Hades Pain (Devils Riot MC Book 6)

by E. C. Land

  “I’m sure you didn’t want to hear all that, but I needed to share that with you. I’ll understand if you don’t want me anymore,” Emerson says, glancing up at me with tears falling down her cheeks.

  “Precious, there’s nothing in this world that will ever get in the way of us being together. You’re my queen. I can’t survive without you,” I murmur before leaning down to take her mouth in a soul-wrenching kiss.

  A kiss that I hope shows her more than words just how much she means to me.

  36

  Emerson

  Getting back to the clubhouse, I couldn’t be happier. Even if I want to pull my hair out. As much as I love everyone around here, the hovering is getting to be annoying. Well, with the women. The men merely ask if I need anything constantly. The only one who has yet to completely annoy me is Hades.

  Since coming home three days ago, he’s spent most of his time with me, only leaving long enough to handle club business. I don’t ask and he doesn’t tell. It’s none of my business what he does for the club. I’ve seen movies, I know what it means to be the Enforcer for an MC.

  Besides, that’s like him questioning me about the way I run my salon.

  Speaking of my salon, it’s been closed since the day I’d been kidnapped and Nora was shot. Thankfully, she’s okay. Her brother Levi, however, is pissed he didn’t get ahold of the bitch who shot his sister. From what Nora told me over the phone, Levi blamed the club at first, but after speaking to Twister, he found out what really went down.

  So much has changed in the time I was away. Izzy and Kenny’s little ones are growing like weeds and my nephew, I swear, Logan hit a growth spurt. Then there’s Cleo. She looks to be ready to pop any day, but I think she has another month to go. Lynsdey couldn’t stop crying when Hades carried me into the clubhouse. She’d apologize profusely for the way she acted. Both of us agreed to blame it on hormones as Lynsdey announced they were having another baby. The smile on Thorn’s face when he heard the news was that of one proud daddy.

  Life for my family and friends seems to be going great. Well, most of them anyway. Ally is still finding herself. This whole ordeal has really gotten to her— it’s in her eyes. She can barely speak to anyone. I did find out she took a bat to Booker while he was hanging chained in the shed. I would have loved to have seen her in action.

  I don’t really like thinking of Booker and all the hell he put me through. The pain I still have to go through. I can barely sit with my back against something without it hurting. Steph refuses to tell me the exact number of stitches it took to close all the lacerations. However, I don’t need her to tell me to know it took more than I care to think about.

  Along with the pain in my back, there are the stitches in my stomach as well. I’ve yet to look down and see them. How Hades can stand to look at me is beyond my comprehension.

  At the hospital, I told Hades everything. I thought he’d bail knowing it all, but instead, he’s been supportive. I can’t help but think of the nurse’s words I’d heard her telling him as I laid there with my eyes closed. I’ll always cherish the way Beth didn’t even know what I’d been through but yet was able to give the best advice. I know she said them to Hades, although I’m sure they were meant for me. This is just a hurdle, and together, Hades and I can overcome it.

  Slowly climbing off the bed, I make my way to the bathroom. Turning the light on, I face the mirror. With clothes on, I almost look normal, no marks marring my skin. But I know what lays beneath the clothes. Lifting Hades’ shirt, I gently slip it over my head, leaving me exposed from the waist up.

  Steeling myself for what I’m about to see, I focus on my stomach. A gasp escapes my throat at the first look. Tears flood my eyes at the sight of the slits those evil men gave me. Using one of my hands, I trace along each one. Visions of the men who gave them to me flash into my mind.

  When I get to the last slit, the worst of them all, I sob. My knees give out underneath me and I collapse to the floor. Why did those men have to do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve these marks? The mark of pure evil.

  “Emmy,” I hear from a distance, but I can’t seem to focus. “Fuck, Emmy.” Ricochet’s voice sounds closer now. “Burner, go get Hades now,” he calls out as I feel a towel being draped over me.

  “What’s going on?” Twister’s voice comes from the other room.

