Chapter 19
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.”
“You mean give you a chance to lie to me?” She shook her head. “Why did you come back?”
“It was time.”
“Time to torment Leo? What possible reason could you have for targeting his daughter?”
“I didn’t target Capri.”
“Right. We’re all supposed to believe that she found you by accident? Even if that’s true, you manipulated the situation to work to your advantage.”
“Think what you want about me.”
“I think you’re a murderer with no feelings,” she raised her voice. “You’re a cold-blooded killer. I know that’s who you are.”
“Stop it!” Capri inserted herself between me and Maria. “You’re wrong about him.”
“No, sweetie, I’m not.” Maria motioned toward me. “You have no idea who he is.”
“Would everyone please stop telling me I don’t know who Sebastian is.”
“Why do you call him Sebastian?” Maria asked. “Does that make you feel better using his given name? As if it doesn’t change the things he’s done?”
“Because that’s his name.” Capri backed up until we were touching one another.
“That’s who he is to me. You say I don’t know him.
Maybe I don’t know who he was before, but I know the man he is today.
I know him better than any of you ever will.
He’s not who you perceive him to be. He didn’t do what you think he did. ”
Capri spoke with such conviction. As if she had known me my whole life. She put herself out there for me. She sacrificed everything to defend me.
“You’re a delusional, spoiled kid who thinks you know everything, but you’re wrong about him,” Maria said. “Go back to pretending you’re a famous designer and leave the important matters to the adults.”
“That’s enough!” I stood next to Capri, refusing to have anyone insult her. “You can think whatever you’d like about me and be as offensive as you need to be, but Capri is off-limits.”
“You’ve made plenty of questionable choices, but this has to be an all-time low. Sleeping with Leo’s daughter?” Maria glanced at Capri before directing her rage back at me. “One of these days your sins will come back to haunt you.”
“Today’s not going to be that day.” I took Capri’s hand. “I’m sorry if my presence stirs up bad memories for you.”
I sincerely meant that, because the death of her brother was painful for her. Emilio didn’t deserve to die that way.
“Stop.” Maria held up her hand. “I won’t take pity from his killer.”
“Don’t call him that!” Capri gripped my hand. “Did you ever let him explain?”
“Why? So he could lie to me?” Maria breathed out in frustration. “Do what’s decent for once in your life—walk away from her.”
Leo and Gia looked up from a conversation they were having with some friends, probably trying to decide if they should intervene. As long as Capri and I were together, there would always be a scene.
“Sebastian, I want to go.” Capri looked at me. “You shouldn’t be subjected to any of this because of me. It isn’t fair.”
“You’re brainwashed,” Maria said. “I’ve been in your shoes.
I know how convincing he can be. He gazes at you with those intense eyes and that dark, mysterious smolder and he makes you believe you’re the only woman he’s ever desired.
Trust me, Capri, you’re not. There were many before you and there will be plenty after you. You’ve fallen for a serial killer.”
“You have no idea who I am,” I said. “But I will tell you this, you have never been in Capri’s place. Do you know why?”
“Enlightened me.” Maria cackled. “I live for the moment.”
When Leo and Gia joined us at the bar, Capri inched closer to me, holding on to my hand as if they would rip her away from me. That would never happen.
“Because Capri truly is the only woman I’ve ever desired,” I said to Maria. “Before her, there was nothing, and without her, I won’t exist.”
“I could make that happen,” Leo said. “It’s time for you to go before you make a bigger spectacle of yourself than you already have.”
“We were just leaving,” Capri told her parents. “If you can’t co-exist, then I can’t be here.”
“Capri,” Gia said. “Don’t go.”
“Mom, I tried to be who you wanted me to be, but I can’t do it anymore. I want to be with Sebastian.”
When Capri pleaded at me with her trusting eyes, I answered her silent call.
“You should let your daughter go now,” I said. “Before it’s too late.”
I recognized Leo’s quiet intention in his stare.
We could often communicate without words because we were so in tune to one another.
He issued me the challenge to keep pursuing his daughter, and I accepted.
Not because this was part of a plan to get back at him.
This had become so much bigger now. I had to protect Capri from the danger he put her in.
I guided her toward the exit, well aware of the curiosity of the people around us. I was never one to care what other people thought about me.
“I’m sorry,” Capri said as we made our way to the vestibule. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come.”
“Did you want me here?” I opened the front door and stopped once we were on the street.
“Of course I did.”
“Then there isn’t anywhere else for me to be.” I caressed her cheek. “I’ll always be where you need me.”
“There is so much mayhem that surrounds us.” Her eyes filled with tears. “My father has made such a mess of things. He wants me to—”
“We finally meet.” Benny Lazaro shoved his phone in his pocket as he came toward us from the corner of the street. “Hades the Assassin. Do they still call you that?”
“It depends on who you ask.” I nudged Capri to stand behind me, because I didn’t want her anywhere near him. “Mr. Lazaro, is there something I can help you with?”
“You could ask the birthday girl to go back inside so you and I can talk.” Lazaro smiled at Capri. “It’s been an eventful party, hasn't it?”
“Don’t answer him.” I hoped Capri had learned her lesson after what had happened with the amateur photographer at the club.
“Such an interesting dynamic the two of you have,” Lazaro said. “I’ve been observing the both of you.”
“Don’t concern yourself with us.” I placed my hand on Capri’s back. “We were just leaving.”
“I’ll respect the topic of the stunning Capri as being off-limits, but I am interested in another of your relationships.”
