Page 92 of Hades’ Revenge

“Capri.” She held me tight. “Thank God you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.” I let go of her. “Sebastian made sure of that.”

“Isn’t he the reason you were in the crossfire in the first place?”

“Mom!”

“I’m sorry.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “When your father said you had been shot at, I thought I would vomit. Any sane mother wouldn’t want this life for you, but I do know what it’s like.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “You were never shot at.”

“Your father’s business was much more violent before you were born.” She smoothed out my hair. “Even after you were born, things were unsettled. It took a few years for him to get everything under control, but there were times when people came after us.”

“Did things settle down once Sebastian was framed?”

“Capri, I…”

“Did you know that Dad killed Father Santiago?” The thought of both of my parents covering up my father’s guilt, and then treating Sebastian the way they did, made my stomach turn.

“Not until he came home and confessed tonight.”

“Did he tell you what happened in Sebastian’s hotel room? How Maria lied for him to get me to leave Sebastian?”

“I’m not happy with Maria either, but she did think she was helping your father.”

“Helping him get me away from Sebastian.” I let go of her hand. “She isn’t here, is she?” Sebastian didn’t need any more stress tonight.

“No. She’s processing what happened,” my mother said. “She left me a message and told me she was flying to the Cayman Islands for a few weeks to clear her head.”

“She went even after knowing what Dad did to her brother?”

“Like I said, she’s processing. I’m not sure she believes it was your father. She’s thought for so long that Hades killed him. Getting away will be good for her. We’ll figure things out later.”

“They could have killed one another.” I paced the foyer, stopping in front of the staircase. “Atticus was shot because of that feud.”

“Your father promised me he had nothing to do with that,” she said. “I believe him.”

“Dad might not have ordered that hit.” I grabbed the banister. “But all the events that have happened in the past have led up to this. Sebastian was out of all of it until I brought him back here.”

“Oh, sweetie, no one can make Hades do anything he doesn’t want to.” She rested her hand on my shoulder. “He had reasons for coming back.”

“He came back to protect me from the Lazaro family. Did you know about that? How Dad wants me to marry Christopher?”

“I was never on board with that,” she said. “I thought if you got to know Christopher, you might like him, but then I saw the way you looked at Sebastian and I knew Christopher didn’t stand a chance. Your father’s plan was never going to work.”

“Even if I hadn’t found Sebastian, that plan was never going to work.” I turned and faced her. “I’m tired of being manipulated. I don’t want to live in a world where I can’t make my own choices or be who I want to be.”

“I want to support you.” She spoke the words but there was so much doubt in her expression. “Sebastian is the first man you’ve ever been with. He can be persuasive and knows what to say. You’re infatuated with him. He’s your hero right now.”

He’s always going to be my hero.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.” She hugged me. “Or worse.”

As my father came down the steps, my mother let go of me, and we both faced him when he reached the bottom.

“Atticus?” I asked. “Is he…um, how is he?”

“He’s lost some blood, but we’re going to take care of that.” He patted my cheek as if I were six. “The bullet grazed him. He’s in pain, but Doc Serrili gave him something for that. Atticus will rest now.”