A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(62)

When he said nothing, she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was afraid,” he snapped, and fell silent. His words were angry, and she wondered if he was more frustrated at having to say something like that out loud or at having those feelings at all.

“Why?”

“Obviously because of your moral compass.” He got to his feet and took a few steps away. She couldn’t really explain how those words felt, but she wanted to argue that her moral compass wasn’t very high, seeing as how she had turned Minthe into a mint plant and watched Hades torture a mortal.

He sighed. “I wanted time to think about how to show you my sins. To explain their roots. Instead, it seems, everyone wishes to do it for me.”

Persephone blinked, and her frustration was suddenly gone. Instead, she felt…sad. She hadn’t expected Hades to feel insecure about this, much less be frustrated when others took away his chance to tell her.

Her expression softened, and she took a step toward him.

“I’m sorry, Hades.”

His brows knitted together. “What are you apologizing for?”

“I guess…everything,” she said. “For coming here…for telling you no.”

“It’s okay. It’s a lot to ask of you right now,” he said. “With Lexa and your work. And I have put a lot on you tonight, shown you a side of me you haven’t seen before.”

“You aren’t...upset?”

Hades considered this for a moment. “Do I wish you’d said yes? Of course.”

Her shoulders fell. “I’m just...not ready.”

“I know,” he kissed her forehead, and as his lips touched her skin, she began to cry.

Hades brushed her tears away. “Tell me.”

“I ruined everything,” she buried her face in his chest.

“Shh,” he soothed. “You ruined nothing, my darling. You were honest with yourself and with me. That is all I ask.”

“How could you want to marry me now? After I have told you no?”

“I will always want to marry you because I will always want you as my wife and queen.”

She was comforted by the promise in his voice and hoped that when he asked again, she would be ready.

“Will you show me more of this place?” she asked, rubbing at her face to erase the tears.

“More of Iniquity?”

“Yes.”

He groaned. “Do I have a choice?”

“If I am ever to be your queen? No.”





CHAPTER XV - A NETWORK OF SECRETS


There was more to Iniquity than her experience as a customer on the dance floor. It doubled as a hangout for New Athens crime families, secret societies, gangs, and the freelance criminal. Their lair was in the basement of the building, accessible only with an ancient coin called an obol.

Persephone glanced at Hades. “I see you have repurposed the idea of paying to enter the Underworld.”

He chuckled quietly, but said nothing as he guided her down a long, dark hallway and into a spacious room, lit only by light that filtered in through a wall of windows. Persephone approached, and found that the suite overlooked a casual sitting area. There was a bar and several smaller tables and chairs. People sat around, playing cards and chatting, drinking and smoking, filling crystal trays to the brim with ashes.

Persephone touched the glass and asked, “Can they see us?”

“No,” Hades said.

“So you spy on them from up here?” she asked, glancing at the God who hung back, sticking to the shadow.

“You can call it spying if you like,” he said.

She studied the people below and found a familiar face.

“That’s Nefeli Rella,” Persephone said, surprised to see the madam and owner of the Pleasure District—literally a whole neighborhood of brothels. She was a beautiful, middle-aged mortal. Her hair was dark and she wore sequins and feathers. A jade cigarette holder was poised between her pointer and middle finger. Persephone had never seen anyone look so glamour as they smoked.

Nefeli was often in the news, advocating on behalf of sex workers, arguing for safer conditions and harsher punishments for offenses made against them.

“She is in debt to me.”

“How?”

“I loaned her the money to start her first brothel.”

Persephone wasn’t sure how to feel about that. “Why?”

“It was an opportunity,” he said, matter-of-fact. “In exchange for the money, I have a stake in her businesses, and I can ensure the safety of her escorts.”

Persephone hadn’t expected Hades to say that last part, but it didn’t really surprise her. He was protective of women.

“Who else is down there?” she asked.

She felt the God of the Underworld beside her, and she glanced at him as he scanned the crowd below. He indicated to a small, round table in a darkened corner where two men were playing cards.

“That is Leonidas Nasso and Damianos Vitalis. They are billionaires and the bosses of rival crime families.”

“Nasso?” Persephone asked. “You mean...the owner of the Nasso Pizzeria chain?”

“The very one,” Hades confirmed. “The Vitalis are also restaurant owners, but they make their real living from fishing.”