Page 63 of Hades’ Revenge

Too fucking late.

“Go home before I send you back to Greece in a body bag.”

“There’s the man I remember.” I pushed my sunglasses on top of my head. “I was wondering when you were going to join the chat.”

“Leave her alone or I’ll make you more than remember who I am and what I’m capable of.” He opened his door. “I’ll fucking show you.”

“Do your worst.” I laughed. “It won’t take me long to show Capri who you are and what you’re capable of. I can convince her of what you’ve done and to who you’ve done it to. Father Santiago might not be able to speak, but I can.”

“You’ve been warned.” Leo slid back into his SUV. “You should have stayed where you were. You asked why I would associate with Lazaro? It’s good to have men like him on your side.”

“Some of us don’t need men like Lazaro.” I waved at him. “Some of us are brave enough to handle our shit on our own.”

Within seconds, his driver maneuvered into the hectic city traffic and sped away.

“You’ve made your point,” Atticus said. “It’s time to take Capri to Greece and get her away from Lazaro. You’ll handle the fight on our turf.”

“You’re right.”

“I’ll make the arrangements for us to leave immediately.”

“There’s one more thing I have to do before we go.”

“I’m afraid to ask what that is,” he said. “You’ve been more erratic than I would like.”

“I have to attend a birthday party tomorrow night.”

“A what?” Atticus sighed.

“Capri is turning twenty-one and she invited me. I can’t disappoint her.”

“Do you have a fucking death wish?”

“I want to see the look on Leo’s face when I show up as Capri’s plus-one in front of the man and his family he’s trying to marry her into.” I ran the back of my fingers along my jaw. “I don’t want anyone to doubt who she belongs to.”

“That’s a death wish.”

“No, old friend.” I patted his back. “It’s vengeance. Twisted, sick, and long overdue.”

“You’re lucky I’m loyal.”

“I’ll buy you lunch.” I walked down the humid city street. “I’ve worked up quite a thirst for revenge this morning.”

EIGHTEEN

Capri

I sat on a stone bench in the vestibule of the vintage Italian restaurant and admired the old photographs of scenes from small cafes and bars throughout Italy. As I took in the black-and-white images on the wall, I imagined strolling the streets of Venice, Florence, and Verona with Sebastian. Well, maybe not Verona since that reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. Their tragedy hit a little too close to home at the moment.

Sebastian could take me away from here. As much as I loved my parents, I didn’t see any way forward with my new relationship until my father and his ex-best friend made peace with one another. If I had one birthday wish, it would be to stop this feud.

“There you are.” Christopher joined me in my quiet hideaway as I waited for my date. “Your father is looking for you.” He glanced around the small space. “What are you doing out here?”

“I’m admiring all the pretty pictures.” I motioned at the wall. “Aren’t they lovely?”

“The pictures aren’t the only beautiful things in this room.”

A sweet, shy smile crossed his lips. His soft voice contrasted his dark eyes and hair. He wasn’t overly muscular, but he was lean and fit. Maybe a swimmer or a runner. He was cute in a boyish kind of way. Standing next to me in his khaki pants and crisp button-down shirt he reminded me of a college student. Not yet the man he would become in a few years. Nothing like the man who had rocked my world.