Page 1 of All for her Forgiveness

PROLOGUE ONE

Past

NEW YORK

I hearthe sound of the tiny shoes she loves so much hitting the floor as Pam enters the house, completely unaware that I'm here.

I hide a smile and can barely stand still waiting for her to come see me.

The sounds on the wood are getting closer.

Plock, plock, plock.

"Grandma, can I play outside?"

"No, Pam. I have a surprise."

"Am I getting a present?" she asks, and I can hear she's smiling.

"Maybe. Go to the main living room."

From the sounds coming from the floor, I know she's running now. I position myself so she'll see me as soon as she enters the room, and as I expected, she screams and throws herself into my arms.

"Hades! You're back!"

I lift her up, and she clings to my neck. I'm not one to be swayed by sentimentality, but the tears of our housekeeper's granddaughter upon learning that I've returned from a three-month trip to Greece get to me.

I'm torn between the country I was born in and the United States. I haven't been able to decide where I'll settle permanently, although it's likely to be here in the States since it's where my three older brothers live.

I spend most of the year in this country because of college. And whenever I come to New York, I stop by to make sure they're okay.

There's no reason for us to keep this house. Our grandfather has passed away. This residence was his home away from Greece, but now we don't need it. However, none of us has the courage or desire to tell Vina Marcotte, the woman who’s dedicated her life to serving our family here in this country, that we're selling the property where she lives with her granddaughter because it doesn't make sense for us to keep it.

"Hey, how did you behave in my absence?" I ask.

"Very well, because I wanted you to be proud of me."

"I'll have to review everything that happened while I was away to make sure."

"What does 'review' mean?"

"Tocheck. See if you really were a good girl, as you're saying."

She wrinkles her nose, making a cute face. "I don't lie, Hades, and I would never lie to you, because I love you. You're my superhero."

Her life, until she came to live with her grandmother, was a true hell, but now no one will ever hurt her again.

"And I will be, forever. I will protect you, Pam."

What I have no idea of at this moment is how that promise will haunt me in the future.

Kennedy

PROLOGUE TWO

Past

NEW ORLEANS

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