  “Don’t come in here, man. Just get Hades here,” Ricochet yells.

  “He's coming. Now what the fuck is going on?” Twister growls.

  “It’s Emerson, damnit. I came in here to tell her I was heading home, and I fuckin’ found her on the floor sobbing hysterically. That’s what’s fucking going on,” Ricochet says as he kneels beside me.

  “Fuck,” Twister spits out.

  “Move out of my way.” I hear Hades’ voice. My Hades, the man who I love more than anything. Yet, can he really love someone who looks like me? Scarred from front to back. Never will I be able to wear a bikini for him, let alone have sex with the lights on.

  “Emerson, baby, come on. Let’s get you up,” Hades murmurs as he lifts me up off the floor and takes me back into the bedroom where he gently places me on the bed. With a hand still holding me, he uses the other to cup my cheek. “Precious, what happened?” he asks.

  Diverting my eyes, I tell him, “I wanted to see them.”

  I swear I hear him mutter something under his breath. Or maybe it was one of the other men in the room.

  “Can you all give us a minute?” Hades calls out.

  “Sure thing. Come find us if you need anything,” Twister says.

  “I’ll leave you to it. I’m heading out. Gotta get back to New York. Call me if you need me,” Ricochet states as he comes closer to kiss my forehead. “I’ll be callin’ ya later, Emmy, to check on you.”

  I give him a nod. My throat is so clogged with emotions, I couldn’t even speak if I wanted to.

  As soon as everyone leaves the room, I finally look at Hades. “Precious, what made you want to see the scars now?” he asks gently.

  “I don’t know. I felt like I needed to see them,” I whisper.

  “I get the need to want to see something, but, baby, I wish you’d have waited for me to be here when you were ready,” Hades murmurs while wiping the tears from my face.

  “How are you able to look at me right now? Those men marred my skin. I touch them, and I can see each of their faces. You see the one that runs down to my pelvis? It’s Booker’s,” I scream out as I rip the towel from my chest. “I mean it, Hades. How can you stand the sight of what those men did to me?”

  “Because I don’t see the fuckin’ scars, Precious. I only see you. Those weren’t men who marred your skin, they were monsters. Monsters, I intend to find and end. But I’m telling you, baby, these markings on your body when fully healed will represent something beautiful. You’re a survivor, one who has dealt with more pain than anyone should ever have to. You came out on top of it all,” Hades declares before taking my mouth, thrusting his tongue into mine.

  He hasn’t kissed me like this since before everything happened. And God, I need it. My body lights up as if I’m about to burst into flames.

  When Hades lifts his mouth from mine, we’re both breathless. “I fuckin’ love you for what’s in here,” he states, pointing at my chest.

  “I love you too, Hades. So much. I don’t think I’d be able to take you leaving me,” I confess.

  “Good thing you don’t have to worry about me leaving you then,” smiling, he descends his mouth back down to mine.

  I could spend the rest of my life kissing this man.

  37

  Hades

  The moment Emerson falls asleep against my chest, I gently slip out of bed, not wanting to wake her. As soon as she readjusts to my pillow, I quietly leave the room. I hate leaving her right now, but it’s time to end the nightmare that haunts her dreams.

  After her emotional breakdown earlier, I knew it was time to end Booker. I should have already done
it, but I’ve been enjoying taunting him the last few days while taking pleasure in the fact he was chained between two trees. However, what I’ve done so far is nothing compared to what he did to my woman. Well, not yet, at least. I’ve only played so far. Now it’s time to make him reap what he has sown.

  This morning during church, we’d finally taken the time to decide on Mac’s punishment. He would spend another year prospecting. Doesn’t seem like much, but knowing my brothers, they’ll make him work for it. I’d made him go in search of a copperhead after church. Not hard to find, if you know where to look.

  I have plans for the damn snake. That and a few other things I’ve put together for what’s about to happen.

