Page 106 of Hades’ Revenge

“He used Capri to get to me.” My dad looked at me with remorse in his expression. “After that attempted hit last night, Hades realized this wasn’t a fight he wanted to take on.”

“No,” I whispered as the muscles in my legs weakened. “He wouldn’t do that.”

“You’re better off, Capri.” Benny held me steady. “But don’t worry, this won’t be the last we see of Hades. Because if your father wants you to stay safe and honor our original agreement, he’s going to persuade Hades to come back.”

“Why would I do that?” my dad asked. “Hades isn’t going to interfere in our business. You should be glad he’s gone. Now let Capri go and we can walk out of here.”

“Do you think he’s going to let that assassination attempt go? Of course he isn’t. He will retaliate.” Benny repositioned the gun, wedging it between my shoulder and my neck. “But that isn’t the only reason I want him here.”

“What possible use could you have for him?” My dad inched closer to me. “He’s of no concern to us. Capri needs a doctor.”

“Hades has to pay for what happened all those years ago on this altar.” Benny rocked back, causing me to lose my balance and stumble into him. “Killing a priest in his own church in such a brutal manner can’t go unanswered.”

“Why do you care what happened to Father Santiago?” My dad glanced at his gun that was by my feet. “That had nothing to do with you.”

“Leo.” Benny kicked my dad’s gun out of reach, sending it sailing across the sleek floor. “You didn’t do your homework when I proposed a deal with you. I’m a little disappointed. I vetted you. Shouldn’t you have done the same for me?”

“What are you talking about?” my dad asked. “What does Emilio have to do with any of this?”

“I would have let it go, but when Hades returned the night of the reception and threatened our alliance, I knew he had to be eliminated.”

The more Benny spoke, the more his body pressed against mine. I was drained, but I was determined to get away from him. As he went on about the past, I focused on the balcony above the foyer. A flicker of movement in the darkness caught my attention. Did I see someone? Or was the concussion playing tricks on my mind?

“What we were planning,” Benny continued. “It was epic. Our partnership would knock out all the other cartels in the city. No one would be able to rival us. With my merchandise and your connections on the water, we would be untouchable.”

“You went after Hades with my daughter standing right next to him,” my dad said. “Then you took Capri to lure me here. Do you think that’s good for our partnership?”

“Partnership? After I went after him, you took him into your home and mended his friend back to good health. I don’t trust you.”

My body tensed when Benny yanked my hair back and shoved the gun into my neck.

“Daddy!” I winced. “He’s Emilio’s cousin!”

“What?”

“That’s right.” Benny laughed. “You didn’t see that one coming.”

“That’s what you want with Hades?” My father glanced around the church. “After all this time?”

“As I said, I would have let it go, but when he strolled into that reception acting as if what he’d done had been forgiven, and then he walked out of there with Capri like he owned her, I had to remove him before he would cause too many problems for us.”

“Forget about Hades,” my father yelled. “Let Capri go and we’ll figure this out.”

“I told you both to come here together,” Benny said. “I’m not letting Capri go until you call Hades and tell him to get to this church. When he arrives, you’re going to kill him. That’s what you should have done a long time ago.”

“There’s no reason to eliminate Hades.”

“You’re going to show your daughter who you are and what you’re capable of. That’s the only way you’ll ever get her to obey you.”

As my dad and Benny argued, a flash caught my eye in the balcony. Something shiny hit the light from the windows and caused it to shimmer. And it wasn’t divine intervention.

“Let her go!” When my dad came toward us, Benny held the gun to my temple.

“No!” I closed my eyes and tried not to vomit.

“It isn’t Hades you want,” my dad shouted. “I killed your cousin.”

“What?” Benny tightened his grip on me. “How absurd.”