Chapter 32—Lukiyan

I needed surgery this time to get the bullet out of my shoulder.

It was nothing compared to what Emilio went through.

By the time the paramedics arrived, we had actually lost him. His heart stopped beating, and they came in while I was performing CPR.

It was only with their defibrillator that they brought him back, but he remained in a coma.

He had surgery and came out of the coma two days ago but was still in and out of sleep.

Today is the first he’s looked alive and more like himself.

I’ve just come back to the hospital after getting Persephone some real coffee, and I was told Emilio was asking for me.

I expected to see Persephone in his room, but she isn’t.

Emilio looks at me when I walk in, and the color returns to his face.

In the moments when he’s been alert, he’s seen me taking care of his daughter.

He’s also had people come by from his office, so I’m sure he must know Judas is dead, and I’m sure he knows I killed him.

I don’t know if that’s why he wants to see me, but I’m here.

I don’t know how I feel about him and his part in Melissa’s death—because in my head, he still played a part—but I’m here.

I don’t know if I still feel like killing him, but I’m here.

Moving to the nightstand, I set the Styrofoam cup of coffee down and go over to Emilio’s bedside.

“I thought you might not come,” he mutters in a weak voice, which is so unlike him.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to see you, and she didn’t ask you first.”

“I’m here. How are you feeling?”

He presses his lips together. “Like hell, but I’m here too. I didn’t die, and I don’t take that lightly. Not everybody gets a third chance to live. I did.”

“I guess that makes you lucky.”

“Or, you more compassionate than you should be.”

I keep my gaze on him, on the milky white eye and the good one. Emotion sparks, reminding me of the look of hope Persephone sometimes has.

I recall him saying she’s like him. He couldn’t have been more right.

“You think I’m compassionate?”

“You know you are. There were many things you did that you didn’t have to do. This is one of them. Thank you for what you did, Lukiyan. I’m truly sorry about what happened to your sister.” He pauses for a moment on seeing the clench in my jaw but continues. “Her death was a gross error on my part. I accept the blame. I gave her to Judas, and that’s where everything else went wrong. I’m sorry.”

Hearing his apology should mean nothing to me, but it takes the edge off my heartache and heals me in some ways.

“We’re good here,” I say, stopping him from continuing. “I will always harbor resentment in my heart because I couldn’t save my sister, but I have to move past this if I want to be with Persephone. I love her, and she loves you, so I have to find a way.”

He stares at me for a few moments and swallows hard. “You’re her Hades.”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t keep her away from the light.”

“I won’t.”

He smiles. “Does this mean you’ll be staying in New York?”

“I can be anywhere I want to be.” I’ve already thought ahead and made my decision. I don’t need to be in L.A. to do my work for the Yurkov. Even so, I would still choose her. “So where she goes, I follow, and I’m not going anywhere without her. She’s… my something good.”

“That’s good to know. She looks happy to hear that too.” He looks over my shoulder with a broad smile, and I follow his gaze.

Persephone is standing in the doorway, watching us with the brightest smile on her face.

She rushes over to me, and I take her into my arms, savoring the feel of her and finding my light.

My true love.

My Persephone.