  Walking through the clubhouse, I nod at my brothers as I make my way to the door. Words aren’t needed for them to know where I’m headed. I know without a doubt they’re all gonna follow. It’s what we do. We have each other’s backs no matter what.

  Making my way to where Booker is still spread out between the trees, I can’t help but taunt him a little. “Wake up, it’s time to play,” I say, kicking at one of his feet.

  Behind me, several brothers begin to chuckle at the look Booker gives us. “You think you can stand there and torture me? I am the vessel for the Dark Lord. You cannot hurt me. Kill me, and I will return. Maim me and I will heal. The Dark Lord speaks through me.” The man continues to spit out insanity. The same insanity he’s said repeatedly as I’ve had my fun.

  “You really are insane. Too bad when I end you, there won’t be anything to heal. See, I’ve already told you before, I am the Devil. And your time has come to an end,” I say, laughing, holding my hands up at my sides.

  “Mac, did you get what I asked for?” Stepping back, I turn slightly to see the prospect holding a sack in his hand.

  “Yeah, and for the love of God, I’ll do anything you all need, but don’t ask me to catch a fuckin’ snake again. That thing almost bit me,” he says, bringing it to me.

  “Prospect, you do what we ask. Simple as that,” Twister grunts.

  “Got it, Prez,” Mac mutters. He knows he fucked up and has felt like shit. Doesn’t help Nora’s brother has blocked him from being able to check on her.

  Taking the sack, I turn back toward Booker. “I hear you like to play with snakes. So, we got you a little present.” Sneering, I tilt the bag over his head and let the copperhead fall on top of Booker.

  His screams are the sound of music as the snake rips into the side of his face.

  “Guess you can’t take what you dish out, huh?” Chuckling, I lean down and grab a stick to knock the snake off him. “There, the snake’s gone.”

  “The damn thing bit me,” he yells.

  “That it did indeed. How long do you think it will take for the venom to kill you? An hour or maybe minutes? You know, it’s different with every person,” I state.

  “Fuck you. The Dark Lord will heal me,” Booker snaps.

  Chuckling, I disregard his words. He’s completely insane to think anyone would heal him.

  Walking around him, I make sure the copperhead has moved on, and I step behind him. “Did my woman scream when you tore into her back?” I ask harshly.

  It’s his turn to laugh. “Oh, my sweet, beautiful sprite’s screams were music to my ears. Where is my wife anyway?”

  “She’s not your wife. The papers that were forged were thrown out,” I inform him.

  “Doesn’t matter if you had them thrown out or not. She’s still my wife and the Chosen I was meant to be with. Now, let me see her,” he demands.

  “She’s nothing to you. You hear me? Nothing. As for her screams, I don’t have to do anything but bring her pleasure to hear her screams,” I declare, my voice bitter to even my own ears.

  I’m sure Emerson would’ve slapped me for that last part, but fuck it, he needs to know he did not win where she’s concerned. I won’t allow it.

  Stepping a few feet away from him, I kneel down to grab the whip I’d made yesterday. I brought it along with me for when it was time.

  With the whip in hand, I draw my arm back and let it fly, slicing into his skin. Blood immediately begins seeping out of the wound. “Hurts, doesn’t it? You see, I took several of my knives and broke the tips off of them to lace through the whip I made. The best part of the blade tips, though, is they’re dipped in a specially-formed acid that burns through flesh when touched. My own design, I should say.”

  Booker screams out each time I bring the whip down on his back as I make sure to give him as many marks as he gave Emerson.

  Deciding his back was looking good enough, I drop the whip on the ground and move on to the next thing.

  Glancing over at my brothers, I ask, “You all have your knives on you?”

  “Yep,” Twister growls, his face an image of stone.

  “Then let’s give him the same markings he gave my ol’ lady,” I say, stepping to the side to allow each of my brothers to come forward and slice into Booker’s stomach.

  As they take their turns, they spit in Booker’s face and say, “You don’t fuck with our family.”

  When it comes to my time, I reach into my boot and grab my combat knife. Standing straight, I stride up to him to inflict as much pain as I can before moving on to the next stage.

