Page 27 of Hercules

When Lois Lance squirmed free from him.

No.

Don’t go.

Empty pleas, even if they were strictly silent. She wasn’t his to command or even beseech, and he accepted it by letting his arms fall as the woman stepped away. She was clearly determined to do so, though pure fear clung to her posture. But when she replied to Aphrodite, her words were a hundred percent firm.

“The point is easy enough. They were hoping to talk to Natasha and gain a bead on where they could find the lyre’s string. Right?”

Despite how Herc rubbed his arms, disguising their empty ache as a more casual move, he kicked up one side of his mouth. “Admirable plot intro.”

“It was all admirable.” Her emphasis acted as a tiny bandage on his weirdly bruised ego. “You both need to know that. You guys chose a plan that showed tight restraint and careful thought. I mean, either or both of you could’ve chosen to confront Rizon with violence, threats or worse. But this idea—”

“Was what I had to settle for,” Apollo intervened. “Because believe me, the worse part was more than a passing fantasy for me. But floating that whole part by our father—”

“Would have been awesome,” their little sister exclaimed. “Damn it. Now I want you guys to try it so I can see your balls in some heavy-duty slings.”

Muscle memory returned to Herc in the form of tight fists. “Keep your imagination away from my balls.”

“So, backspacing to the point I can comfortably comment on…” Lois moved back up, taking charge with dual fists of her own. Hers were raised and emphatic, showing off the bright purple shade on her fingernails. He’d never been a purple guy before, but suddenly Gremlin milkshakes and acai bowls sounded delicious. “Maybe there’s still a chance to maximize the whole strategy, minus the Kevlar crazies.”

Apollo didn’t look convinced. For that matter, neither did Aphrodite.

Herc was the only one to regard this gorgeous little mortal with continued respect. To look past the rushed desperation of her words and listen to the earnest determination of her voice. To recognize the wisdom she had to offer as a member of the species that had survived without powers or magic. To see the special kind of sorcery dependent on that very survival.

His siblings still weren’t getting it, so he told them so by stepping up. By standing taller. By esteeming Lois Lance with the full focus of his stare and the slow unfurling of both his fists.

Opening for her.

And now, slightly bowing to her.

“Tell us.”

CHAPTER 8

“It worked!”

Lo was only aware the dazed expression had left her mouth when Apollo swung around from the town car’s driver seat, flashing a wink and a grin from beneath his chauffeur’s cap. “Of course it did. Beautiful lady, brilliant plan.”

“Shut up and keep driving,” Hercules growled at once. “We’re not all the way there yet.”

“Mmmph,” Apollo countered, scooting back around. “Close enough for preliminary celebrations.”

“So you’re going to pop bubbly and roll out caviar in the middle of Natasha Korra’s driveway?”

After a swift swat to the big guy’s leg, still encased in those luscious suit slacks and making her feel pitifully tiny by comparison, Lo asserted, “It’s not like it’d be out of the ordinary. Natasha is the one who had a tea party with her dogs under those trees last year.”

During the seconds she took to point to an ornate table and some boostered chairs under a nearby olive tree, Apollo didn’t miss his chance to slip in another it’s-not-bragging-but-actually-is.

“So, I don’t think I ran over anyone in the throng. You said to go slow, so everyone could see you waving.”

“I did,” Lo replied, wondering if he’d want a little treat along with Gwen and Miles once they were inside. “And you did. Good job.”

“So hopefully that’ll relieve the pressure from the media front, especially if a few of them were sly enough to see Herc seated next to you.”

“And trying hard not to look like a junkyard guard dog.”

Hercules took her ribbing in stride, even settling fully against the seat with a small smile. She looked on, wondering which part of that duo was more entrancing. Getting to see him relax a little…that was new and very interesting…but the self-pleased smirk, as if she’d just fawned like a screaming fan instead of comparing him to a mutt on patrol, was puzzling. Breathtaking but puzzling.