“Which one would that be?”
“Romero Bilotti.”
“Why would you involve yourself with that?” I checked the street, searching for Lazaro’s backup. “Nothing in this city should be of interest to you.”
“Hmm.” He gazed at Capri before returning his attention to me. “It would be easier for you if that were true. You’d have a clear path to Leo’s daughter. Talk about revenge.”
“This conversation is over.”
“Capri,” Lazaro said. “While you’re celebrating your birthday tonight don’t forget to ask Hades who Romero wants him to eliminate while he’s in New York.”
I ushered Capri down the street, being mindful not to go too fast. As usual, her shoes were too high for the uneven pavements. “Do you have what you need to travel to Greece?”
“Umm, I have my license and my passport in here in case I needed them.” She held up a small clutch that barely fit her phone. “My clothes though…”
“Don’t worry about that,” I said. “I had a few items delivered for you to the hotel this afternoon. We can get whatever else you need once we’re home.”
“Home?”
“Greece, that’s my home.” I smiled at her. “I’d like for it to be yours too.”
We were moving way too fast, but Lazaro was more of a threat than I would have liked.
If he and Leo were as determined as I thought they were to form a powerful alliance, I didn’t have much time to get Capri out of New York and under my protection in Greece.
I had more resources there. I could keep a better eye on her once we were far away from Leo and his ridiculous plan.
As we turned the corner, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky, misting us in a coating of warm summer rain.
“Come on.” I picked up the pace. “The hotel isn’t that far.”
“Easy for you to say.” She held onto me like her life depended on it. “I’m going to fall.”
“I can’t help it if your taste in shoes isn’t practical.” I wrapped my arm around her. “But I will never let you fall.”
“Oh no!” She giggled when the rain picked up in intensity. “We’re going to get soaked.”
“We’re almost there.” I slowed down to cross the street, making sure there were no cars coming. “Just a few more feet.”
Her boisterous laughter chipped away at my hard exterior.
When had I ever smiled during a rainstorm?
Had I ever experienced such a light-hearted moment with a woman I had fallen so fast for?
There were so many things I hadn’t done before her.
When we reached the hotel, the doorman smirked as we hustled into the bustling lobby.
Others hurried in behind us, commenting how the storm had come out of nowhere.
I navigated us to the penthouse elevators, being careful to not let her slip on the slick marble floors. She gazed up at me with bewilderment in her eyes while I pushed the button that would grant us access to my suite.
“What?” I led her into the elevator. “Why are you staring at me as if you’ve never seen me before?”
“I’ve never seen you like this.” She reached up on her toes and kissed my jaw as the doors shut.
“Unprepared?” I laughed. “Sloppy?” I glanced down at my Armani pants that stuck to my thighs. “Soaked?”
“I am taken over how hot you look when you’re wet and caught off guard, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“What are you talking about?” I wiped her wet cheeks with my fingers, admiring how sexy the thin, white material of her dress clinging to her rain-soaked flesh was.
“I’ve never seen you so light and soft.”
“Soft?” I shook my head when the doors opened. “I promise you, I’m not soft at all.” As we exited the elevator, I took her hand and pressed it to my impatient cock. “See.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She smacked my arm as I swiped my phone against the panel on the door. “Maybe it’s because since we left Greece, we haven’t had many moments to just be us. Do you know what I mean?”
“It’s been a little hectic.” I pushed on the door with my shoulder and guided her into the suite. “But now that we’re alone that will change.”
“How?” She smoothed her hands along my chest and kissed my neck as she yanked my shirt from my pants.
“I have a few ideas.” I skimmed my fingers along her sides. “They all start with getting you out of this wet dress.”
“I like where this is heading.” She unbuttoned my shirt and slipped it from my shoulders. “When you walked into the restaurant tonight, all of my anxiety and fears dissolved and were replaced with hope and renewal.”
“Why were you afraid?” I had sensed her stress as soon as I saw her with Leo. “What did I walk in on?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She scratched her fingers along my beard, and that subtle, probably unconscious action on her part calmed me as much as it settled her. “You saved me.”
“What did I save you from?” I kissed the tips of her fingers. “What happened before I arrived?”
I backed her against the wall and grabbed her hips, waiting for her to respond.
“My father informed me of his future plans for me and that hotel.” She gazed at the floor, reached down and took off her heels. “And other things.”
“What other things?” I forced her chin up so she had to look at me.
“I said it didn’t matter because I’m never going to let it happen.”
I must have gotten to Leo if he revealed his absurd plan to her. I would have thought he would have let it play out long enough to manipulate Capri into complying. He didn’t count on me fucking it all up.
“Did you think I would stand by, little minnow, and allow another shark to take what’s mine?”
“How did you…” Her eyes widened. “You knew?”
“From the moment you invaded my world, I’ve made it my mission to know everything there is to know about you.” I twisted my fingers into the bottom of her dress and slid it up her side. “The other night at the reception, you asked what I was doing here.”
“Why did you come?” She swallowed hard, keeping her gaze fixed on mine.
She jolted when I slammed my forearm against the wall by her face, keeping her trapped in my orbit. Trailing my lips along her jaw to her ear, I rubbed my thumb across her hipbone and to her panties.
“I’m here to make sure everyone knows who you belong to and that I will stop at nothing to have you.” I spun her around and pushed her against the wall, wedging my knee between her legs and spreading her thighs apart. “Starting with you.”