Page 57 of All for her Forgiveness

I've never felt jealous of a woman, but I have the urge to rip the bastard's head off, and if I didn't, it's because they didn't last more than a song. Soon after, Kennedy left, leaving him alone.

I see Pam approaching us, and unable to hide my irritation, I say, "Why isn't Kennedy with you?" I notice the surprise not only on Pam's face but also on Ares'.

"What does it matter where she is? Juliet told me they met in New Orleans, but they've only seen each other once," my ward says. "What's up with you today?"

"Why didn't you bring her over here, Pam? Juliet—or Kennedy, as Hades calls her—is now under our protection too," Ares says, and I know by his tone he's being sardonic.

I think we're both thinking the same thing: Pam likes to be the center of attention, and next to Kennedy, she simply fades away.

The outfit the woman who has been driving me crazy chose for herself is modest enough—considering the party is at a nightclub and she had unlimited credit to choose whatever she wanted—a short, strapless white dress.

And yet, dressed much more simply than Pam and the other guests, Kennedy makes every male head at the party turn to look at her.

"Why do you call her Kennedy? I think she prefers Juliet," she says, and I know she's lying because I remember perfectly the conversation between the two of them in the car, in New Orleans, when Kennedy told Pam she didn't usually respond when someone called her "Juliet."

"It's her name."

It takes me very little time to realize Pam is jealous. Has she noticed, like my brother did, that I look at her "cousin" like a predator?

"Regarding your question, Juliet is having fun with her boyfriend," Pam says, and I feel my blood boiling.

"Boyfriend?"

"Yes. Ryan Corey III. She dressed up for him today. Spent the whole day talking about how excited she was about Ryan's interest in her. I think . . .”

"What?"

"Juliet is dazzled because he's rich, and I'm afraid she'll get hurt. Ryan doesn't usually take girls seriously, especially someone like her, poor and with no life goals."

I try to hold myself back from leaving her alone so I can go after the woman I want, the one who has prevented me from desiring any other since the moment I saw her for the first time.

I force myself to focus on practical matters. "No life goals? What the hell are you talking about? Your grandmother told me Kennedy wants to go back to school."

"I doubt it. She disappears every afternoon, and I think she's at Ryan's place . . . um . . . doing things that a girl does with her boyfriend."

"Don't you have a party to enjoy instead of gossiping about your friend, Pam?" Ares asks.

"Why don't you like me?" Pam sounds hurt, but my brother doesn't even blink.

He ignores her and takes a sip of his whiskey.

"Ares is right, Pam. Go have fun. We're leaving now."

I can see she wants to protest, but she doesn't, and looking as sulky as when she was a child and something was denied her, she walks away from us.

I'm getting ready to leave before I mess things up when I catch a glimpse of Kennedy passing by.

"Wait here. I'll be right back," I tell my brother.

"Where are you going?"

"To clarify a matter."

"Hades, don't go down this path," Ares says as he follows the direction of my gaze, but by now, there's nothing that can stop me.

Hades

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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