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The Return of the Hades Disdain and scorn at the restaurant!
65A well-dressed woman at a nearby table whispered loudly enough for them to hear, "Look at their clothes. This isn't a place for them."A man at the bar, sipping a glass of expensive wine, eyed them disdainfully before commenting to his companion, "It seems they've opened the doors to anyone these days. Where's the exclusivity?"His companion, a woman adorned with pearls, laughed lightly, her gaze piercing. "Indeed. Perhaps they lost their way to the diner down the street."Feeling the weight of their stares, the girl squeezed Darien's hand tighter, her initial excitement dimming in the face of such open disdain.Darien's grip on the girl's hand tightened slightly. He could feel her shrink beside him, her initial excitement dimming under the scrutiny.He leaned down, whispering, "Ignore them. You're worth more than their words."She looked up at him, her brave smile returning. "Okay, Darien."They were approached by a waiter, his eyes briefly flickering with surprise before he regai
The Return of the Hades Marcela Smith
66Darien clenched his fists under the table, his knuckles whitening with the effort to control his rising anger. "Enjoying my dinner, Marcela," he retort, his voice steady but his insides churning. "Just like you, I presume."She laughed, a sound that grated on Darien's nerves. "Oh, darling, there's a world of difference between 'eating' and 'dining.' I wouldn't expect you to understand."The man beside Marcela chuckled, a sound of shared amusement at Darien' expense. He leaned closer to Marcela whispering something in her ear that made her laugh again, her eyes never leaving Darien's, enjoying the discomfort she was causing.Across the table, Emma's eyes widened, a mix of confusion and hurt flashing across her young face. She was unaccustomed to this level of open hostility, and her initial excitement about the dinner had long since faded, replaced by a growing unease.Darien, noticing her discomfort, felt a surge of defiance rise within him. It wasn't just about him anymore; it wa
The Return of the Hades Succesfull transaction
67"Really, Darien, you never cease to amuse," Marcela taunted, leaning back in her chair, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards in a smirk.Darien, his patience fraying at the edges, couldn't help but roll his eyes. This woman, Marcela, exuding malice and enjoying every second of his discomfort, was the same one he had helped countless times before. He had supported her daughter, Cersei, both financially and emotionally, investing in her business when no one else would. And just three weeks ago, he had been there for Marcela and her son at the mayor's gala, saving their lives. Yet, here she was, repaying his kindness with venom."Marcela, your short memory astounds me," he retorted, his voice laced with barely-contained irritation. "Wasn't it I who lent you the money to start your daughter' precious business?"Marcela's smirk faltered for a moment, a flash of annoyance crossing her features. "And let's not forget the night I saved you and your son at the Mayor' gala. But pleas
The Return of the Hades Mercenary
68A week had rolled by since the episode at the restaurant with Marcela. Darien and Lavinia had not been idle; they searched tirelessly for orhers remedies to aid Darien's quest. Amid their research, an unexpected breakthrough came. Lavinia, leveraging her extensive contacts from her army days, received a promising lead on a rare herb. The phone call that followed was intense, Lavinia’s eyes narrowing as she absorbed every detail, her grip on the phone so tight her knuckles whitened.“They’ve found the herb Valeriana, ” Lavinia finally exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and hope, after ending the call. “But there's a catch. It’s in the possession of a mercenary.”Darien, rubbing his weary eyes, straightened up, interest piqued. “A mercenary?” he echoed, the wheels in his head turning. He pondered the risks, his mind racing through various scenarios. “Yes, and not just any. They say he’s elusive, dangerous.” Lavinia’s brow furrowed, a wave of concern washing over her. She hated
The Return of the Hades Not someone to be truffled with
69Darien straightened, meeting the man's stare evenly. "My name is Darien French. As for how I entered, let's just say your men proved...ineffectual." A flicker of irritation crossed the man's face at the jab against his guards. But he said nothing, waiting for Darien to continue. "I'm here because I need something you possess. A rare herb called Valeriana," Darien explained, keeping his tone respectful yet firm. The man arched a brow, clearly not used to strangers barging in and making demands. A tense silence stretched between them as he considered Darien's words.Finally, he spoke. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Not many would confront me so boldly." A cold smile curled his lips. "But you'll have to do better than that if you want my cooperation." The mercenary leader stared down at Darien, his face a mask of incredulity and rising anger. "You beat my men?" he growled, disbelief painting his tone. "How dare you come into my home and lay your hands on my crew?"Darien me
The Return of the Hades Nightshade and Ironclad: Two beasts
70Viktor Kozlov, having witnessed Darien's unexpected prowess, let out a laugh devoid of any humor. With a dismissive flick of his hand, he summoned what appeared to be his final challenge. "You think you've won already? Let's see how you fare against my best," he sneered, a cold smirk spreading across his face.At his signal, the heavy door to the mansion creaked open, and two figures emerged, silhouetted against the dim light from inside. They were unlike any of the men Darien had faced so far; their presence alone seemed to thicken the air with tension.The mercenary stepped forward, presenting the duo with a flourish. "May I introduce the beast known as Ironclad, and his counterpart, the terror of the east, Nightshade."Ironclad, the first of the duo, was a towering mass of muscle, a beast. Muscles bulging under his tight shirt, his bald head gleaming under the courtyard lights. Next to him, Nightshade appeared slightly shorter but broader, with long, unkempt hair and a beard th
The Return of the Hades Capture Marco Gentile?
71"Why are you here, really?" Viktor finally asked, the fight gone from his voice. "What's so important about this herb?"Darien, catching his breath, walked over to Viktor, his demeanor shifting from the confident fighter to the determined seeker. "I need it for something very important," he said, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity that hadn't been there before. "I would have preferred to avoid this confrontation, but I am willing to face anything for the herb."The tense silence that had descended upon the courtyard was shattered by Darien’s voice, calm yet dripping with authority. “We had a deal, Viktor. Your men have fallen. Now, honor your word and give me the Valeriana herb.”Viktor, who had been momentarily lost in disbelief, recovered his wits with a sly twist of his lips. “Changed my mind,” he sneered, his eyes dancing with malice. “The herb stays with me. It's too valuable to just hand over." Darien clenched his fists, anger swelling in his chest. "You would go back
The Return of the Hades Invitation
72The ride home was a tense one, Darien's knuckles white on the steering wheel as he replayed the day's events in his mind. When he arrived, Lavinia took one look at his stony expression and knew something was wrong."What happened?" she asked, her brow furrowing with concern. Darien sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Viktor agreed at first, but then changed the deal. The only way to get the Valeriana now is by capturing one of his enemies, a man named Marco Gentile."Lavinia gasped. "A mafia boss? Darien, that's too dangerous. We'll find another way." But Darien was already shaking his head."There is no other way. I'm so close, Lavinia. If I get this herb, I'll only need 8 more. Please, try to understand." His eyes, usually so calm, were stormy with frustration. Lavinia saw the desperation in his face and knew arguing was futile. "Alright," she conceded reluctantly. "But promise me you'll be careful. This Gentile - who knows what he's capable of?"She pulled out her laptop