“Leave.”
In the next second, the man and the snakes were gone, and Persephone was left alone with Hades. Despite their distance, anger built between them like a solid, stone wall.
Before he could say anything, she spoke.
“You ruined everything!”
He looked startled, and then quickly took up the defense, moving toward her.
“I ruined everything? I saved you from making a huge mistake. What were you thinking coming here?”
“I was trying to save my friend, and Kal was offering a way to do that, unlike you.”
“You would give up our private life—something you cherish most—in exchange for something that will only condemn your friend?”
“Condemn her? It will save her life! You bastard. You told me to have hope! You said she could survive.”
They were nose-to-nose now. “You don’t trust me?”
“No! No, I don’t trust you. Not when it comes to Lexa. And what about this place, Hades? This is your club, isn’t it? What the fuck?”
Hades reached for her, clasping her shoulders, he drew her flush against him.
“You were never to come here. This place isn’t for you.”
Persephone flinched.
“Leuce works here,” Persephone snapped.
“Because it’s Leuce,” Hades said, as if that explained everything. “You told me to give her job back, so I sent her here. You…you’re…different.”
She pushed away from him. “Different?”
“I thought we established this,” Hades said through his teeth. “You mean more to me than anyone—anything.”
“What does that have to do with keeping this place from me?”
Hades was silent.
“Everything here is illegal, isn’t it? The Magi are here. What else?”
Hades tried to remain silent again.
“What else, Hades?” she demanded.
“Everything you’ve ever feared,” he answered, and she shivered. “Assassins, drug lords….”
Persephone felt the color drain from her face.
“Why?”
“I created a world where I could watch them.”
“Watch them do what? Break the law? Hurt people?”
“Yes,” he answered, his voice was gritty.
“Yes? That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”