Hades was so much more than that…but my son would never know.
Ash needed a week to think about what I said. Initially, he was too repulsed by the idea to consider it. There was too much at stake, too much of a risk. I had no special skills in fighting or gun handling, so my chances of success were low.
So, we had to come up with a plan.
Ash came over after dinner and sat in the nursery with me. Andrew had just had dinner so he was still awake, but he would drift off to sleep quickly. I gave Ash an opportunity to spend time with him, to hold him in the rocking chair until he went to sleep.
“So, you’ll help me?”
He stared at Andrew for a while before he met my look. “I’ve thought a lot about it.”
“I’d hoped you would. Otherwise, I’ll have to figure it out on my own.”
He rocked the chair for a long time before he stopped. “You’ll never be able to hunt him down and take him out. Hades and Damien have tried that many times to no success. Your only chance is to get him to come to you.”
“And how will I do that? Call him and tell him I’m in town?”
“No. He has to think he’s catching you off guard. That’s your only chance, your only leverage.”
“And how am I gonna do that? I could visit Hades at his office…I guess.”
“No. You can’t involve Hades at all.” He looked down at Andrew and noticed he was asleep. He lowered his voice as he kept talking. “I’m certain Maddox has people who keep tabs on you. He knows where you are and what you’re doing. Since he’s using you against Hades, that’s the only way for him to keep his word.”
“I’ve never noticed anyone following me.”
“That’s the point.”
“So, when I go to Florence, he’ll know?”
He nodded. “Exactly. Hades told him you aren’t together anymore. So, Maddox will probably assume you’re in town for personal reasons. Go straight to the hotel. Knowing him, he won’t be able to resist stopping by.”
That did seem like something he would do. He wouldn’t touch me or threaten me, but he’d want to watch me squirm in his presence. I’d left my husband and moved all the way to Rome because I was afraid of Maddox. He would probably get off to the sight of my fear. “And then what?”
“Wait in your office. When he walks in…shoot him.”
“I’m not quick with guns. He might shoot me before I could even draw.”
“That’s why you have your gun hidden. Wear a jacket and leave it in your pocket. That way, he’ll have no idea.”
“You don’t think he’ll figure that out?”
He shrugged. “He might figure it all out. Like I said, I don’t condone this. But I think it’s your best option. The fact that you’re letting him come to you gives you the upper hand. He’ll think he outsmarted you…when in reality, you outsmarted him.”
My heart started to pound with adrenaline. I was exhilarated but also terrified. Squeezing that trigger would give me so much satisfaction. Watching his body go limp on the ground while his blood stained my floor would be the best retribution. But it could also go the other way…and I could be the one on the ground.
Ash watched the emotions dance across my face. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I knew Hades wouldn’t want me to. If he knew what we were plotting, he would scream in my face and tell me I was stupid. But I didn’t want Hades to be a prisoner any longer, to live under the thumb of that horrible man. I wanted us to be together…like we should’ve been this entire time. “Yes…I’m sure.”
15
Hades
Now that Maddox had taken over my facility, he’d also taken over my office. He was never in one place very long because he moved around constantly. Sometimes he used my office; sometimes he worked somewhere else. I still had no idea where he lived and where he kept all his other assets.
The guy was a nomad.
I collected the money from our distributors and carried one large bag into the office that used to be mine. Maddox was sitting behind his desk with his feet up when I walked inside and placed the black duffle bag on the corner of the surface. “It’s all there. I counted.”
He eyed the bag before his eyes turned to me. “Congratulations. You did your job.”
Even when I was in charge, I never spoke to anyone that way. A good leader was someone who inspired people, not shit on people. “Congratulations. You’re a fucking asshole.” I turned around to walk out.
“Hades.”
I turned back around and didn’t look the least bit pleased about it.
He lowered his feet from the desk and righted himself in the chair. “Let’s have dinner tonight.”