Page 77 of For the Love of the Gods

“You are supposed to be your father’s daughter. Strong. Willing to do what it takes to retain your power.”

Rose scoffed. “You say that like it's an admirable trait.”

“Itis. Instead you throw it all away for a pretty face and a ring,” Odell mocked, his head tilting towards Rose’s left hand. Her bare left hand. “Or wait…just the pretty face it seems.”

I was planting my House ring on her finger the second we got out of here.

“I didn’t have much of a choice, Odell,” Rose said, and I couldn't stop the guilt that formed at her defense of the lie I’d spun.

“Tsk tsk, Rosemary.” I hated it when he said her name. “There’s always a choice. You’ve made it twice before, what’s another one?”

The only sound in the room was Rose’s shaky inhale.

Odell snorted and I clenched my fists. “See? Soft.”

“Be that as it may,” Rose said, sending a flash of anger through me that she just accepted that statement. Shewassoft, subdued, but strong. Not with the derogatory tone Odell used. “You’ve given us nothing to work with. We have a sole survivor of your pathetic little attempt at a heist and you are going to give us names, motives, accomplices,everything.”

“What are you going to give me in return?”

“The chance to see the sun again,” I spit.

Odell didn’t so much as spare me a glance. I looked to our guards, each of which seemed a hair's breadth away from snapping. Max was quite rage, while Marcus and Raiden were squealing furnaces.

Odell kept his focus on Rose and said, “I’ve cultivated a bit of a reputation as the person to speak to regarding the Underworld.”

“What an entrepreneur,” Rose returned quickly. My lips turned up at the corners before I could help it, grinning like a proud fool.“Well, I had to make a living somehow after you exiled me, my dear.”

“Odell,” Rose warned.

Odell huffed as if to sayFine. “A group of young men recently lost a family member. Tragic story, really. He lost his fiancée in a car crash. Drunk driver. He was brave, that one. Tried to save her from Charon’s grasp. Poor boy didn’t make it and his family thought sending a group might be able to bring them both back.”

Rose’s back was tense, but her voice level. “How successful that was.”

“They put forth a valiant effort,” Odell said. “Tried to be smart about it.”

“And you helped them because?” Rose asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing personal, my dear,” Odell assured, like this was a simple favor instead of an act of treason. “They simply provided the right price.”

“Anyone else plan on trying to save them?” If this was going to snowball, we’d have to squash this before it escalated any further and put Rose in harm’s way again.

Odell shook his head. “I believe this attempt was the result of too much money and too much youthful courage. I imagine the family will mourn and move on.”

“If they are as wealthy as you say, this won’t go away quietly,” Rose said, voicing my own concern.

“Ah, yes. They may speak about it.”

That was frustratingly vague.

“And?” Rose prompted.

“It may inform what they already think.”

Another evasion. Rose took another step out of my reach, her frustration apparent in the way she moved. “That would be…”

“You are a ruthless killer encased in an angel's body,” Odell responded, accompanied by a sweep of Rose’s form.

“Complimenting me won’t save you.”

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