Chapter 2 A brother's last breath

Kia's POV

The hum of the car engine was the only sound in the air but inside my head, everything was chaos. My pulse thudded in my ears, drowning out the world around me. Every time I blinked, I saw Gio's face, his wide, terrified eyes, the blood pooling around him on the cold concrete. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, all I could do was stare ahead, fighting the rising tide of nausea. He's gone. The thought felt like a blade twisting in my chest. My brother, the one person who had always been there for me, who had protected me when the world turned its back, gone, because of him, because of Hades. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to block out the image but it was useless. It was burned into my mind, a permanent scar I would carry for the rest of my life. The car screeched to a halt, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked up, seeing the darkened street ahead, lined with buildings I didn't recognize. The air outside was thick with the scent of rain and gasoline and I could feel my heart race faster, panic creeping in. We'd stopped, why had we stopped?

The door opened with a sharp creak and before I could react, a rough hand grabbed my arm, yanking me out of the car. My bare feet hit the cold concrete, sending a shock through my body. I barely had time to steady myself before another hand shoved me forward.

"Move", the voice barked and I had no choice but to obey.

I knew exactly where we were, the South Side Mafia's headquarters. The place that had swallowed Gio, the place that would swallow me too if I wasn't careful. I didn't speak as I was pushed through the front door. There was no point in resisting. What was I going to do? Fight my way out? The thought was laughable. The air inside was thick with tension and I could feel the eyes of every person in the room on me. I didn't know if they were watching out of curiosity or because they knew what was about to happen, either way, I didn't care. The man who had grabbed me shoved me toward the elevator. I stepped in, my stomach churning as the doors slid shut. My reflection stared back at me in the dim, flickering lights. My face was pale, my eyes red rimmed from the tears I refused to shed. I wasn't going to cry, not for him, not for Hades. The elevator jolted to a stop and the doors opened. I was led down a narrow hallway, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the silence, there was no turning back now. At the end of the hall, the door was slightly ajar. I could see him through the crack, the man who had orchestrated everything, he must have headed here in a different car, a faster car. The one who had stolen my brother's life and now held me in his grip.

"Come in", a voice called from inside, I didn't move.

The man behind me gave me a push and I stumbled forward, the cold weight of dread pressing down on my chest. The door clicked shut behind me and I was standing in front of him. He didn't look at me right away. He was standing by his desk, his back to me. The faint glow of the desk lamp cast long shadows on the walls, and for a moment, I almost thought I could feel the darkness closing in.

"Sit down", Hades said, his voice calm, as if this was any other day, as if he hadn't just taken my brother's life.

I didn't sit, I couldn't, the rage bubbling inside me was too strong.

"I said sit", his voice was still calm but there was an edge to it now.

I stared at him, my fists clenched at my sides.

"No, I'm not sitting down", I said, defiantly.

Hades turned then, his eyes narrowing. For the first time, I saw something, something beyond the cold indifference that usually clouded his face, something darker.

"You think you have a choice, don't you?" His lips twisted into a slight smile.

"You don't", he added simply.

I felt my chest tighten as I stepped back, my heart racing, this was it, this was the moment.

"I'm not afraid of you", I spat, though my voice trembled slightly. I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.

Hades' smile deepened and for a moment, I could have sworn there was something like amusement in his eyes.

"Don't be so sure", he said softly.

"You don't know what you're dealing with"

The silence between us was thick, suffocating. My brother's blood was still fresh in my mind. I could still hear his voice in my head, begging me to save him. Please don't let me die like this but I hadn't been able to save him, I couldn't save him and now it was my turn.

"You killed him", I said, the words coming out like venom.

"You killed Gio", I hissed.

Hades didn't flinch. He didn't even seem bothered.

"Your brother made his choices. He made the wrong ones and now he's gone"

The coldness of his words hit me like a punch to the gut, gone, just like that, Gio was gone.

"Don't act like this doesn't affect you", I shot back.

"You think I'm just some pawn in your game? You think I'll roll over and play nice because you tell me to?"

He stepped closer then, his presence overwhelming.

"No", he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I think you'll learn just like your brother learned. Because that's what this world does, Kia, it teaches you", he added.

I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. This was a game to him, a sick, twisted game.

I opened my mouth to respond but before I could speak, the door to the office burst open. A man stepped in, his face tight with urgency.

"Boss, there's a situation at the docks. It's bad. We need you"

Hades didn't flinch, he didn't even look at the man.

"Not now", he growled, his eyes still fixed on me.

"This is more important"

The man hesitated, then spoke again, more urgently, "It's serious. You need to see this"

Hades finally turned away, his expression darkening.

"Fine. I'll be there in a minute", he said.

Before he could leave, I saw my chance. My mind raced, I couldn't stay here, not like this, I couldn't let him control me, not after what he'd done. I had to get out, I had to escape. I took a step toward the door, but just as my hand touched the handle, I felt someone grab my arm. The grip was strong and cold. I looked up and saw Hades towering over me.

"Don't even think about it", his voice was cold, sharp, as if he had anticipated my every move.

"I told you", Hades said, his voice soft but lethal.

"You're not going anywhere"