Page 36 of The Don's Eternal Vows

The gates stand waiting. Judgment or mercy—soon, I’ll know which awaits me.

Chapter 17

Gianni

I step through the gates of Hades' castle, my heart pounding so hard I swear it echoes off the stone walls. An unnatural chill seeps into my bones, raising goosebumps on my skin. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Someone's watching me. I can feel their eyes boring into me, but when I whip my head around, there's no one there.

"Show yourself," I growl, my eyes darting in every direction possible. Only silence answers.

I press on, each footstep thundering in the emptiness. The deeper I go, the colder it gets. My breath fogs in front of me. I round a corner and catch a glimpse of myself in an ornate mirror.

Christ.

I barely recognize the man staring back at me. My clothes are in tatters, streaked with dirt and blood— all mine. My usually slicked-back hair is wild and matted with grime. But it's my eyes that give me pause. They're feral, desperate. The eyes of a man with nothing left to lose.

What have you become, Gianni?I think to myself, tracing the new scar on my jaw.

For a moment, I see Genoveva's face reflected next to mine, her smile bright and teasing."My brave Raven,"she used to call me. The memory cuts deeper than any knife.

I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms. I’m going to get her now. I’m going to pray she isn’t petrified of the monster she sees.

With a final glance at the savage in the mirror, I square my shoulders and stride forward into the unknown depths of Hades' realm.

The further I walk, the deeper the silence suffocates, pressing in on me from all sides. Every room I enter is more opulent than the last—vaulted ceilings, marble floors, intricate frescoes depicting scenes of the underworld.

But there isn’t a soul in sight.

"Hades!" I call out, my voice echoing off the cold stone walls.

Only silence answers. I grit my teeth, frustration bubbling up inside me. I wonder if this is a mirage—a trick.

As I navigate the labyrinthine corridors, the absence of guards is unnerving. No sentries, no hellhounds, not even a lowly shade. It's as if Hades is taunting me, daring me to find him in this maze.

It’s as though he wants to break me, To have worked so hard, faced so much, and found nothing at the end.

My footsteps, the only sound in this vast emptiness, reminds me of late nights pacing our bedroom, waiting for Genoveva to return from some party or the other. The memory of her calming touch on my arm feels like a lifetime ago.

I pause at an intersection, weighing my options. "Where are you hiding?" I growl, running a hand through my messy hair.

Suddenly, the air grows heavy. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I whirl around, my hand instinctively reaching for the gun that isn't there.

A figure materializes before me, and I find myself face-to-face with a goddess of breathtaking beauty. Her eyes, blazing with fury, lock onto mine. When she speaks, her voice booms like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the castle.

"Who dares trespass in the realm of the dead?"

I stand my ground, meeting her gaze unflinchingly. This is no time for weakness. "I am Gianni Montagna," I declare, my voice low and steady. "I've come for what's mine."

Her nostrils flare, and for a moment, I think she might strike me down where I stand. Her hair cascades like a waterfall of midnight, flowing in a wind I can't feel. Jewels adorn her tresses, catching the dim light like stars in a night sky.

"You have no power to take from here, mortal," she hisses, her words dripping with disdain.

I straighten my torn jacket, a habit from countless negotiations. "Power comes in many forms, my lady. I may not have godly strength, but I have something just as potent – a desire."

Her eyes narrow, assessing me. I can almost see the wheels turning in her mind, wondering what to make of this audacious human who dares to stand before her.

"You speak boldly for one so close to death," she says, her voice softening slightly.

I allow myself a grim smile. "Death and I are old acquaintances. But today, I'm here to bargain with him, not join his ranks."

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