Chapter 2 Episode 2

And there it was.

Where had so many felines gotten the idea Hades had no morals? Hades reminded himself to never ask that question anywhere Jinx could hear him.

"Sir, with due respect I'm not called Hades because I actually am an eight-headed Death demon who breathes fire and sends toms to the Underworld."

"No, no, my good tom. It's purely a business transaction. I need him brought upstate to a breeding house. I'm heartbroken, I truly am. But it's the only way to get any good money out of him now. There are... things that point to the absolutely unbelievable idea that he might have killed the tom in question. I don't believe it, of course, but toms talk."

The fat feline gave a broad laugh, very out of place with the tale he was telling.

Hades was reading between the lines and it didn't sit well with him. He turned his sharp green gaze to the kneeling creature. "Did you kill the feline, no-fur?"

"Go on, answer him." Gran said, graciously allowing the no-fur to speak.

"No, sir."

Wide pink eyes met Hades's glowing green orbs as the Elementalist read the little creature's aura to see whether the omega was lying or not. What Hades saw was a fear that hurt even his jaded heart.

"I was watering the roses when-"

"That's enough." The fat tom cut his no-fur off in a way that made Hades's fur stand on end. "Part of your job, Hades, will be to keep to the law."

"Goes without saying." Hades had to calm himself. The more destructive nature of his magic rattled within his bones. It wouldn't be professional to send this blight of a feline through the demon gate. But it would be satisfying.

He needed the money, the devil on his shoulder goaded him. Seducing him further with an image of what might happen to the pretty no-fur omega if Gran didn't find a way to remove him from his house, the little devil pointed out that he might be the no-fur's last chance if he didn't take the job. The no-fur might be found ten years from now, his corpse decaying in a field.

The angel on his other shoulder jumped right on that bandwagon. It was always bad when they were in agreement. It meant he was about to do something dumb.

Hades leaned forward. "So, how much are you offering? And let me be clear on your expectations. You want me to take him to the breeding farm and pick up the lump sum they pay for ripe no-fur omegas who, for whatever reasons, aren't suited to be collared so they can pen him and use him to keep putting out kits? By the law, I am to take anything he says to me as the lie of a desperate no-fur, basically nonsense. Until, no doubt, upstate will use electrical therapy to turn his brain to mush so he is still good for breeding, just not so much for conversation."

The fat tom fidgeted nervously. "Those are the worst of rumors. Upstate is the best place to send a no-fur omega you can't sell privately. But if he stays with the house, someone will eventually come for him as the murderer. And we both know what his fate will be then."

Hades had to remind himself to keep his cool. If he wanted to get this job, he had to play this better than he had so far. "You mistake me for caring." He pushed past the part of him that knew his words were about to terrify the shivering no-fur but would ingratiate him to the fat tom across from him.

Taking a deep swallow of his throat-burning cocktail, Hades made his move. "I have no reason to jeopardize my reputation further by worrying about a no-fur whore who will be just as useful on his stomach filled with seed whether or not he has his wits or tongue. Seems like a simple job to me. I'll procure a car trunk pen and some sedatives so I don't have to listen to his desperate nonsense."

"But," Hades held up a paw to stop the rich, fat, disgusting tom from talking. "It won't be cheap because you know a lot of Elementalists have bleeding hearts and wouldn't take your money. Also, I am well aware that you can't hire anyone legitimate because it will look like a cover up."

"100,000 jewels." Gran had his own game to play as Hades fought to maintain his poker face. "Forty now in coin, the rest transferred to the account of your choosing on delivery as per my order at the facility. Then another twenty thousand jewels when he is mounted successfully the first time. And ten thousand each time after that. It's hardly a fraction of what I get for my trouble every time he squeezes out a litter."

The tom's demeanor had changed. Hades's tactical move to present himself as being as sick as the Tawny had made him more relaxed and more willing to show his hand and his true character. Hades needed to end this conversation before he put his paw through this asshole's face.

As if he needed to make the point of how much money he was offering the Black-fur, Gran stuffed his chubby paw into a pocket of his jacket and pulled out forty thousand jewels worth of coins and dropped them on the table as if they were nothing. It took everything in Hades to lean back in his chair and not leap across the table and rip the smug look from the Tawny bastard's face.

"That's a lot of money." Hades didn't have to lie about that. "I'd be crazy not to take the job."

Hades quickly collected the coins from the table and slipped them inside his jacket pockets. He was going to have to beg Jinx for something to carry these back to his apartment. He couldn't go into his neighborhood with his pockets rattling with this much coin.

"You can pick him up at this address tomorrow. And just between you and me, if you want to use his mouth for your pleasure before you deliver him, I wouldn't blame you. I've had him trained quite thoroughly. It's a shame I can't keep him." Gran slid slowly out of the booth and unwrapped the leash before scolding the no-fur for some imagined infraction.

Hades considered for a moment how good the no-fur's mouth on his cock would be. There was a bit of truth in his words as he finalized the deal. "I just might do that. At least once before I lock him in the trunk. It is a long drive."

The fat cat had barely gotten out of the door when Hades accepted another drink and an unwarranted visit from Jinx.

His old friend had some advice he really wasn't inclined to hear. "So, you're no saint but that was harsh, even for you. You plan to leave the little thing's lips swollen and his throat raw?"

Hades shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Jinx was forcing him to think about the erection he was trying to ignore. He'd gone for a very long time without the pleasure of a no-fur and this one made his balls ache with just one look. He was no doubt going to go home and think about fucking that mouth half the night.

"It's not like that, Jinxsy." Hades assured his friend as much as he tried to convince himself.

"They give off a scent, pal. When their eyes go pink like that." Jinx used his paws to hold open his own eyes to make them wider. "And it's a long way upstate. Careful, or you might fall for him."

"Not likely. He tries to enchant me, I'll leave him in a field myself." Hades shrugged.

"I could go with you." Hades's dearest friend made the offer with a smirk. "In case you need someone to hide the body or help you elope to Persiana."

"I am this close to cursing you, Jinx." Hades warned good-naturedly as he inclined his drink towards where Jinx sat. "I think I can handle one timid little no-fur."

"Famous last words, pal. But I got your back when you are calling me when you need to hide from the family because you kept him." Jinx leaned back and used his long tail to curl around and steal Hades's cocktail. "BUT I'm cutting you off. You have made enough bad decisions for one day. Go home to your desk and lamp and get yourself off so you can face tomorrow with a clear head."