Chapter 22

22

It was a different driver than Charon who picked Persephone up at the shelter. She’d changed into a dress and heels as per Hades’s request and she fiddled with her purse strap. It felt strange to be driving in the car without Hades. Strange to be anywhere without Hades. And yet, Persephone found herself doing the exact same thing she’d be doing if Hades was in the car anyway.

She stared out the window, silent, hand on the glass as she watched the beautiful glittering lights of the city.

“Um, sir, can you put on some classical music? I think it’s preset one?”

The strains of Rachmaninoff filling the Bentley made Persephone relax back against the chair. Between the gentle lull of the music and the soft leather seats, Persephone felt her eyes drifting closed.

She’d watched a TV show while Hades was gone at work yesterday about these beekeepers who used smoke to daze the bees, lulling them into a false sense of security while the beekeepers emptied their hives of honey.

Was that what was happening to her? Being lulled into a false sense of security by routines and little gifts after periods of hardship her husband himself had inflicted?

Was she being manipulated by a master?

She rolled her eyes at herself. Gods, what was with the animal metaphors today? But maybe it was natural that she couldn’t help thinking about traps and cages on the one day she was free.

The driver pulled in front of Paulie’s, where apparently Hades was already waiting. Several Shades shadowed Persephone as she stepped out of the backseat and, looking both ways, they ushered her out of the car and hurried her into the restaurant.

She’d been here a couple of times, before they were married when Hades had stopped in briefly for business and she’d drunk coffee in a front booth while he was in the back. Today though, Hades was in the booth in a little room separated off from the rest of the restaurant. He was alone, not meeting anyone, as if he was waiting for her.

The waitress took Persephone directly back to him and Hades waved for her to take the opposite booth seat.

Persephone nervously fingered her purse and sat down, scooting over until she was in front of him, the narrow table between them.

“How was your time with your friend?”

“It was good. Thank you for letting me go.” The words were a little hard to get out. She shouldn’t have to ask permission to go see her own friend. But she kept her temper in check because she really wanted him to award her more and more freedoms like this afternoon.

Hades tilted his head at her and she wondered what he was thinking. Seemed like she was always wondering what he was thinking lately. His face was so unreadable and his actions often inexplicable. He’d eased up so much from the wedding night but she didn’t know why or what was coming next. She was back to constantly waiting for the next shoe to drop.

“I don’t suppose we could talk like real people?” she asked with a sigh.

Hades’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “By all means.”

But that was all he said. She sighed again. He’d never make anything easy, would he?

“How was your day?” she asked.

He continued studying her, and shrugged. “I dealt with business.”

Persephone rolled her eyes. “Fine, don’t tell me about your day. I’ll tell you about mine. It was great to see Hecate again. And the dogs. The reporter was nosy but I kind of expected that.” Her eyes had been wandering the restaurant but they came back to Hades. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell him anything.”

“I wasn’t worried that you would.”

This time it was her looking at him in surprise.

“I give you more credit than that. You’re smart. It’s one of the things I like about you.”

It was one of the things he liked about her?

“Though I might have let it slip how grumpy you are in the morning before you get your first cup of coffee.” The teasing comment slipped out but she couldn’t deny the way her chest warmed when she saw his lips twitch.

No. Stop it. No smiling at the sadistic captor. Getting on better terms with Hades so he gave her more freedoms was one thing, but…liking it?

So she just started babbling so she wouldn’t have to think about it anymore. “One of the golden retrievers was a little too eager to meet Joe when we took him out for his walk and started humping his leg. Hecate got him under control, though. She’s trying to train him in some of the basics because she thinks he’ll make a great family dog. We were hoping Joe would feature him in the article but that plan went a bit awry, what with the whole humping incident.”

“Joe?” Was Persephone crazy or was there an edge to Hades’s voice?

“You know, the reporter from the other night. Joe Garcia,” she said, dismissing the thought. “Anyway, I think the whole thing went off pretty well. Hopefully, it will bring some recognition and publicity to the shelter and will get more people in, wanting to adopt.”

