Release Hercules and I hand you back your woman. “I don’t think so.” He hefts my body up until my knees don’t touch the ground, using me as a human shield. “Is your aim good enough to hit me and not her?” Zeus laughs again. You can watch her bleed out and know that it’s your fault.” “I thought taking her was good enough, but you’re right. He stops just outside the car and my vision clears to see Hades bearing down on us. I barely feel the cuts over the symphony of agony that is my ribs. Zeus shoves us from the crumpled vehicle, dragging me over broken glass. The pain nearly makes me black out and I can’t stop a shriek. I struggle, but Zeus wraps his other arm around my waist and squeezes. Each increase in the distance between us spikes my panic. Hercules takes a step back and then another, his hands held up in front of him. Zeus’s voice sounds more animal than human. Something wet coats my back, soaking through my dress. My fingers brush his when a hand closes around my throat and I’m jerked back against a big body.

I try to find words, but a sob rips free and I throw myself into his arms. Hercules sprints to our car and damn near yanks the door nearest me off its hinges. The doors fly open and there’s Hercules and Hades. Through the shattered window, I see the other car screech to a halt. It gives with a pop, but the pressure in my chest doesn’t abate. We land right side up, and I let loose a sob and scramble for my buckle. Or maybe that’s the seat belt slammed against my chest, holding me immobile. A rumble of impact and then I’m weightless, the car rolling with a violence that leaves me breathless. We hit the edge of the highway and barrel down the embankment. For one second, I think it won’t do anything, but then our car begins to spin. “I think you’ll find that I do.” I have a moment to tense and then the car nudges the passenger side of our car, right near the back tire.

I don’t know what their plan is, but I grip the seat belt tight against me as the closest one edges near. “As if Hercules won’t come crawling back to me the second he realizes I have you.” He takes every hit lying down and when he tries for revenge, it’s laughably pathetic. You’d recognize that if you knew true strength.

Wicked villains learn my lesson