Page 47

I glance behind us to check if Eleanor and the twins are still asleep, and even though they are, I lower my voice. "Wait, did you say at the beginning of this conversation that her possible rejection might have driven this woman to try to kill us?"
"Actually, I think she wanted to killyou."
My whole body trembles, and I think he notices because he grabs my hand, squeezing it.
"You're right. She wanted to get rid of me. Her plans went wrong when Moses got in the way."
"That seems to be the most logical conclusion. People do crazy things when driven by emotions, usually connected to sex or money. So yes, this theory makes perfect sense. In any case, I won’t let anything happen to you. Or to the twins."
"We're not your responsibility."
He doesn’t respond, simply refocusing on the road.
Exhausted, I close my eyes to process this new information, but I must fall asleep, because I wake up to the sound of the car parking and Silas giggling.
When I open my eyes again, my jaw drops at the sight of the house.
I've been to Zeus and Madison's place, which is huge, but this is a beach house, for heaven’s sake!
"What’s wrong?" he asks.
"I think our definitions of abeach houseare completely different."
Before he can reply, staff approach the car and open the door to help Eleanor out with the babies.
"I’ll get the twins, Eleanor," Athanasios says.
"No, stay a little longer. Finish your conversation. There’s an army of staff here; they’ll manage," she responds, patting his shoulder.
I remain frozen, clutching my hands in my lap and wondering what I’m even doing here. I don’t belong in this man’s world.
He seems to notice my unease because he takes my hand and intertwines our fingers. "It’s just a house, Brooklyn."
"This looks like a palace."
"You’ll get used to it in time."
"How can you be so sure? You're rich."
"I haven’t always been. Did you forget I was adopted? Until I was nine, I was very poor. It was only after my parents took me in that I started living a life of luxury."
"Did you find it strange?"
"The wealth?" He shrugs. "I was happy before because I had my mother." He places his hand on the door handle, about to step out, but I grab his arm.
"What happened to her?"
"They took her away from me," he says enigmatically.
"Mamaaaa...wa-wa!" Silas shouts, swimming in the pool like he's never bathed in his life.
"I see you, my love! You're swimming so well! Mommy is so proud of you!"
"Yayyyy!" Soraya claps, though I’m sure she has no idea what I just said.
My stepmother and I sit by the edge of the pool, our feet in the water.
To my surprise, Athanasios offered to get in with my kids, both twins wearing arm floaties.