Her eyes lifted over Hades’s shoulder. “And it was good to see the dogs again…” Wait, she’d already said that. She bit her lip as she watched the waitress, Maria, approach with their food. Persephone hadn’t ordered anything or even seen menus.

“I took the liberty of ordering for us when the driver messaged that you were on your way.”

“Oh,” she said. She didn’t like his high handedness, but it was Hades. And when she leaned over her plate of pasta and took a deep inhale, she smiled. “Thanks. I’m famished.”

“Enjoy,” Hades said, eyes still on her, not his food.

Feeling a little self-conscious, she dug in anyway. The meatballs and marinara were delicious. Simple fare but excellently executed. “Oh my gosh, this is amazing,” Persephone said as she finished chewing a large bite.

Hades watched her with what looked like amusement as he ate his meal. She was embarrassed when she looked down and realized she’d polished off almost her whole plate and he was only halfway done.

“I’ll give your compliments to the cook.”

Persephone felt her cheeks heat but decided, screw it. Good food was good food and she wouldn’t be embarrassed about enjoying it.

Hadn’t Hecate impressed on her the point that happiness and freedom started with her? She wasn’t sure she fully understood what Hecate had meant but she could guess that it had something to do with attitude and outlook. She could sit here and sulk about her situation and pick at her food.

Or, she could enjoy the fuck out of this amazing pasta, be satisfied that she’d had a great day at the shelter with her good friend, and tonight, if the pattern of the last week was anything to go by, she’d probably end the day with at least one earth-shattering orgasm.

Was it really that easy?

Be happy in her cage and move on with life?

“What are you thinking about so solemnly over there?”

Her eyes jerked back to Hades. She didn’t know how long she’d zoned out for, but he looked almost done with his pasta now. He gazed at her over his glass of red wine.

“Nothing,” was her knee-jerk response, but then she took a deep breath. She was the one who said she wanted to talk about real things, right?

“I guess I was wondering…well, I’m always wondering…what it is you want.”

Hades looked surprised again. “What do you mean?”

Was she really doing this? Maybe it was the afternoon with Hecate, maybe it was the fact that Hades had been relatively nice to her lately, but she decided to take the plunge.

“Well,” she started slowly, “I can’t help but notice that things have been…different lately.”

He didn’t say anything, so she went on.

“…And I guess I was wondering if you are still determined, um, for me to be…well, miserable.”

Her eyes dropped to her plate but she glanced up briefly at him. Pointlessly, because his features gave no indication of what he was thinking.

So determinedly, she went on. “Because I was thinking, um, if you’re out for revenge on my dad, us being together, whether I’m happy or miserable still does that job. Because I’m guessing you’re the last person on earth he would want me with.”

Time to get the rest of it out quick. “I’ve never known the guy so I don’t necessarily feel any loyalty to him and things were never that great with my mom. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that maybe a life here in New Olympus, a life with you, could be good. I mean, I could be contented if you were okay with me doing things like I did today, going out and not being locked in the apartment all day.”

“And I could make it a good home for you,” she hurried on to say. “I could cook and clean?—”

“That’s what the maid is for,” Hades said sharply.

Persephone jumped at his voice, but hurried on. “Well, I could do other things. Um, wifely things.” Persephone couldn’t help but look down at her plate again. “The gods know we’re compatible in that department.”

She took a quick breath in and forced herself to look back up at him. “I guess what I’m proposing is a cease-fire between you and me.”

“A cease-fire,” he repeated.

She nodded, forcing herself to keep his gaze even though like always, the intensity of his gaze made doing so a difficult feat.

He was quiet a moment but then he moved swiftly, standing and moving around the booth until he stood at her side, hand held down to her. “I accept.”

Persephone felt her mouth drop open. He accepted? Just like that?

“Okey-dokey,” she whispered. She reached up her hand and he clasped it firmly.

“Tomorrow I’ll have another stylist come in,” he said as he swiftly walked to the front door, dragging her along with him.

Well, he was full of surprises today. “Where are we going?”

“To the theater. But right now we’re going home.”