Page 70 of All for her Forgiveness

I see my son's steady breathing through it, and my heart gradually calms down.

Then I hear footsteps and I get up. I leave the room and find Ernest standing in the hallway. He looks back towards the living room.

"Ernest?"

He turns to me. Without saying a word, he puts his hand on my shoulder, and I start to get worried.

"Did something happen?"

"Hades is here."

"I thought he might come. From everything I remember about him, he only does what he wants. But why at this hour?"

He gives me a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "You know I love you like a daughter, dear."

"Yes, I know."

"And that I would never let anyone hurt you or King? Are you sure of that too?"

"I am. You are the person I trust the most in the whole world."

"That being said, I can't help you at the moment, Kennedy. Until today, I thought I'd seen everything. The good and the bad sides of life. Mostly the bad. But I had never encountered a truly torn-apart man."

"Ernest, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Of course you do, but sometimes our minds refuse to see the truth."

"The truth?"

"I won't interfere in your relationship, nor will I tell you what decision to make, Kennedy."

"We don't have any relationship. The only bond between us is King. Hades Kostanidis is my enemy."

"No, he's not. I'm aware your memory hasn't fully returned and that there are still pieces of the nightmare you went through missing, but there's a repentant, broken man in the living room who will protect you if anything happens to me."

"Why are you saying this?" I ask, feeling a shiver of fear run through me.

"Because I want you to know where to run if something happens to me or?—"

"Please don't finish that sentence."

"I have to, Kennedy."

"Is something wrong with you, Ernest?"

"For many years now."

"My God!"

He hugs me. "It's not like I'm going to die tomorrow, dear, but there's a chance it could happen at any moment. I've had an aneurysm for almost a decade, and it's inoperable."

"Ernest . . .”

"When I found you at just fourteen, this curse was already with me. It may never burst and I may die of old age, but there's a chance . . .”

"I understand. Please, tell me there's something I can do."

"Not about my health, no, but for my peace of mind, there is something you can do."

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