Page 20 of Hades’ Revenge

“Not for us.” I motioned between us. “Whatever this war is, it doesn’t involve what we shared.”

“You’re right.” He extended his hand for me and guided me to sit between his legs with my back to his chest. “I thought when you came here tonight, I could give you what you wanted.”

“You did.” I looked up at him. “I wanted one night with you. A memory I could take with me and cherish always.”

“I want more than one memory.” He wrapped his arms around my waist. “I want you to stay with me for a few weeks and see what happens. I’m not ready to let you go.”

“You’re asking me to go against my father’s wishes.”

His muscles tensed at the mention of my father. If I had my way, I would stay here. I wanted to get to know him better. I wasn’t ready to leave either, but how could I pull this off without even knowing what I was up against?

“I’m asking you to keep that adventurous, inquisitive side of yours. The one that made you approach me. I want the girl who scaled my fence. Can you be her for me?”

“Will you do something for me?”

“Name it. I might give you the world if you ask.”

“I don’t need the world.” I rested my hands on top of his. “Just some answers.”

“More questions?”

“What happened between you and my father?”

“Those are memories I don’t like to rehash.”

“If I had some background, I might be able to justify going to my father and defying his wishes for you. Shouldn’t I know if that’s something I should even be considering?”

“You shouldn’t have considered coming here tonight and letting me do the things I did to you without knowing who I really am, but that didn’t stop you.”

“That’s when I thought I would get on a plane and never see you again.”

“I’ll tell you as much as I can.” His voice softened. “You’re not going to like the picture I paint.”

“Is the painting honest?”

“I won’t lie to you.”

“Then I’ll listen.”

“I already told you that Leo and I were very close. We trusted one another with our lives.” He twisted a strand of my hair around his finger. “Your father had a business sense like no other. He figured out a way to help the rising families in the city become more lucrative.”

“You assisted with that.”

“Yes,” he said.

“What did you do for him?”

“Whatever was necessary.”

That was an answer my father would give with the same cold tone. My mother and I knew to back off when his mood turned darker. I couldn’t back off now, not if Sebastian wanted me to stay.

“What was necessary?” I asked.

“I was an assassin.” The job description rolled off his tongue as if it were a common position. “A hired gun for the most influential criminals in the world. My reputation preceded me. In some circles, it still does.”

“You kill people for a living?” My father’s world was brutal, but I never thought about the logistics or how people came into power or how other people left the organization. It wasn’t my business to know. Until now…

“Not so much anymore.” He continued to play with my hair, but it wasn’t as gentle as when he first started. He tugged harder and twisted the strands tighter. “I’m semi-retired, but that’s not part of this conversation.”