Page 17 of Tempest’s Torment

I catch Hades watching me. He raises an eyebrow; I don't say anything. He smirks into his coffee and leaves it alone.

Hades catches me as I'm heading for the door. "You heading home?"

"Yep."

He rubs the back of his neck, looking almost sheepish. "I need a favor."

I lean against the doorframe. "What'd you need?"

"Flowers."

I stare at him and he shrugs. "Evie's birthday's Friday."

My brows furrow. "Thought that was dinner?"

"It is."

"So buy her flowers."

"I am." He sighs. "I don't know flowers."

A laugh escapes me. "You've got daughters."

"They pick weeds and tell me they're bouquets. Doesn't mean I know what I'm doing."

I shake my head. "What am I getting?"

"Something she'll like."

I shake my head. Christ. "Helpful."

"I know." He grins. "She notices when the house doesn't have flowers."

I nod. "I'll sort it."

"Appreciate it, brother." He claps me on the shoulder before heading back toward the bar.

Forty minutes later, I push open the florist door, warm air rolls over me as I take in the room. Buckets line the walls, bursting with color; the front of the shop is mostly glass—good for business, but bad if someone wants to sit outside and watch—and there’s only one security camera above the register, I don’t see another.

There’s a door behind the counter, probably leading into the workroom, and another at the back, which likely opens into the alley.

Movement catches my eye, and a second later, she steps through the doorway, an apron covering the front of her jeans, a pair of pruning shears hooked into one pocket. She stops when she sees me. Something flickers across her face, but it’s gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

Most people wouldn't have noticed, but I do.

She recovers quickly. "Can I help you?"

"I need flowers for a birthday."

She’s nervous, eyes wide, her hands are by her side, but I see the slight tremble in them. "When is it?"

"Friday."

She nods. "Do you know what she likes?"

"Colors."

That earns me the smallest smile. "I'll see what I can do."