Page 110 of Hades’ Revenge

“I wanted you to know that I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I kissed her fingertips. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I should have kept my feelings to myself and not have made things weird between us. I have a bad habit of being a little emotional and I…ah…” She closed her eyes. “Sorry, my thoughts are jumbled, and I just need you to know that I don’t expect you to reciprocate. I can’t change the way I feel about you, but I can give you space to sort your feelings about me out in your own time.”

Her old soul came shining through in her words. The maturity she displayed left me in awe. Plenty of women, many who were older than her, would have demanded someone reciprocate their feelings. She was wise enough to see through me. My heart belonged to her and she knew it.

“We need to get your head checked out.” I studied her pupils, noting the unevenness in her lovely eyes. “But there is something I need to say to you. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

“No,” she whispered. “I’m not upset. That long run I went on really helped me. Well, until I got hit on the head and kidnapped.”

I wouldn’t let that go. I would request Romero’s assistance, and I would find the men who hurt her and make them pay.

“When I couldn’t find you this morning, I blamed myself for making you leave.”

I regretted not being a better man last night. I got in my own way and couldn’t articulate what I felt for her. Seeing her being held at gunpoint was a wake-up call. Never hold anything back.

“All I could think about was not telling you how I really felt,” I said. “Not much scares me in this life, but knowing what I didn’t say could make me lose you was the most terrifying thing I ever faced. I fucked up last night because I thought I was trying to put you first. You have your whole life in front of you. There are so many possibilities. So many dreams you could explore.”

“I don’t want a life without you.”

“I never want you to regret me.”

“Why would I?” She pushed herself into a seated position. “Are you saying that you believe one day I might look back and think I wasted my time on an older man?”

“Something like that.” I smirked. “I’m definitely getting the longer end of the stick when it comes to us.”

“Right?” Her melodic giggle carried throughout the church. “Don’t be ridiculous. You just assassinated someone for me. If that doesn’t say you care, then I don’t know what does.”

“That was second nature.” I took her hand. “I will always protect you.”

“Then let me feel the way I want to feel about you.” She smiled. “I love you. After what happened today, I don’t ever want you to not know that. Nothing else matters to me.”

“You’re amazing.” I gently kissed her lips. “And what I’m about to tell you right now is something I have never told anyone else. I didn’t have to because I’m quite certain I never felt this way about anyone before you.”

“Another first for you?”

“I love you.” I traced my fingers along her stunning face. “I meant it when I said my heart needed you. Thank you for calling me out. Thank you for asking the hard questions that make you understand me better than anyone ever has. You’re allowing me to be the man you’ll always need.”

“You’re the man I’m always going to want.”

“As long as you can accept who I am.”

“I can make my own choices.” When she tried to get into a seated position, I helped her. “You have been a choice from the moment I set eyes on you. I’ll never regret that.”

THIRTY-TWO

Capri

Sitting by the pool, gazing at the ocean as the sun set, I stretched out on the lounge chair. I waved to Sebastian as he finished his nightly briefing with Atticus about the club.

Once the doctor cleared me to fly after a mild concussion, we made it back to Greece. Finally! A little longer than the five-day deadline Sebastian had set for me when I left the first time, but we were here.

I was grateful for the extra week in New York because it gave me time to work things out with my parents. We couldn’t resolve all of our issues in seven days, and I wasn’t certain I would be able to fully forgive my dad for trying to marry me off to Christopher. But at least he and Sebastian were no longer a heartbeat away from killing one another. Progress.

Sebastian joined me by the pool and sat on the edge of my chair.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” He kissed me, slow, sensual, and tender, making my toes curl. Even if I were mad at him for making me wait, I wouldn’t be anymore.