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CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
HADES
As we are getting into the back seat of our SUV and leaving Mississippi behind, Persephone crawls into my lap. I put my arms around her fragile, trembling body and urge her to rest her head against my chest.
She does, placing her face against my beating heart. Her eyes close and she looks like a fucking angel. An angel that has been through hell, with dark smudges under both of her eyes and obvious bruises on her upper arms and chest.
“I love ye,” I say into her hair. “I love ye, Persephone. And right this minute, I’m going to divest of the arms dealing business. I’m going to devote my life to you and our daughter. I swear that to ye, Penny.”
Penny looks at me, a little shocked and definitely worn out. “I love you too, Hades.”
She doesn’t comment on anything else that I said, just lays her head on my chest and burrows deep.
I’ll kill Constantine for this. For every fucking bruise that he dared to put on her body, I swear I’ll torture, maim, and eviscerate someone that he loves.
I’m so keyed up right now that I’m practically vibrating with the need to crush, to hurt, to kill. I brush wisps of Persephone’s long, dark hair from her angular cheekbones and expose her delicate forehead.
I need something from her. Something… emotional. But I have no idea what to even ask for, so I just simmer in my righteous, violent anger.
Persephone licks her lips and cracks open her eyes. She shivers, even though it’s still summer.
“I’m cold. And… and thirsty.”
She’s wearing a skimpy little two piece dress and she seems… skinnier than I remembered, somehow.
It’s hard to believe that she was only missing for four fucking days.
I notice a blueish cast to her lips, and I quickly curse aloud.
“Motherfucker.” I look up, alarmed.
Before I can even ask Ares for a blanket, he roots around in the front passenger seat and produces a blanket and a bottle of water. Handing them to me, he gets in the driver’s seat and pulls out following the SUV carrying the security team.
As the car starts moving, I unfold the blanket and tuck the ends securely around Persephone. She cuddles even closer into my chest, her entire body shaking. My heart wrenches in my chest.
“She all right?” Ares asks, looking in the rearview mirror.
“She’s definitely going into bloody shock,” I answer.
“Fuck,” he breathes. “Okay. We will be back at the air strip in twenty minutes. I will text the air crew to be ready for us.”
“Aye.” If I learned anything at all in my time in the military, I need to lay her down, keep her body temperature high, and keep her still. Swiftly moving her, I ignore her groan of displeasure.
“Shh, lass,” I tell her, keeping my tone even and melodic. Tucking the blanket around her, I try desperately not to let any of the fury building in my chest leak out where Persephone can see it. Just now, my role is her savior. I can cradle her and assure her that she’s safe while I carry her to safety.
Everything else, all the violent impulses that I have when I look at Persephone’s state?
It can wait.
Ares turns around in his seat for a moment, sparing Persephone a glance. His light eyes peer out from beneath hooded lids, but I can’t interpret any expression on his face. He gestures to me with his cell phone.
“The plane should be ready for us when we get there.”
I suck in a deep breath, trying to shift my focus forward. I’ve been hellbent on having this girl in my arms again for days. But for once in my goddamned life, I have no idea what is next. There’s no plan A, much less plans B and Constantine.
I’m a tiny canoe in a viciously swift current, unmoored and without a fucking paddle. Everything I’ve built my life around — the neat way I used being over prepared as a kind of weapon — it’s all scattered to the winds now.
I give Ares a nod, letting him know I heard his question. Turning away, I stare out the window at the passing scenery.
