Chapter 17—Lukiyan

I realize now that I didn’t fuck myself over when I pursued Persephone after coming to New York.

No, it wasn’t then.

It happened in Brazil. That night we first met.

That was the moment it happened and set me up for a fall.

She was the wild card the Universe threw at me to screw me over in the worst way possible because no matter what she was never going to be with me.

Now we’re here.

She’s in the back of my car, unconscious while I’m hightailing it off the grounds of the mansion.

We’re fleeing. Narrowly escaping the invaders unnoticed.

I’m doing exactly what Emilio asked me to do—taking his daughter to safety.

More importantly, I’m doing exactly what I would have done for a woman who feels like mine. Except where we’re going, there’ll be no one to keep her safe from me.

At least I’m the devil I know.

Those men at the house wouldn’t have hesitated to kill her, or take her and use her for leverage then kill her.

I don’t know what the fuck is happening back there, but my guess is the assholes from The Order came along, killed the staff, and are now in the house.

It’s got to be them. Who else could get onto the grounds of the property and inside the house?

Or rather, who the fuck let them in, in the first place?

Was it another assassination attempt? And another attempt to find the device?

Emilio decided to stay at the hotel tonight. Maybe they didn’t know that, or it didn’t upset their plans because they were searching around.

Which means they’re looking for the device.

Fuck.

That’s the fucking least of my worries though, because Persephone heard me talking to Aleksei on the phone.

I slipped up. I might not have shouted my plans from the rooftops, but I was reckless.

I thought she was sleeping. It was late enough, and I thought I was alone.

I went in the hall after speaking to Emilio. I’d already decided I wasn’t going to tell him about Persephone’s escape attempt, but I was still thinking about what to do with her in case she thought to try it again.

I told him I brought Persephone home because she was feeling sick. That was how I left my conversation with him, then ended up calling Aleksei.

We were already talking for a couple of hours before Persephone came in the hall and I lost track of my awareness. I should have known better than to do that.

My recklessness stopped me from hearing her come into the hall.

I would have been none the wiser of her presence if she didn’t bump into that vase. I wouldn’t have known either that the house was under attack.

How the hell did I end up in this mess? And how the fuck am I going to get out of it?

I glance up at the rearview mirror and look at the sleeping maiden curled up on the back seat.

She’s not going to be asleep for long. All I did was cut off her airway.

There are no hard and fast rules when you use that technique. A person could be out for a few minutes or a couple of hours.

Regardless of when she wakes, she’s truly going to hate me.

I am indeed Hades, stealing Persephone away.

It takes me less than an hour to get to the house on Long Island. In daytime traffic that journey could have easily been double the time.

Thankfully, Persephone has been out cold for the whole journey.

When I park up on the drive, I get out of my car and scoop her up, carrying her in my arms like a newborn baby.

I make my way up the wide stone steps and feel for the keys in my back pocket.

When I find them, I open the door and rush into the house.

Aleksei walks out of the living room, stopping short when his gaze falls on the young woman in my arms.

He looks her over and notices the blood on her chest—Maya’s blood.

I met Maya only days ago and immediately liked her. It grieves me that she was murdered in such a way.

“What the fuck happened, Lukiyan?” His eyes snap wide.

At the sound of his voice, Persephone stirs. “Grab me one of the tranqs. Quickly.”

I didn’t want to drug her, but it’s for the best right now.

I need to figure things out before we speak.

Aleksei rushes to get the case of tranquilizers from the kitchen while I take Persephone into the living room.

He hands it to me, and I curse myself even more when I administer the drug into her arm.

As her body goes floppy as if the life has left it, I feel worse.

I hold her against me for a few moments, Aleksei watching me carefully, observing. I press my lips to her forehead and lay her down on the sofa.

When I look at Aleksei again, he flicks his gaze from her to me.

“The mission’s compromised. She heard me talking to you on the phone.”

“Fuck.”

“I didn’t know she was in the room. I had to bring her here. I had to regardless, because the house was under attack.”

His eyes bulge and his hand flies up to his head. “What the fuck are you saying to me? Attack?”

“Yes. The Order guys came, and I think they were looking for the device.”

“Shit. What are we going to do?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know yet. I have to deal with her first.” I look at Persephone’s petite form, with her hair sprawled out around her like a cape. I feel like shit for this and what I’m about to do next. She’s a threat now. A risk. And I have to treat her as such. “Where did you put the ropes?”