Page 14 of Flowers Near Me

“You’re bound to the six-month agreement, Sephy. Don’t fight it when there’s too much to lose.”

Was there regret hiding in her mom’s words? Sadness? No one trusted Hades, least of all Demeter. How could she abandon Persephone to him now? Why wasn’t she berating him? Her mom was the most cunning god she knew; there had to be a reason she wasn’t fighting this. Now Persephone needed to keep calm despite fear filling every cell of her being.

Hades bent towards the phone. “Take care, Demeter.”

He ended the call and smirked at Persephone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

WELCOME HOME, SEPHY

PERSEPHONE

“Come with me and I’ll explain everything.” Hades held out one arm and gestured towards the front door behind Persephone.

“Hold on,” she said with a raised hand. Craning her neck, she stretched her head past Hades’ shoulder to peer down the empty hallway. In the kitchen doorway were the backs of two figures wearing suit jackets. The unknown voices speaking earlier were now silent. Probably too busy listening in on her conversation with Olympus’ most feared god.

“Laura,” she called, wanting a witness to whatever was about to transpire.

A relieved breath escaped seeing her sister appear between the suit-wearing pair. Laura entered the foyer with a giddy Helena skipping along. “I told him you don’t know any of the details of the acquisition.” She expected Laura to look incensed that Hades and his crew had bombarded her home. Instead, her sister’s face was pinched in confusion.

Bouncing and smiling, Helena hugged Persephone’s legs. “Have fun, Aunt Sephy! Mom says you’re going to start a new job and that you’re moving to Olympus forever.”

What?The foyer grew smaller, the air thickening in her lungs.

Throwing a frenzied look at her sister, Persephone bent down and distractedly hugged her niece, murmuring, “If anything, I’m going to prison, Helena.”

“Sephy!” Laura scolded before pulling Helena back to her and saying softly, “Honey, Aunt Sephy is joking. She’s in shock and saying weird things.” Laura’s eyes bugged out as she scowled at Persephone. Too upset to care, she gave Laura a blank look.

Hades offered his palm. “It sounds like you were kept in the dark and I’d like to fix that. Let’s talk in the car as we go to your new apartment. I can explain the contract’s terms.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Laura would save her. She had to. Looking at her sister, she pleaded, “Tell him there’s no enforceable contract.”

Laura stepped close and whispered, “Sephy, you know the way of the gods better than I do. There’s no way out of this without you fulfilling your end of the bargain.”

In a hushed tone, she argued, “But I never made a bargain with him.”

“I know,” said Laura. “But he’s decided to uphold part of the deal you signed with Eurydice. I don’t think you can stop this.” With a flick of her eyes, Laura gestured towards Hades standing nearby. “It’s too dangerous for you to fight it. Please just go with him and text me later. Okay?”

Through gritted teeth, Persephone said, “Let me get my bag.”

Laura touched her arm, a gentler look in her eye now. “Your stuff is already in his car. Don’t worry if you left anything here. Hades invited us over to your apartment for dinner tomorrow.”

Squinting at her sister, Persephone tried to make sense of the words. She lived at her mom’s estate. Not in an apartment. And why in the Fates’ names wouldhebe inviting people over toherplace?

No one was listening to reason. She needed to regain her composure and clear her mind without Hades hovering nearby. “See you later, then?”

Laura’s tender gaze held Persephone’s. “We’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Aunt Sephy!” Helena held onto the side of her mom’s leg and gave her aunt a big grin.

Persephone managed a stiff smile. She pulled her phone from her pocket and gripped it like a lifeline. Turning to leave, she walked out as Hades held the door.

Was her family really going to let her leave withhim? When he offered his arm, she took it, but stared at the hand holding him as if it were not her own. What option did she have? Her mom’s terse recommendation had left her head spinning and Laura’s resignation cut like an axe.

If her mom hadn’t stopped it and Laura accepted it, did that mean she was truly stuck working for Underworld Unlimited for the next six months?

A strange numbness filled her veins as she walked with Hades towards his dark SUV.

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