Page 42 of Hades’ Revenge

“Who?” I asked as two suave men approached us.

The older man looked to be around my dad’s age and a younger one who looked closer to my age. Maybe a few years older. I probably owed these men some gratitude since they got me out of an extremely screwed-up conversation.

“Leonardo,” the older man said. “Thank you so much for hosting such a beautiful affair on our behalf.”

As the two men exchanged pleasantries, I caught the younger one staring at me. I swiped my hair over my shoulder and looked down at my feet because I didn’t like the attention. Those weren’t Sebastian’s eyes fixated on me.

“Capri.” My dad nudged me forward. “This is Benny Lazaro and his son Christopher.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Lazaro.” When I went to shake his hand, he took my wrist and kissed the top of my hand. “Please, call me Benny. I plan to get to know you and your family very well. I have a feeling we’re going to become like family too.”

“Okay, Benny.” I smiled as I turned my attention to Christopher. “It’s good to meet you.”

“Capri,” Christopher said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

I’ve heard nothing about you. “Oh.” I glanced at my dad. “Talking about me?”

“Bragging about you.” My dad placed his hand on the small of my back. “Why don’t you and Christopher get to know one another a bit while Benny and I get a drink.”

“We’re not talking business tonight, are we?” Benny asked as they walked toward the glass doors that led to the bar area.

“It’s a beautiful night.” I went to the stone half-wall at the edge of the terrace and looked out at the city. “Not too hot, especially for this time of the year.”

“I’m new to your city,” Christopher said.

“Are you staying long?”

“For now.” He nodded. “I recently moved here.”

“That’s great.” I rested my arm on the ledge. “There are plenty of cool things to do in the city. Lots of fantastic restaurants and bars, Broadway shows, and clubs. Total tourist traps too.” I motioned out at the city below us. “As you can see from all those people down there, we really are the city that never sleeps.”

“I’d love it if we could get together and you can show me around. I don’t know many people here. A few friends from law school, but other than that, I’m a stranger here.”

“Not for long,” I said. “I have several friends who I’m sure would love to meet you too. We can do a group thing or something.”

“I’m really not into large crowds.” He set his hand on the ledge, close to my arm. “I was thinking you and I could grab drinks and dinner. Get to know one another.”

“I don’t…” How could I do this politely without explaining that I had to go back to Greece in a few days? If I didn’t, my extremely sexy hit man boyfriend would kidnap me.

“I just figured since our families were getting into business together, we could hang out. I’ll be working closely with your dad, so I’ll be around all summer.”

“Then I’m sure our paths will cross at some point.” I moved my arm away so his encroaching fingers were no longer invading my space. “Do you want to get a drink now?”

“You’re not twenty-one,” he pointed out with a teasing smile. It might have been cute if I didn’t already have someone else’s smile engraved in my mind.

“How did you know that?”

“I told you, I’ve heard so much about you, and I know your birthday is in a few days. “But your father didn’t tell me you would be the most beautiful woman here tonight. I consider myself extremely lucky to have the company of such a stunning woman.”

“My father didn’t tell me anything about you.”

I wished my father hadn’t tried to fix me up with a business associate without clearing it with me first. Christopher seemed nice enough, and maybe under different circumstances, I would have given him a chance, or at least gone on a date with him. But now that I had met Sebastian, there was no way I’d be interested in seeing anyone else.

“What would you like to know about me?” he asked. “I’m an open book.”

“I’m not sure she’d be interested in anything you have to say,” a deep, familiar voice said from behind us.

It can’t be.