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CHAPTER 12
Hadria
"Haveyou completely lost your mind, you silly bitch?" Lyssa snaps.
I suck in a breath between my teeth as I let my temper rise and fade. "Haveyoulost your desire to live? If anyone else spoke to me like that?—"
"Yes, yes; you'd flay them alive," Lyssa says impatiently. "But when you tell me you're having adinner partyfor your captive and her mommy dearest, what do you expect me to say?"
We're in the war room, alone—which is lucky for Lyssa, because if she spoke to me like that in front of anyone, I'd backhand her at once—and she has her hands on her hips and an exasperated expression on her face.
"The mother has been incessant in her demands," I tell her.
"So fucking what?" Lyssa explodes, throwing her hands up. "You'reHades. Cut her goddamn tongue out and send it to that husband of hers as a fresh warning. He's the one you should be worried about, since he's buddied up to Nero."
In the weeks since I abducted his bride, Nero has been trying to amass an army. Unfortunately for him, he's not well liked, and there are not many in Chicago who are interested in going up against the legendary Hades, not without a guaranteed win.
They know what will happen to them otherwise.
But Aurora's father still owes Nero a huge sum of money—the sum that Aurora was supposed to be payment for—and so his life is now forfeit until Aurora is returned to Nero.
Which she never will be.
"I don't give the slightest fuckwhatAurora's father is doing," I tell Lyssa. "He's a sniveling little fool and?—"
"And he's got poker buddies in high places."
With a sigh, I have to admit that she's right about that. I had wondered myself what was keeping a nonentity like Jimmy Verderosa alive all these years, given the size and number of his debts. The answer was his connections—not in the underworld, but the righteous world. He's friendly with judges and police chiefs, the kind of people who can be very useful to someone like Nero.
And very irritating to a business like mine.
"The father has not been invited to this dinner," I tell Lyssa. "Just her mother. And you can't imagineshe'llcome here with any weapon but tears."
Lyssa gives me a look that tells me she still thinks I'm crazy, but she says no more about it as some of the senior Syndicate members begin to file in for our meeting tonight.
And I turn my mind to business—and to reclaiming my birthright.
A day later, I stand outside Aurora's bedroom door, steeling myself before I knock. She's been here at Elysium for over three weeks now, and in that time, I've kept my distance. Watching her from afar, ensuring her safety and comfort from the shadows. I allow myself to check the cameras only three times a day, because otherwise they're too great a distraction.
But tonight I will see her face to face again, and I'm not sure why I'm so hesitant.
I knock at last, and a muffled voice bids me enter. Aurora sits at her vanity, brushing out her long hair, wearing a fluffy shell-pink robe. She must have just come out of her shower. I'm relieved she's washing regularly now, and eating, too, though she's still paler than I'd like. Our eyes meet in the mirror, and she turns, surprise flashing across her delicate features.
"Hadria?"
My name on her lips sends a thrill through me. I incline my head in greeting and close the door behind me.
"I've come to escort you to dinner."
Aurora frowns, glancing at the clock, which reads just before five p.m. "Do you mean breakfast? I usually have it brought up. Besides, isn't it early…so to speak?"
She's adjusted well to Elysium's schedule by now. I fold my hands behind my back, affecting nonchalance. "I meant atraditional dinner in this case. We have a guest arriving shortly to share it with us. Your mother."
At this, Aurora stands swiftly, her brush clattering to the floor. "My mother is coming here?"
The naked hope in her voice twists something in my chest. This girl has been starved of kindness in her life. And it's a quality I discarded long ago.
"I told you I would permit her a visit. I extended an invitation for tonight, so she can see for herself that you're unharmed." I keep my tone neutral and watch Aurora closely. "I thought a dinner would be most suitable."