  “Emerson told me you were the one who gave her the slit down the middle of her stomach. Now it’s your turn,” I proclaim, shoving my knife into his stomach and dragging it through, ripping him open.

  Booker’s screams become weaker by the second as I pull the knife from his body.

  Finally pleased with giving Booker the same marks he gave Emerson, I turn to Burner. “You got my torch?” I ask

  “Got it right here, brother,” he says before bending down to grab my butane torch.

  “Thanks. It’s time for him to burn,” I declare as I take the torch from him.

  Turning my focus back on Booker, his face pales as he slowly starts to fade away. Between the snake bite and loss of blood from the whip and slits to his stomach, I’m surprised he held on this long, but he’ll be taking his last breath soon.

  “Where’s your Dark Lord now?” I ask as I turn my torch on. “I told you no one would help you.” Lifting the flame to Booker’s stomach, I place it against the cut I made, exposing his intestines. Letting the fire scorch him from the inside, Booker screams once more before finally dying by my hand.

  As I step back, I turn the torch off and look to my brothers. “Thank you,” I say.

  “Nothing to thank us for, brother. We’re family, and this motherfucker got everything he deserved,” Horse retorts, nodding his head as the rest of my brothers agree with him.

  “Then let’s burn this fucker to ash and go celebrate. I’ve got a woman I need to get to,” I say.

  Doesn’t take long for us to light Booker’s body on fire. As we stood there watching him burn, I feel a piece of me grow lighter.

  Finally tired of looking at the piece of shit, I turn my back to the flames of the dead and head for the one person I live for.

  Emerson.

  It’s time for all the pain we’ve been through to end. I’m sure it won’t be easy, but like the nurse at the hospital said, as long as Em and I have each other, there’s no hurdle we can’t handle together.

  Wise words I intend to stand by. Same as I intend to hold my woman for the rest of my life.

  Epilogue

  Emerson

  4 months later

  “Why didn’t I allow you to talk me into an epidural?” Steph groans through another contraction.

  “Because you wanted to do it naturally like you did with Lo-man. Which, by the way, I find absolutely nuts. I mean, seriously, you’re not having just one baby. You’re about to pop out two,” I inform her.

  “Shut the hell up,” Steph pants as yet another contraction starts.

  “Umm, are they supposed to be coming so quickly?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I need to push these two hellions out. Where the hell are Dagen and
Casey?” she screams.

  “They’re on the way. Last time they checked in, they had about forty minutes left to go,” I tell her.

  “Whose bright idea was it anyway to go on a run when they damn well knew I was gonna go into labor any day?” she yells.

  At the knock on the door, I stop from answering her as Doctor Taylors walks in. “How is everything going in here?” she asks.

  “I need to push, and neither Dagen or Casey are here,” my sister pants.

  “We’re here, we’re here, did we miss anything?” Gadget rushes in, running directly for my sister with Dragon right on his heels.

  “We’re right here, mo chroí,” Dragon says, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

  “About damn time,” she mutters, causing both men to chuckle.

  “Alright then, let’s get this ball on the roll,” Doctor Taylors announces as she steps to the door to call out for a nurse to come assist.

  “You want me to step out?” I ask the three of them.

  “Don’t even think about it, Em,” Steph grinds out as a contraction hits her.

  “Okay, where do you want me?” I ask, rubbing my hands together.

  “Emerson, why don’t you stand on one side of your sister and help hold a leg. Gadget, you move up to Connors’ head, and Dragon, you hold the other leg,” Doctor Taylors suggests.

  With everyone in place, Doctor Taylors begins to instruct Steph. As she pushes, the first baby crowns and all you see is a full head of hair.

  “You’re doing good, Connors. On the next contraction, I want you to push with all you have and baby one will be out,” Doctor Taylors informs my sister.

  I’ve never wanted to watch a baby being born, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off the baby making its way into this world. As gross as it is, it's a beautiful sight.