Page 8 of Hades’ Revenge

“We can’t always have what we want.” He opened the back passenger door for me. “Trust me, I know.”

“What do you want?” I breathed out. “Maybe I could help you find it.”

“I’m sure you could.” He smirked. “But I don’t need that kind of help.”

He guided me toward the car, but I didn’t want to let this opportunity go.

“Wait.” I stretched up on my toes and kissed his cheek, inhaling a blend of pine and cedar I would etch into my memory. “Thank you for the assist tonight, Sebastian.”

“No one uses my real name.” He ushered me into the car.

“I guess that will be my special thing for you.”

“Goodbye, Capri.” He closed the door and waited for Atticus to drive onto the main road before heading back up the steps of the pier.

This isn’t goodbye…not by a long shot.

THREE

Hades

The warm summer night filled the air with an unpleasant heaviness, only adding to my agitated demeanor. I struggled to put Capri out of my mind, but the more I tried, the more she ended up front and center.

I should have been at the club tonight, but I was too distracted to focus. I wasn’t in the mood to take selfies with desperate women who hoped to share a drink, and then my bed with me.

Why had Capri sought me out? What did she want?

Her presence stirred old memories that I had buried long ago. When I fled New York, I had expectations of one day making Leo pay for the betrayal he rained upon me. Seeing Capri rekindled those aspirations, which was why I had to let her walk away from me. Using her to seek revenge would be easy, but looking into those trusting eyes as I did it, wouldn’t be.

The darkness in my soul never disappeared, but through the years, I’d learned to shove it far enough down so it wouldn’t consume me. Could I leave the past behind me?

“Here’s the file you requested.” Atticus set the folder on the table by the pool. “Everything Capri said seems to match what I found.”

“She was studying abroad?”

“It was a four-week program focusing on the hospitality industry.” He waved his hand over the file. “Leo recently bought a five-star hotel in the Hamptons. Some speculate he’s giving it to Capri as a graduation present.”

“He’s setting her up to succeed.”

“After the program ended, she checked into the hotel where I dropped her last night. She told me she’s here for a few more days.”

“Security?”

“It doesn’t appear she has any. I dropped her off, and then I stayed and observed the villa she’s in. The hotel is pretty secure, but she doesn’t have a guard on her.”

“What could Leo be thinking? Leaving her unattended in a foreign country?”

“Maybe he underestimates his enemies?”

If she were mine, I would make sure she was protected. She’s not yours…

“Do you want me to keep digging?” Atticus asked.

I leaned back in the chair and gazed up at the stars. Let this go.

“No, I’ll take her word that she didn’t know who I was,” I said. “It wouldn't make sense for Leo to send her to find me after all this time. What would he gain from it?”

“If anything, you would think he would want her to stay far away from you.” Atticus’ phone dinged with a security alert. “Given your history with one another,” he added.