Page 46 of Hades’ Revenge

“Zeus is already on it,” he said. “We’ll be upstairs soon.”

I pressed the button for the elevator that led to the penthouse suites. I had rented two adjoining rooms so Atticus and Zeus could be close if trouble erupted. I had confidence they would keep Capri safe if Leo sent his men after me tonight.

Once inside the elevator, Capri hugged me. It was soft and tender. More than I deserved given the fact that I was the reason she was in this situation with her parents.

“I’m sorry that happened,” I said.

“It’s not your fault.” She rested her head against my chest. “I’ve never seen my father lose his temper like that.”

“You’ve probably never seen him come face-to-face with his sworn enemy.” I kissed the top of her head as the doors opened. “And I’m pretty certain he’s never seen you kissing that sworn enemy before.”

“But still.” She took my hand when we exited the elevator. “He didn’t have to hit you.”

“He did.” I nodded. “I would have been suspicious if he didn’t.”

I swiped my phone in front of the pad on the door and guided her in after it opened. She set her little clutch on the foyer table and followed me into the spacious sitting room.

“Oh, wow.” She wandered to the floor-to-ceiling windows. “I’ve seen this view a thousand times, but with these windows, it’s spectacular.”

“The view I’m seeing right now is far more incredible.” I removed my jacket and draped it over a chair as I took in her beauty. The dress looked as if it was made for her. Hugging her sexy, subtle curves and revealing her toned arms and slender runner’s form.

“We should take care of this.” She touched my bloody lip. “Let me.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.” Taking my hand, she led me into the hall and looked around. “This place is so big.”

“There.” I pointed to the door next to the bedroom.

I followed her into the bathroom and switched on the light. She turned on the faucet and ran a washcloth under the water. I leaned against the wall, too mesmerized by her beauty to even care about the confrontation with Leo.

She slipped off her heels before coming over to me with the wet cloth. Wiping the blood from underneath my lip, she carefully dabbed the washcloth on my injury. I winced when she made contact with the open cut.

“Sorry.” She ran her other hand along my jaw. “Why didn’t you hit him back?”

“Did you want me to?” I ran my tongue over the cut, still tasting copper.

“No.”

Maybe she would have if she knew what he had planned for her future. If I hadn’t come to intervene, she would be gearing up to be the wife of the heir to a cartel empire. That infuriated me. Seeing her with Christopher affected me more than I thought it would.

“I don’t want you to fight with him at all.” As she held the cloth to my lip, I breathed in her vanilla scent. “But you don’t seem like the type of man to get hit and not retaliate.”

“Normally, I’m not, but he is your father. I didn’t want you to have to see that.” I placed my hand over hers on my face. “But the next time I will defend myself.”

“Does there have to be a next time?” She removed the wet rag from my lip and placed it on the counter. “He’s never going to accept us being together.”

“He won’t, but I have to be honest, if I were in his place, I wouldn’t want you with me either.”

“I am with you.” She unbuttoned my shirt. “We’ve only been apart for two days but it felt like months. I can’t believe you came all this way and risked what you have to be with me. Why did you do that?”

“I had a feeling you needed me.” I tangled my fingers through her hair, fixing my gaze on her full, pink lips. “I’m here because I want to be.”

When I tilted her head, she rested her palm on my cheek. “Your lip,” she said. “Kissing me might cause you pain.”

“Not kissing you would kill me.” I brushed my lips along hers. “I’ll take my chances with the kiss.”

“You’re reckless,” she whispered before our mouths collided.