Page 104 of Hades’ Revenge

“In the beginning, I trusted you to do the right thing. After a while, I let the hate fester, and then one day I decided you weren’t worth the aggravation.”

“I fucked up and thought it was better to leave things the way they were,” he said. “You couldn’t have come back then. Not with the guys who were running things. Killing a priest was very serious to them and their code.”

“You had a lot of responsibility. You had a wife and a child. You were obligated to the New York families. They invested in you. If they knew you went rogue and killed an innocent man of the cloth, they would have killed you. I didn’t want that on my conscience.”

“For what it’s worth, I made sure they never came after you. After a while they let it go.”

“I made friends with some important men who helped me start over. I had to do a few high-profile jobs to pay off those debts.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Everything happens for a reason, Leo.” I ran my hand along the length of the gun. “I’m exactly where I need to be.” Where I want to be.

“I want you to know I am sorry.” He touched his forearm. “I kept my tattoo too. I needed it as a reminder to be a better person.”

“I needed mine too.” It’s how Capri found me. Now I need to get to her and prove to her that I’m the man she believes I am. “I’m willing to let the past go.”

“Me too.”

This conversation was too much to process right now. I had more important issues to concentrate on. While I appreciated the apology, we would have to pick it up another day. My priority was Capri. I couldn’t afford any distractions.

“The Bilotti brothers had Christopher picked up a few minutes ago.” I placed the gun back in the bag. “We can use that as leverage if we have to.”

“How did you get Romero to help us?”

“You’re not the only one who can make an alliance.” I zipped the bag. “Be glad he’s on our side. If Lazaro doesn’t hand Capri over, you can use the fact that we have Christopher as collateral. You’ll tell him his son’s life depends on it.”

“What if he calls my bluff?”

“It might not be a bluff,” I said. “But if it helps me get a clear shot, that’s all that matters. I can’t take the shot if Capri is in the way. Timing will be everything on this one. I won’t risk shooting her.”

“This is my daughter’s life that I’m putting in your hands.” The muscles in his face tightened. “My only child, who I love with everything I have. How can I be sure you can pull this off?”

“Because I love her too.” I yanked the bag off the desk and hoisted it over my shoulder. “That’s how you can be sure.”

“That’s enough for me.”

“Let’s get her back.”

THIRTY

Capri

As Benny guided me up the narrow steps of the basement and to the rectory, I took a deep breath. The air was cooler here and smelled better than the moldy room he had been holding me in. My sweat-soaked clothes clung to my skin, my socks were still damp from my morning run, and my limp ponytail swung against my back with each weak step I took.

The thirst had gotten increasingly worse despite the bottle of water I drank, and my headache showed no signs of letting up. The nausea wasn’t helping. My legs twitched with muscle spasms, and even though they were heavier than usual, I made it to the altar.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said. “I’ll talk to my father and I’ll try to get to know your son.”

I didn’t believe I would honor that statement, but it was better than having Sebastian and my dad walk into a trap.

“You’re going to do more than try.” He guided me in front of the lector and faced me toward the empty pews. “We’re moving up the timeline. Once I rid us of the problem you brought back from Greece, you and Christopher will be free to marry.”

“Sebastian has nothing to do with any of that.” I glanced around, looking for an escape route. “If you let me handle him, I’ll tell him I want to stay here and get married to Christopher.”

Holding back the vomit over my words, even if they were lies, proved to be difficult.

“He doesn’t strike me as the type of man who lets go of his possessions that easily,” Benny said.