Page 109 of Hades’ Revenge

“I felt you here,” she said. “I somehow sensed you.”

“Are you hurt?” I inspected her clothes, her skin, her face.

“They roughed her up a little bit.” Leo glared at Benny’s dead body. “She might have a concussion.”

“We’ll get you checked out.” I stroked her hair. “I’m going to take you to the hospital.”

“No.” She closed her eyes. “I want to be with you.”

“I won’t leave your side.” I was incapable of separating myself from her.

Romero and Gio Bilotti came into the church, inspected the scene, and then held a quiet conversation. Gio nodded and took out his phone. Romero stepped onto the altar and gazed up at the crucifix before addressing me.

“Is your girl okay?” he asked.

“I want to take her to the hospital,” I said. “She probably needs a scan to rule out a concussion.”

“I don’t need to go,” Capri argued. “I’m fine.”

“We’re going to get this cleaned up.” He motioned toward Benny. “You don’t have to worry about it. Nothing will trace this back to you.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I usually don’t make such a public display.”

“You didn’t have a choice.” Leo glanced at Capri. “Can we get her off the floor?”

“I will.” I held her close to me because I wasn’t ready to let her go. As long as she was close, I could listen to her breathing and feel her against me. I would know she was fine.

“I still have Christopher,” Romero said. “Do you need me to handle him?”

Capri’s muscles tensed in my arms. “He didn’t do anything,” she mumbled. “He’s already lost his father.”

“I’m going to leave him up to you and Leo.” This wasn’t my problem now that I had removed Capri from this situation. “I did what needed to be done today. I’m out of it now.”

“You’re a reasonable man,” Romero said to me as he put his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Mr. Ferrante, you and I need to have a conversation about bringing cartel threats into my territory. I might not be as understanding next time.”

“We can discuss that tomorrow.” Leo motioned toward Capri. “Right now, I need to make sure my daughter is okay.”

“Hades can handle that.” Romero winked at me. “Don’t stay too long. Gio needs to scrub the scene.”

“Thank you for your help,” I said.

“I’ll be in touch.” Romero looked at Leo. “Walk with me.”

“Go.” I nodded at Leo. “I’ll take care of her.”

Leo went to the back of the church with Romero. I had a feeling he wouldn’t be making any alliances with other cartels anytime soon. Once Romero laid down the law, Leo would have to fall in line.

“Will Romero hurt my father?”

“You don’t need to worry about that right now. I need to get you off this cold floor.” I caressed her cheek. “We don’t need to be here.”

“I need to tell you something.” She swirled her fingers in my beard. “I worried that if Benny killed me, you would think that I left you.”

“I didn’t think that.”

“I went for a run this morning to clear my head. After what happened last night, what I blurted out after sex, I was embarrassed. I wanted to resolve my thoughts before facing you again. I needed to explain.”

“You don’t have to resolve anything,” I said.