now. She disrespected my woman, both of you will go on your knees and apologize, or I will-”

I looked at him like he was a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe and glanced at my watch.

9:30 p.m.

Then I raised my head again. “What will you do?”

He blinked. “What?”

“I believe you have ears,” I said, slipping one hand into my pocket. “Or did you swallow them along with your brain? Is that why your stomach is bulging so much?”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by muffled laughter.

“” someone muttered under their breath, “that was brutal. And he said it with a straight, and bored face.”

The man’s skin flushed a blotchy red. “How dare you! Do you know who I am? I could ruin your life if I wanted. Just because you wear an expensive suit doesn’t mean you’re someone. I own two companies worth millions. Do you think you’re up to my status? Don’t make me make you a dead man over a pretty girl.”

The woman beside him scoffed. “Pretty? She’s not that pretty. She’s a fucking slut, trying so hard to make you like her because she knew this man is nothing compared to you.”

He chuckled darkly at her words, eyes locking on me as if expecting some reaction. “Girls these days,” he said with a smirk, “they’ll do anything to get into my pants. Man, if you’re done with her and don’t need her anymore, you can pass her to me. I don’t mind having a taste.”

Even his own woman frowned at that, but my expression didn’t change.

My lips curved, but there was no warmth in it. I glanced at my watch again and murmured, “You know what? Screw the two-minute rule.”

“Huh?” he said.

Before he could blink, I was already in front of him. My hand clamped down on his head, shoving it low, and my knee came up hard. The crack of impact as my knee smashed into his face echoed through the space.

The man’s scream tore through the air. “Ahhhh! Fuck! My face.”

Blood was already dripping from his nose, staining his shirt. My fingers tightened on his tie, jerking him upright so fast he choked on his own breath.

“Huh?” I tilted my head, letting my gaze sweep over his paling face. “We just started.”

“W-wait…” He tried to pull away, his hands scrabbling at y wrist, but I only gripped harder, dragging him

closer.

“Don’t even think about resting,” I said, my voice low. “You’re still breathing, so you can still take more.”

“Please, wait!!”

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A discount depestment store mannerun

“Now I’ll show you exactly what happens when you touch what’s mine.”

Elija Author

Hades is so hot. Thank you for reading.

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