Page 83 of Hades’ Revenge

“Let her go.” Leo managed to get himself into a standing position. “Don’t you understand she’ll be better off without you?”

“Without me, she’ll be subjected to you and your demented wedding plans.” I swiped my gun off the table and shoved it into the back of my pants. “Whatever you’ve gotten yourself into, you need to get out of it without Capri.”

“Hades,” Maria said.

“Why are you still here?” I asked.

“You didn’t kill Emilio?” She ran her fingers through her hair, looking as if she didn’t know who to believe.

“I would never have botched a job that way.” I glared at Leo. “But after all this time, I don’t need you to believe me. Get out.” I pointed to the door. “Leo and I have business to discuss.”

Zeus nodded toward Maria. “I’ll escort you out.”

“Zeus,” I said. “Capri ran off without her phone. Can you go after her and make sure she’s safe?”

“Sure thing.” He opened the door and waited for Maria to exit. “I’ll call you once I find her. She’s probably in the lobby.” He closed the door behind him.

I shook my hand when the blood dripped off my swollen knuckles. Punching the floor harder than I thought I had caused some damage. But the satisfaction of knowing I had bruised Leo’s face was worth it.

“I’ll get something for that.” Atticus motioned toward my hand, quickly leaving me alone with Leo.

“Call the diamond thief off my kid.” Leo adjusted his rumbled jacket as he checked himself in the mirror. “She doesn’t need your security.”

“I disagree.” I leaned against the back of the sofa. “Are you happy with how this display of nonsense turned out?”

“I accomplished what I needed to.” He rubbed his jaw. “Capri isn’t here anymore, is she?”

She’ll be back. I had to believe that if I wanted to keep going.

“Getting Maria to lie for you when you’re the one who killed her brother was low even for you.”

“A father will do whatever he has to do to protect his children,” he said. “But you couldn’t possibly know that.”

“Tell me what it is that I did to you that makes you hate me so much.” It wasn’t as if I cared, but I was curious. “You’re the one who fucked me over. Was it easier to make everyone believe I was the enemy because you knew the truth?”

“I didn’t hate you,” he said. “I had all but erased you from my mind, but then you resurfaced at the worst possible time and used my daughter to get back at me.”

“Meeting Capri was exactly what I needed to put the past behind me. I didn’t use her, but she was necessary.”

“Would you say that in front of her?”

“I don’t lie to her, and I would never sell her to the highest bidder.” I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to shoot him. “I could have let this vendetta go for Capri’s sake. I saw the pain in her eyes when you and I fought. I never want to hurt her, but I’m not going to let you hurt her either.”

“She’s not your responsibility.”

“I don’t see her as a responsibility.” I saw her as mine to protect because she managed to break down all of my defenses in a matter of weeks. I dropped my guard for her and opened up and let her in.

“What is it that you want with her? If not to get back at me?” Leo asked. “Am I supposed to believe that my daughter happens to be the one for you?”

“I’m not going to discuss my relationship with you.”

“You don’t have a relationship.” He went to the door. “I need you to stay out of my daughter’s life and out of my business.”

“As long as your business concerns her, I won’t back down. You’ve gotten mixed up with the wrong people, and I won’t stand by and let you ruin Capri. You should be thanking me for removing her from this mess. Tell your associates it’s my fault. We both know it won’t be the first time you’ve done that to me.”

“You have no idea what you’ve stepped in the middle of.” He flung open the door. “Do yourself a favor and disappear. That’s how you can protect Capri.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I shouted as he stormed out of the suite and toward the elevator. “What have you done this time?”