Page 36 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“Speak for yourself,” Hades growls. “Revenge, at the very least, gave us the satisfaction that that son of a bitch didn’t get away with it and won’t cause harm to another innocent person.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for retaliation. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is my guide,” my second oldest brother continues, “but not when it completely changes our lives.”

I know Ares is saying this directly to Hades, who lives for seeking the destruction of his enemies.

The youngest in our family is unfazed. “Enemies must be destroyed without mercy.”

I shake my head, thinking about how fucked up we are. Unable to deepen a romantic relationship, to forgive... to trust, except in the family.

The only one to escape this cage is Zeus.

“I need to go,” I say. “I have to arrange things so Cecily can move in.”

“Don’t leave her alone with the boy at first.”

“Damn, Hades, you’re becoming more obsessed than me,” Odin says. “Elina has been working with the girl for weeks, and my wife is a good judge of character. I would never have allowed Cecily into our midst if I thought she was no good.”

I shake my head, smiling. Our entire family, on both sides, are a bunch of paranoid bastards. “See you at the wedding,” I say.

“If you need me to watch your new employee, just let me know,” Ares says, smiling, and I know what that means.

“Don’t go near Cecily.”

“Why not? I won’t be employing her directly, and I haven’t dated a natural redhead in a long time.”

“I won’t warn you again.”

His smile widens. “Because she’s yours, right?”

“That has nothing to do with it. Cecily will just be my employee.”

This time, everyone smiles, even Odin, and it’s clear they don’t believe what I said. My irritation increases.

I walk to where my son is—in the arms of the woman who is a temptation for me but also very forbidden.

“Can we go?” I ask Cecily, as if I were addressing any other employee.

What happened earlier today was a mistake. I must keep my distance, even more so now that I have seen how much my son is enchanted by her. Maybe Cecily really is the ideal employee.

She looks at me, seeming confused, but then gets up with him still in her arms.

Only then do I realize that Joseph has fallen asleep.

“You can give him to me. He’s heavy.”

“I can handle it,” she says. “I’ll take him to the car.”

“And I’ll take you home, and tomorrow I’ll ask Anderson to move you in.” Nothing I say has any emotion. I sound purposely indifferent, because it will be better for both of us if it’s that way.

“I’ll accept help with the move,” she answers in the same tone, “but not the ride home. Madison said she would take me.”

We get to my car, and she passes Joseph to me. Our arms brush, and for an instant, we both freeze.

“I’m going to take you,” I repeat, because I want to control even a small part of her life.

“Why? I already said you don’t need to . . . sir.”

“You will be my employee. It’s natural for me to try to make your life easier,” I say nonchalantly, as if I’m commenting on the weather, as I place Joseph in the backseat.

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