Page 10 of Eris

Rom sat down next to Laverna, and Enzo felt like he was about to get an intervention. He had mediated more than one when he had been a therapist and knew the feeling well.

"Your nonna sounds like quite the character," Rom said diplomatically.

Enzo sighed and smiled into his scotch as he lifted it back to his lips. "You have no idea."

Enzo risked a glance at Eris.A real-life goddess. He knew she was out of his league, but he didn't realize they were light years apart. It made sense why she drew him like a magnet, the small male mortal that he was.

"Are you going to tell me what this is all about?" he asked, finally looking Eris in the eyes. In the bar lighting, they had always seemed dark brown or black. He realized they were actually a very dark purple—gorgeous, like the rest of her.

"You've been chosen for an epic quest!" Laverna said, her excitement brimming over.

"Stop confusing the poor guy and start at the beginning, Eris," Rom replied, putting an arm around Laverna's shoulders. It seemed to distract the other goddess, and she snuggled into his side.

"It began with an apple," Eris said, taking a sip of her drink.

Enzo leaned back in his chair as the goddess of chaos, discord, and strife told him about her curse, his ancestor Aeneas, and what the Fates had promised her if Enzo would go withher to Troy. When she was finished, both of their glasses were empty.

"Is this why you wanted to have a drink with me in the first place?" Enzo asked, an uncomfortable burning sensation starting in his stomach.

Eris's pale cheeks reddened, and his heart skipped. "No! I didn't know who you were. I only found out your true identity today." Eris opened her mouth to say something else and then stopped when her gaze rested on their audience.

Enzo rubbed at his eyes. "I can't just drop everything and leave the bar."

"We can have someone run it for you," Rom replied with a little wave of his hand. "I have people for that. I have a boat you can use and even someone to sail it."

"I can sail it if it's 45 feet or under," Enzo said before shaking his head. "But no, I can't just leave. This is insane."

"You seem to think you have a choice in the matter? Adorable," Eris said, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "The only choice you have is to either come willingly, or I can tie you up and take you."

Enzo smirked. "If it weren't kidnapping, I wouldn't mind being tied up and taken by you."

"You're cute, Enzo, but notthatcute," Eris said, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Stop flirting with me if you are not going to give me what I want."

"I can't help it. You are very frightening and beautiful at the same time," Enzo replied with more bravado than he really felt.

"Fear boner," Laverna whispered to Rom. "He reallyisrelated to you."

Enzo finished his drink. "I still can't leave Rome. My parents are dead, and I'm the only relative my nonna has. If something happens to her, she will have no one to help her."

"As Rom said, we have people who can look after her," Laverna replied. "How much trouble can she be?"

"You would be surprised." Enzo still shook his head. This whole thing was fucking insane. They had to have the wrong person. He wasn't a descendant of some great hero. He was a failed therapist who ran a bar, for fuck's sake.

"Laverna? Do you have any ropes?" Eris said sweetly.

Rom's grip on Laverna tightened when she made to get up. "Show him the palladium."

"Why bother if he's not willing to help me?"

"Call it a hunch. Show him," Rom said, his golden eyes shining brighter for a moment.

I'm drinking with the gods. Enzo ran a hand through his thick curls.What a night.

"Fine. Follow me," Eris said, getting gracefully to her feet.

"You could say please," Enzo replied, setting his glass down.

"You're right. I could, but I'm not going to. Now, hurry up." Eris headed back through the villa, and Enzo sighed.

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