CHAPTER NINETEEN

LARA

Hades stood there, his eyes scanning my face, and for a long moment, I thought he was going to tell me to leave. But then he sighed, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Fine," he muttered, his voice low. "Wait here."

I nodded, watching as he turned and walked back inside the house. The door creaked shut behind him, leaving me alone in the cool night air. My heart was pounding, and my mind raced with questions I couldn’t answer. Where would I take them? What was I even doing? But all I could focus on was the image of his bruised face and the sound of breaking plates from earlier.

It felt like an eternity before the door opened again. Hades stepped out first, his expression unreadable, and behind him came a petite woman, her frame so slight she looked like a gust of wind could carry her away. Her hair was streaked with gray, her face etched with lines far deeper than her years should allow. But it was the scars—thin, jagged marks along her arms and a faint one across her temple—that made my chest tighten painfully.

She looked terrified, clutching a small bag to her chest, her wide eyes darting nervously between Hades and me. “Hades,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Who… who is this?”

Hades glanced at me, his expression softening just slightly. “She’s a… special friend, Mom,” he said, his voice quieter than I’d ever heard it.

I swallowed hard, forcing a small, reassuring smile as I stepped forward. “Hi, Mrs.…” I trailed off, realizing I didn’t know her last name.

“Just call her Maria,” Hades said quickly, his tone sharp, like he wanted to avoid the formalities altogether.

“Maria,” I repeated gently. “It’s nice to meet you. I—uh—we should get going.”

Maria glanced nervously at Hades, but he nodded, placing a hand on her back to guide her forward. We walked together, a strange and silent trio, down the dimly lit street. My car was parked a few blocks away, hidden from view when I had first arrived.

I couldn’t shake the tightness in my chest as I stole glances at Maria. She looked so fragile, so worn down by life, and yet there was a quiet resilience in the way she carried herself. But seeing her like this, alongside Hades, only made me more determined to help, even if I didn’t know how.

When we reached my car, I hesitated, realizing I didn’t have a plan. “Get in,” I said softly, unlocking the doors. “We’ll figure it out together.”

Hades opened the door for Maria, helping her in first before sliding into the passenger seat. As I started the engine, I glanced at him, catching his profile in the dim glow of the streetlights. He didn’t look at me, but the tension in his jaw and the way his fists clenched told me everything.

I had no idea where we were going. But I knew I wasn’t leaving them behind.

As I pulled away from the curb, the weight of the decision settled heavily on my shoulders. The streets were quiet, the headlights of my car illuminating the empty road ahead, but my mind was anything but calm. I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain this to my dad—how I was going to explain them—but something inside me told me this was the only place I could bring them.

"Where are we going?" Hades asked from the passenger seat, his voice low and guarded, his eyes still focused straight ahead, not daring to look at me.

"I... I’m taking you both to my house," I said, my voice a little steadier than I felt. I glanced at him, unsure if he’d be upset with the idea. I had no right to make decisions for him, but right now, I was doing what felt right.

His gaze flickered over to me, his brows furrowing as if he was about to protest, but I quickly added, "I’m sure my dad won’t mind. He’s supportive. And he knows something's been going on with you… well, I think he does."

Maria, who was sitting quietly in the backseat, looked up at me through the rearview mirror. Her eyes were soft, almost hesitant. "You’re sure?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, but the concern in it made my heart ache.

"Yes," I replied, trying to sound confident. "I’m sure. My dad's a good man. He won’t mind."

I didn’t know for certain if that was true, but in that moment, I wanted it to be. I didn’t want them to feel like they were a burden, like they didn’t have a place to go. And in my house, they would at least be safe, at least for tonight.

As I drove through the quiet streets, my heart was pounding in my chest, and my thoughts raced. I didn’t know how my dad would react—Hades wasn’t someone he knew, and I wasn’t sure how to explain everything that had led up to this moment. But I couldn’t just leave Hades and his mom alone, not after everything I had seen. They needed somewhere safe.

"Where are we going?" Hades asked from the passenger seat, his voice a bit rough. He hadn’t looked at me since we left his house, keeping his gaze focused out the window, his posture stiff.

“I’m taking you to my house,” I said, my voice firmer than I felt. “I know it’s sudden, but my dad—he’s really understanding. He’s not going to turn you away.”

There was a brief pause, and I couldn’t help but glance over at him. He was silent for a moment, his jaw clenched, but then he gave a small, reluctant nod. I wasn’t sure if he believed me or if he was just too tired to argue, but I wasn’t about to back down. He needed help, and so did his mom.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly, glancing over at me for the first time since we left his place. “You’re sure your dad won’t mind?”

“I’m sure.” I was trying to convince myself as much as him. "He’s... he’s good. I promise. He won’t mind."

Maria, sitting quietly in the backseat, turned her gaze to me through the rearview mirror, her expression still fragile. “Thank you, Lara,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” I replied, my voice softening. “Just... just try to relax, okay? You’ll be safe for tonight.”

We drove in silence for a few more minutes until I reached my neighborhood. My hands were gripping the wheel tightly as I turned into the driveway, the familiar house in front of me offering a small bit of comfort. I wasn’t sure if Hades and his mom felt the same way, but I hoped they would soon.

I parked the car and quickly got out, walking around to open the back door for Maria. Hades lingered a moment before following us up to the front door, his posture still stiff, his eyes cautious.

I took a deep breath before knocking, my heart pounding in my ears. It felt strange to be bringing them into my house, my dad unaware of the situation. But I had no choice.

“Lara?” my dad’s voice called from inside.

“Yeah, Dad. It’s me,” I called back, stepping inside with Hades and Maria behind me. I tried to keep my tone as casual as possible, but there was a tension in my shoulders that I couldn’t shake.

My dad came into the hallway, smiling when he saw me. But his smile faltered when he noticed Hades and Maria standing quietly behind me. “Lara? Everything okay?”

I nodded quickly, trying to keep things light. “Yeah, it’s fine. Dad, this is Hades and his mom, Maria. They... they need a place to stay for the night. I hope that’s okay.”

There was a brief moment of silence as my dad took in the two strangers standing in the doorway. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, the surprise, but then he nodded.

“Of course, sweetheart,” he said, his tone softening. “You know you don’t have to ask. Come in, come in. Dinner’s almost ready. Let’s sit down and get comfortable.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, stepping further into the house. My dad wasn’t upset, wasn’t angry, and that made everything feel just a little bit easier.

I turned to Hades, offering him a small smile. “See? Everything’s going to be fine.”

He didn’t say anything, but I saw the faintest glimmer of something in his eyes—maybe gratitude, or maybe just exhaustion. Either way, it made me feel like I was doing the right thing.

Maria smiled at my dad, though it was more of a nervous expression. “Thank you,” she murmured. “We... we didn’t know where else to go.”

“Like I said, you’re always welcome here,” my dad said with a warmth that made me proud. He gestured to the kitchen. “Come on in. We’ll figure everything out.”

As we walked into the kitchen, I glanced at Hades again, my heart tightening. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the weight of the day pressing on him. Whatever had happened at his house—whatever had led him here—wasn’t something he was going to forget easily. But for tonight, at least, I could offer him some peace.

For now, that was enough.