He stands and reaching down, takes my hand and I ponder if I’ve mentioned one thing to anger him as a result of the onerous set to his jaw and the explosive anger in his eyes makes me marvel if I’ve pushed him somewhat too far.

CHAPTER 46

ADONIS

Melissa is deluded. She sees issues in a really romantic method and doesn’t understand the cruel actuality of our lives. The considered her heading to Madeira Island fills me with terror for her. I perceive why she needs to go, and I’d by no means stop one other human being from doing one thing they need to do, however it’s my job to coach her in what that will contain.

We stroll alongside the seaside to the furthermost level. The small piece of land jutting into the ocean, the place a gazebo gazes proudly out over the water. The white marble of the stone displays within the moon’s rays and as we attain the tip, Melissa gasps, “That is lovely, Adonis.”

We stare out on the gentle spilling onto the ocean floor, reflecting the massive moon because it shines its ethereal gentle.

I’ve educated myself to not react to this place. To not permit the demons to purge my soul, as a result of that is the place my mom was laid to relaxation.

I stand hand in hand with Melissa and say gruffly, “Mother is buried right here.”

She squeezes my hand and says nothing in any respect, and I whisper, “This was her completely happy place. She used to come back right here with my father, and they might speak for hours. Many evenings had been spent on the sting of this land, talking of their hopes and desires and celebrating their triumphs.”

I really like how the cool breeze strokes my face as I unburden one thing I hardly ever go to. It’s as if my mother is reassuring me that every part is okay. She is at peace and is watching over me. I’ve at all times felt that right here and tonight isn’t any totally different.

I say roughly, “She was fearless. Nothing scared her aside from our security. Again then, this home was our seaside home. We got here right here for the summer time however spent the remainder of the 12 months between Athens and Provence. This place was as closely guarded as the remainder of our properties. It was a distinct place totally again then. Just like the Vieris, we had been at all times underneath menace and took steps to guard ourselves towards males with scores to settle. We thought she was protected the day we left. We had been incorrect.”

I flip and stare into Melissa’s beautiful eyes and whisper, “We had been away coping with an informant. We had a leak in our group which was draining our earnings. Cash and energy had been every part to us again then. We didn’t know we had been arrange. A rival household had their sights on our territory, and it was an important factor in our lives to win.”

She stares at me with tear-filled eyes, and I brush them away as I whisper, “After we returned, the home had been ambushed. One among our guards was a traitor and wasted no time in leaving us a warning.”

“A warning?”

Her eyes are extensive and fearful as I hiss, “He executed her. She was studying within the blue room, and he went inside when the guards had been doing different issues and slit her throat. She by no means stood an opportunity, and my solely hope is she knew nothing on the time. He slashed each a part of her pores and skin, leaving her unrecognizable, and left the knife embedded in her coronary heart.

“It’s as if I’m relaying a narrative regarding another person as a result of my supply is chilly and impassive. I’ve gone over her loss of life hundreds of thousands of instances in my thoughts and numbed my coronary heart towards it.

Melissa is shivering regardless of the balmy evening, and I pull her into my arms and whisper, “She was a defenseless girl who by no means damage anybody. She was brutally murdered to inflict essentially the most ache on her household. They knew it could destroy us way more successfully than any torturous warfare. She ought to have been protected, however we let a traitor stay amongst us. As you’re such a fan of Greek mythology, examine it to the Computer virus. The enemy inside when you like who was gone earlier than we returned and regardless of all our efforts, was by no means discovered.”

“Adonis, I…” She makes to talk, the tears flowing quicker now, however I preserve indifference and say with a sigh. “This world is brutal, Melissa. It’s not romantic, it’s not protected, and it doesn’t differentiate between the harmless and the responsible. It’s chilly, calculating, and merciless, and that’s what I would like you to resist.”

I wave across the clearing and whisper, “My mom was introduced again to the place she beloved essentially the most and her ashes scattered right here. We packed up our enterprise and turned our consideration to what she beloved. The olive groves and vineyards had been her ardour. She beloved nature and the straightforward pleasures life has to supply, and so we offered our mansion and moved right here completely to be along with her. We had been finished however will always remember, which is why we promote our companies for causes we’re enthusiastic about.”

“I perceive now.” She cups my face in her arms and whispers, “You gave all of it up in her reminiscence and have devoted your lives to what she beloved. She would need you to be completely happy, although, Adonis. She was completely happy along with your father. You instructed me that. Apollo was pleased with Phoebe, too. Why don’t you permit your self to like?”

I snap my hand over hers, and say gruffly, “As a result of I don’t need to lose them. To place them in peril and face immeasurable ache after they undergo due to me. As a result of I watched my father break, and he’s the strongest man I’ve ever recognized. Apollo too. They had been destroyed as a result of they allowed themselves to like and now my coronary heart is being examined by you.”

“Me?” Her eyes widen and I nod, a small smile managing to floor from my distress.

“There’s something about you, Melissa, that speaks to my soul. It’s as if an angel breathed into it while you smiled at me on the boat and why I couldn’t honor your brother’s needs and take you house. I’m nonetheless figuring out why you’re right here and as I mentioned, I make no guarantees, however I do know the considered you heading to Madeira Island is tearing me aside inside.”

She turns and stares out on the ocean and sighs, a slight determine because the wind catches her white gown with the moon’s rays illuminating her mushy pores and skin. A heavenly angel, a goddess when you like, and she or he whispers, “It will be really easy to say I received’t go. To pack my case and go away, head for house and lock my door towards a life I do know nothing about.”

She turns and the flicker in her eyes makes my coronary heart sink as she whispers, “I need to do that for me. To show I’m not soulless. To assist any individual who wants it and to repay the favors I owe Serena and Apollo. I need to deliver Phoebe again as a result of the considered her on the market alone terrifies me. Sure, I may permit Mikhail to take another person. One other girl who additionally doesn’t perceive the risks concerned. Anyone else to do it for me, simply to maintain me protected.”

She steps towards me and takes my arms and says softly, “I’m not that woman, Adonis and I don’t need to be that woman. I need to be courageous and fearless and if meaning I’m extremely silly, then I’ll take it. For as soon as in my life, I need to make a distinction, an actual distinction, and when you present me with sufficient data and put together me, I’ll show I’m worthy of a spot in your hearts.”

She shakes her head and sighs. “You view me as a lady you need to fuck. You possibly can’t even clarify to your self why you needed me right here. You might be nonetheless figuring that out and so am I, however I’m additionally looking for myself in all of this. I got here looking for a wild journey. It wouldn’t be the primary time, which tells me there’s something lacking in my life. This can be a step too far, I admit that, however I would like to do that for my very own causes in addition to yours.”

She tiptoes towards me and drags my lips to hers and whispers, “Please, Adonis. Give me a purpose to exist as a result of again house, I’m nothing however an empty-headed heiress doomed to marry a fucking jerk.”

I don’t even get the possibility to answer as a result of she kisses me so sweetly my coronary heart jumps inside me. She is mushy, candy, and susceptible and but has proven a stronger spirit than I gave her credit score for. She is every part.

She is mine.

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