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“Yes?” She turns off the shower and pokes her head out. She can’t seem to decide if she wants to waltz out naked or be bashful, which I find unspeakably charming.
“I’ve been called in. I don’t know when I’ll be back.” I hesitate. “Do you want me to drop you at the house?”
“No.” She shakes her head and snags the closest towel. I like nice shit, and towels are included in that. It’s a big fluffy thing that covers her from chest to knees as she steps out of the shower. “I don’t want to have to explain to Persephone what’s going on until it’s resolved. If you’re okay with it, I’d prefer to stay here.”
If I’m okay with her staying in my town house and sleeping in my bed. I might laugh, but she’d read it the wrong way. “I’m good with that. Keep your phone on you.”
She smiles faintly. “I always do.”
We need to have about a dozen conversations, and we don’t have labels or shit that would make me feel better, but I’ll be damned before I leave without kissing her goodbye. I step forward and press my lips lightly to hers. “Sleep well, baby.”
“I’ll try.” She lifts her fingers to her lips as I turn and leave the bathroom.
The lights in the living room are off, but I can clearly see Orpheus on the couch, shirtless with one arm flung over his eyes. I don’t know if he’s sleeping or just faking it, but I pause and allow myself to look at him.
He really is pretty. He’s also not what I expected. I thought he’d come in here, all blustering and defensive, and instead he just seems sad and defeated. It’s disconcerting. Throwing him out feels like kicking a dog, and I don’t make a habit of hurting those who don’t deserve it.
Hedoesdeserve it, but that doesn’t change that my instincts are conflicted when it comes to him.
I turn without another word and leave the town house, making sure to lock the front door behind me. The street is just as quiet as it was when we arrived, but I still pause and look around.
Something feels…off.
It would be easy enough to brush the feeling away, but I find myself pulling my phone out of my pocket and dialing Minthe. She answers on the second ring, her voice groggy. “This better be good.”
“I need someone on my street.”
“What?” She yawns and, when she speaks again, sounds more awake. “Something going on?”
“I don’t know.” I turn a slow circle, but nothing seems to be out of place. “Just a feeling.”
“Okay.” Another yawn. “I’ll be there in twenty.”
“You don’t have to do it personally.”
“Yeah, I do. No reason to drag anyone else out of bed. Send someone to relieve me around breakfast.”
Minthe can be a pain in the ass, but she’s reliable as fuck. “Thanks.”
“That’s what friends are for.” She hangs up without another word. Part of me is tempted to wait until she shows up to leave, but Hades wouldn’t have summoned me to the greenhouse without good reason. Time is of the essence.
I call Medusa as I climb into my car and head out. I’m not surprised she’s still awake, just like I’m not surprised that she doesn’t ask any questions. She and her girlfriend, Calypso, seem to be night owls naturally. Either that, or Medusa bolts into wakefulness without any delay. Considering her former line of work that’s just as likely.
The drive is short enough that I don’t have much time to think. It’s just as well; tonight took more turns than I could’ve ever anticipated. First with Eurydice instigating things between us, and us losing control in my back seat. Then with Orpheus showing up in the lower citytonightof all nights.
I don’t want to think about Orpheus though.
I pull to a stop in front of the greenhouse. Technically, it’s a flower shop that’s been owned by the same family for several generations. Most businesses in the lower city are like that; they can trace their lineage parallel to the history of Olympus. Some of them are transplants. It’s not common for people to move into the city from the greater world, but it’s not entirely unheard of either.
Matthew’s family has owned this flower shop, and the greenhouse above it, since the city was founded. He’s the last of them now, except for a distant cousin who lives out near the warehouse district.
I don’t know why anyone would fuck with Matthew or the flower shop. There’s no money to be had here, and as far as I cantell, he doesn’t house any flowers or plants that are rare enough to tempt someone to steal from him.
The only value this place holds is for the people who live in the lower city. Hades in particular comes here when he needs time and space to think. These days, Persephone comes with him.
All the lights are on as I climb out of my car and head toward the building. The big glass windows are untouched, but someone has thrown a brick through the glass door. Matthew is on his knees, trying to sweep the glass into a bin.
He looks up as I approach, and the sheer relief on his face makes me uneasy. “Thank the gods you’re here.”
