Before leaving, Hades gives me a final warning. “Use the phone only to contact me and my men, no one else. And if you get caught, you’re on your own. Now, excuse me, I have other work to do. You know the way out.”

I feel numb as I watch him walk away. I gather everything he gave me and head back to the open elevator. One of the guards nods at me, and I step in, making my way back down.

When I reach the lobby and leave, the same guard from earlier opens the exit for me and checks off my departure in a program on his phone.

“You okay going back to your place? Or you want one of our guys to drive you? The boss said it’s okay,” the guard asks in a rough voice.

I gaze at the cool night and bustling streets ahead. There’s a lot more going on at this time of night in this part of the city compared to the lower or middle areas of the city.

“Nah, I’m fine. The fresh night air will help clear my mind and make plans.”

He nods and waves me off.

I leave the shadow of the tall, inky building that people seem to intentionally avoid and enter the slums of the Underworld.

Here, nobody cares about your actions. It’s a dangerous place full of predators ready to strike, and people are desperately trying to hide from their own demons. They blend into the shadows, blood, and filth of this terrible place. And now I’m a part of this hell.

As I walk through the crowded streets, I notice that no one meets my gaze. That’s how it is here—everyone minds their own business, unless they belong to an information guild or seek to meet their demise in the Styx River.

In the distance, I catch a glimpse of shaggy blond hair. His impressive height sets him apart from the crowd, and my heart skips a beat as his head begins to turn in my direction. I feel frozen, torn between the urge to flee and the need to hide. Yet, as the man turns towards me, his face is hidden by a dense beard, and his eyes are a deep shade of brown.

As I realize he’s not wonder boy cop, I exhale the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Surprisingly, I find myself caring about what this random guy I recently met might think if he saw me in this part of town. Maybe he’d regret saving me, but that judgment didn’t seem to match the good-natured aura I sensed from him.

Out of nowhere, a hand grabs my shoulder, and I panic. I spin around, half-expecting to see wonder boy cop due to my recent thoughts. I’m also prepared to lash out at anyone else.

The instant I recognize the person, my fist strikes with force. Blood erupts from his nose and the guy stumbles back, holding his face.

“What the fuck, Meg? They should have kept you locked up, you psycho.”

I notice blood dripping from between his fingers, but it doesn’t feel like I’ve caused enough damage. I clench my fist tightly at my side while speaking through gritted teeth, “You’re the last person who should say that to me, you narcissistic piece of shit. I should kill you now and toss you in the Styx River.”

I take a breath to calm my anger. “You know what? You’ve messed up my life already, and you’re not worth killing.”

He spits blood on the ground by my feet. He smirks, showing bloodied teeth. “What’s wrong, princess? Still upset that daddy disowned you for helping a friend?”

I snarl at him, sounding fierce and animalistic. “Friend? Ha! I was and still am the best thing that ever happened to you. Your wife can’t even compare to what I did for you. You’re a useless weed in need of removal.”

I pause to make an impact and enjoy seeing him uncomfortable. He hates being confronted and appearing inferior. His huge ego can’t handle it.

“I wonder how long until she realizes the truth and uses weed killer to remove you. Her wealthy dad would gladly assist in eliminating a worthless shit like you.” I finish my taunt with a smirk.

His smile disappears, and I can tell he wants to hit me. But he, like me, senses others watching. They’re likely Hades’ men, but I don’t care. I want to leave, wash away today from my body and mind.

Feeling the attention on us, he becomes nervous and asks, “Why are you here, Meg?”

I cross my arms, fed up with him. Growling, I ask, “Why do you even care? Scared I’m here to hire a hitman? I wouldn’t waste money and effort on you. Besides, what’s a bigshot CEO’s son-in-law doing in the Underworld?”

He grows angry once more and snaps at me, saying, “Why the heck would I tell you? Enjoy your freedom, Meg, for as long as it lasts. Maybe daddy will take you back?”

He laughs nervously, glancing around before quickly disappearing into the crowd without another word.

Giovanni. That stupid piece of shit ex of mine. Good riddance! I don’t even want to think his name. The last time I said it was when I cried after hearing about his engagement years ago.

I want to leave my past behind, but it keeps sticking to me like this mess with Hades. I wonder what having a normal life would be like. It feels like an impossible dream.

I sigh and rub my face, noticing the day’s stubble. I consider shaving it off when I return home, but the guy I saw earlier comes to mind. A beard can alter a person’s appearance and vibe, which might be what I need for the upcoming job. Yeah, let’s grow out my beard. That way, people from my past won’t easily recognize me in a crowd and treat me like garbage.