Page 102 of Hades’ Revenge

“You leave him to me,” he said. “By now, both your dad and your…godfather have received my message, and I’m certain they’re trying to figure out how they are going to work together long enough to save you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t worry that pretty head of yours. You’ll thank me someday for all of this.” He held up his hand when his phone rang. “I need to take this.”

“No.” When I tried to get up, my legs gave out, causing me to fall onto my backside.

“Try to relax.” He went to the door. “This will all be over soon.”

“Please.” My muscles ached and I was so thirsty. “Just let me go.”

“As long as your father and Hades do what I told them to do, you have nothing to worry about.” His phone stopped ringing. “I’ll be back soon.”

“What if they can’t work together?” The thought of either of them walking into a trap terrified me. “Then what?”

“You better hope they can.” He opened the heavy wood door, allowing a bright light to blind me. “For your sake.”

“Let me go and I’ll work this out with my dad.” The confusion in my head began to take front and center. I wanted to lie so I could protect Sebastian, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. “You don’t have to do this. We can come up with a solution.”

“The only solution is for your father to see what could happen to you if he doesn’t honor his agreement. You need to know how far I’m willing to take this if you continue down this path. You will give my son a chance.”

“I will.” Focus and try to make this lie believable. “I’ll end things with Sebastian. Don’t make them come for me. It isn’t necessary.”

“I’m afraid it is.” He stepped over the threshold and into the bright room. “The only way for me to make sure Sebastian stays out of the way is for him to come and save you. That’s going to be the last thing he ever does.”

“No.”

“It’s time Hades the Assassin repents for his sins, and what better place to do that than in a church on the very altar where he sacrificed my cousin?”

“Wait!” I shouted as he closed the door. “Emilio was your cousin?”

TWENTY-NINE

Hades

A few weeks earlier in Greece:

“I don’t want to leave.” Capri rolled onto her stomach and cuddled against my side. Her long hair flowed down her shoulders and brushed against my chest. “It feels right being here with you.”

I gazed up at the ceiling, concentrating on the waves gliding onto the surf in the distance. I had to let her go for now. Leo expected her back in New York. If I didn’t let her leave, he would come to retrieve her. That was a headache I didn’t need.

I worked with too many influential clients who demanded discretion. If I caused Leo and his associates to infiltrate my home and club, I could lose the trust of the men who put their faith in me. Eventually, I would reveal myself to Leo. He would know what I had done with his daughter, but I needed a few more days to figure out my plan.

“You’ll come back to me soon.” I twisted my fingers in her hair. “And then I might not ever let you leave.”

“Most girls would run from a man like you.”

“You’re not most girls.” I yanked her on top of me. “If you were, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Because I should have stayed away, or you should have turned me away?”

“A little of both.” I gripped her thighs and set them on either side of my legs, allowing her to straddle me. “Let’s make the most of these last few hours.”

I never should have let her leave.

“Hades.” Leo hustled into his study with a long, black bag. “Romero’s men delivered what you requested.”

An alliance with an arms dealer proved otherwise to be a solid choice.