A Scent of Greek: Out of Olympus by Tina Folsom Read Free Book Online Page B

was absolutely sure that he hadn’t insulted them in any way.
    “I think we’ll teach you some manners, asshole,” one of the men announced.
    “Get the fuck off me. I’ve not given you any reason to attack me.” With an impatient movement, Dio made an attempt to turn, but the second guy suddenly pounced on him.
    “You jerk, you hurt Ari. That means you’ll have to deal with us. She’s a nice girl. Nobody hurts Ari and gets away with it.”
    Ah, shit! How had Ariadne managed to send her friends after him so quickly? And why would she do that? He’d never expected her to be devious. A strange sense of disappointment sliced through him. Not that he didn’t deserve a good beating. And maybe it was just what he needed.
    Dio motioned his arms toward the bigger of the two. “Do your worst then.”
    Within seconds, fists went flying as Dio engaged Ari’s friend in a fight, dealing blows and kicks as fast as he was receiving them. But the guy couldn’t do much damage to him thanks to Dio’s godly powers and superior strength. It really wasn’t a fair fight.
    “Don’t you wanna help your friend?” Dio taunted the other guy. “Looks like he’s about had enough.” He flashed the man a grin, but he didn’t take the bait.
    “Two on one isn’t fair,” he responded and kept out of the fight.
    It appeared that he had to bring in the big guns to make the guy join in the fight. As Dio dealt his opponent another uppercut to the chin, he continued, “Ari got exactly what she deserved. She wanted to be fucked, so I fucked her. You should have heard her scream out her pleasure.” Gods, he felt like an ass saying something that heartless.
    The second man’s eyes finally flashed with anger. A moment later, he lunged at Dio and smashed his clenched fist into his face. Dio’s head snapped to the side, and he heard a cracking sound. Blood filled his nostrils and cascaded down his face. Shit, it hurt, but at least the feeling was better than what he’d felt before: guilt about dumping Ariadne and pain about hurting her.
    “Is that all you’ve got?” Dio wiped the blood off his chin and nose and unleashed a mocking grin.
    In response, the two guys pounced once more, aiming their hooks at him.
    Mortals! They were so easily provoked.
    “Asshole!” one of them spouted and landed a hard punch in Dio’s gut, temporarily knocking the wind out of him. The other one took the occasion and planted his foot in the hollow behind Dio’s knee, knocking him off balance. Dio landed on his ass. Before he could roll to the side and jump up, the bigger of the two assailants landed hard on his stomach, pinning him to the ground. The second guy instantly came down to their level and pummeled Dio’s face with his fists.
    The taste of blood in his nose and mouth was nauseating, and the pressure in his head built. “Fucking assholes!” This wasn’t funny anymore.
    With his last ounce of strength, Dio sent a blast of energy toward them, tossing them both further out into the parking lot. As they sat up, they exchanged a quick glance before jumping up. “Shit! Let’s get outta here!”
    And then the wimps ran down the dark alley. “Weak sissies!” Dio yelled after them as he sat up. His head spun, and he halted in his movement. “Ah, shit! I feel like crap now!”
    “Perfect, ‘cause you look like it, too!” a female voice commented.
    Dionysus spun his head and found Hera standing just a few feet away from him. She was dressed in mortal clothes—very tight fitting leather pants and a lacy bustier to be exact—rather than her usual flowing tunic.
    “Enjoying the view?” he grumbled.
    “As a matter of fact, I do. The sight of your mangled face does something to me here.” She pressed her hand against her solar plexus and gave him a sugary sweet smile.
    “I suppose it’s not compassion.”
    Hera gave a very ungoddess-like snort. “Don’t take me for a fool. We have to talk.”
    “Since when do you and I have anything to