Page 67 of Hades’ Revenge

“We’ll leave in the morning.”

Relief flooded my system. I had been agonizing over what to do for days, but now that I was in Sebastian’s arms, visualizing what a future could look like with him, my mind was made up. I wanted to go with him and realize my full potential.

The future was uncertain, but I knew my destiny didn’t include running a hotel in the Hamptons and being the bride of a man I was forced to marry. If I created some distance between me and my father, he would have to come to terms with my choices.

“You won’t regret this decision.” The bursts of sparks his passionate kiss ignited made me want to skip dinner and go straight to his bed. “I promise.”

“I believe you.” I took his hand. “Let’s get this over with.”

When he led me into the dining room, all the conversations seemed to cease. I tightened my hold on Sebastian’s hand as we moved deeper into the room that sparkled with silver and pink balloons and white fairy lights twinkling around us. His presence calmed me in such a chaotic situation. Sharing the excitement and freshness of this budding relationship should have been a given. I wanted my friends and family to know how valued Sebastian made me feel. Couldn’t they see how much confidence he had instilled in me? How I thrived when he was close?

My mother shot daggers in our direction. Maria glared at Sebastian before rolling her eyes at me. If looks could kill, no one would ever need Sebastian’s services. Benny and Christopher glanced at one another with what I could only describe as ‘what the fuck’ expressions. My friends smiled at me, but curiosity dominated their faces. I hadn’t told them I was seeing someone, but I was certain they never would have guessed the age-gap trope.

The one person who I thought would have had the biggest scowl on his face came toward us with two flutes of champagne.

This can’t be good.

My father approached us and smiled. “Perfect.” He handed me a flute. “Now I can make a toast.”

“You really don’t have to do that,” I said.

“Nonsense.” When he offered Sebastian a glass, I hoped he wasn’t about to poison him. “My daughter only turns twenty-one once. Do you remember when we were that age? How reckless we could be with our choices?”

Sebastian took the champagne from him and ignored his question.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” My dad took another flute from the bar and raised it. “Before we celebrate the birthday girl, I’d like to introduce you all to Sebastian Zikos.” My dad smirked. “Capri’s godfather.”

FML… I chugged my drink before he could even start the toast. There wasn’t enough alcohol in this entire city to get me through this dinner.

NINETEEN

Hades

Leo’s deliberate attempt to embarrass me failed, but I wasn’t sure how it had affected Capri. After the toast, her friends swept her into the corner of the room, probably trying to get her to reveal who I was and what I was doing here.

If it wasn’t her birthday, I would have insisted that we leave. I still might. I didn’t want her birthday to be ruined by people who couldn’t possibly understand the connection she and I were creating. Speaking of one of those people…

“I can’t believe you would have the nerve to show your face,” Maria said as she joined me at the bar. “It’s been a long time.”

Not long enough.

“Capri?” She gripped the back of the barstool. “What is wrong with you? Do you remember when we stood in that church—you know the church I’m referring to—and baptized her?”

“I’m not discussing her with you.”

“How about my brother?” she asked. “Can we discuss him?”

“No.”

“Why? You don’t want your little girlfriend to know who you really are?”

When she pushed the hair from her face, I caught a glimpse of the woman I had been involved with all those years ago. We weren’t serious. We got together because she was Gia’s friend and I was Leo’s. Could there have been a future for us? Maybe. But all of that was destroyed when her brother ended up murdered on the altar.

“Capri knows who I am,” I said. “I don’t lie to her.”

“Does she? Or does she only know your version of the truth?”

“My version is much more truthful than Leo’s.” I slid my empty glass toward the edge of the bar. “But you wouldn’t know that, because you didn’t give me a chance to explain.”