Page 44

Ares

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

" They? " Serenity asks. "For God's sake, JeAnne, who are they?"

"I can't say. I tried to protect you. I don't care about myself. It's your safety I'm worried about."

She gets up from her wheelchair, and when I try to support her, she pushes my hand away. "My safety? You want to convince me that you set a trap for me, injured my feet, knowing how important this phase of my life is, thinking about my safety ?"

"It's the truth," the woman repeats, her gaze blank, almost insane. "Ares, she won't listen to me. Get her out of here."

Serenity shakes her head, pale and visibly shaken. She sits back down in the wheelchair, and without saying a word, Debra pushes her out of the room.

"Tell me who ‘they’ are, JeAnne,” I beg, doing my best to remain calm, because even with the anger I'm feeling, I realize that the woman is in a delusional state, skating in and out of reality.

"You can't protect her from them, but you can at least try," she says.

"Stop speaking in code, damn it! You saw her grow up! Serenity trusted you, you wretch."

She stares at me in silence, and for a moment, I think she's going to reveal the truth, but then she says, "I want a lawyer."

This leaves the police with their hands tied. Everything that is said from now on, away from the presence of the lawyer she requested, will be invalid in court.

I take a step forward, unable to stop myself. "Those who love and protect don't hurt. Make whatever excuse you want for yourself, JeAnne, but you're nothing but a traitor. It doesn't matter the reason. You lied and deceived her. You hurt my woman, and you can be sure I will go to hell if necessary, but you will pay."

Two weeks later

GREECE

"Why do you always hide your feet?" I ask, in the pool on my island in Greece.

I swim to the edge of the pool where she is. Serenity has both feet in the water, hidden beneath her body.

"I'm ashamed of them. They are very ugly. I have calluses, and my nails never grow."

I didn’t really pay attention to her feet the other time I took off her shoes or when she cut her feet.

"Let me see. I can't give an opinion. You always hide them from me."

"No."

"I want to see them, Serenity."

She snorts and stretches them towards me.

There are two nails just beginning to grow on the big toes—they must have fallen off before. Each has a kind of bunion on the outside, and yes, there are a lot of calluses too.

"They are very ugly," I say, kissing each one.

She shakes her head, laughing, and then comes into my arms. "I was afraid you'd lie to me or try to pretend they're beautiful. That would lower you in my opinion."

The smile dies, and her face becomes serious. I know the reason. She's thinking about JeAnne. How fake she was.

After we left the hospital that day, we needed to take several steps. The first was to meet with Serenity's agent and the board of the New York City Ballet. They already knew what happened. The police had to investigate the place, but we managed to cover up a possible scandal, and all that was reported was that Serenity needed to rest, as she was exhausted from splicing one season into another.

Fans were supportive, and she received many gifts and letters, all checked by a specialized team to see if they could find any clues as to who “they” were, as JeAnne called them.

The former nanny remained silent after her first statement, refusing to talk about who her accomplices were. It's obvious to me that what motivated her to plot against Serenity was money, but I have no idea if that was the only reason.

Neither I, my brothers, nor Odin and Christos can figure out what the ex-partner could gain from hurting Serenity, or whether the man is part of the “them” that JeAnne referred to. We have not found anything that tarnishes his reputation. Apparently, he lives a good life. He is a regular businessman, with an unblemished reputation.

I'm not na?ve. I know that the world is shit and that many of those who inhabit the planet are worthless, but even for me, a cynic, to imagine someone plotting such revenge against an orphan is a bit much.

"What are you thinking?" she asks.

"About what you said a moment ago. I've never lied to you, baby, and I don't intend to. I've omitted things, I've hidden things trying to protect you, but I've never lied."

She wraps her legs around me and rests her head on my chest. "I can't understand it, Ares. Why did she do what she did? Who are these people who want to hurt me? I sometimes think I'm dreaming. Or rather, in the middle of a nightmare."

"Did you try to remember what I asked you?"

"About my father's partner? Yes, I tried. I couldn't even connect a face to the name you gave me. Edgar Hazen. I'm sure I've never heard of him."

"Forget about it. I am investigating on several fronts. We're going to find out what the hell these bastards are up to."

"I'm afraid they'll change their minds."

"Are you referring to the management of the New York City Ballet?"

"Yes."

"It won't happen, Serenity. You received critical acclaim after your debut. It was unique. They won't give up on you."

"I'm not going to live in hiding. When we return to the United States, I want to restart rehearsals, my routine. It's like oxygen for my lungs, Ares."

"I would never ask you to give that up. We came to Greece to heal and to protect you until we know for sure what's going on, but it didn't even occur to me to lock you in a golden cage, Serenity."

"I wouldn't mind if you were the jailer," she says, winking, and I breathe a sigh of relief at seeing her smile. Her mood has been fluctuating since we arrived, but given what's happened, she's taking everything better than I expected.

I start to climb the pool steps with her in my arms, then I set her on her feet and untie her bikini top and bottom.

Serenity doesn't try to hide. She shows herself to me, knowing how horny she makes me when she offers herself to my lust.

I get rid of my swim trunks and lie down on the sun lounger. "Come here." I reach out, and when she approaches, I pull one of her legs over the lounger, with her standing, leaving her pussy at a perfect angle for my mouth.

At the first touch of my tongue on her already wet sex, her legs lose strength, but I don't intend to torture her for long, just get her ready to ride me.

Serenity moans and runs her tongue over her bottom lip, driving me crazy. Every time we fuck, she becomes more demanding, delicious, uninhibited.

I pull her towards me, without allowing her to come, and make her straddle my hips. With both hands under her thighs, I lift her up, only to lower her a second later, little by little, impaling her on my cock.

"Just like that, naughty girl. Get down nice and close. Sink that tight pussy onto me."

She moans as she slides down my hard length and cries out as I thrust inside, penetrating her completely.

I sit up and suck her breasts, my excitement rising to the level of passionate insanity. The connection is intense, feverish, and I fuck her hard, taking her, giving her everything.

Serenity writhes around, provocatively, deliciously.

"Fuck, baby. You are so hot, filled with my cock." I grab her ass, thrusting hard while she rides me.

I take turns sucking and biting her breasts and lips, unable to decide which I want to taste more.

I fuck her greedily, savoring the sensation of thrusting into her sweet flesh without protection.

She bounces on my lap, wanton, panting.

When I slap her ass once, twice, fucking her more roughly, she comes, screaming my name.

I increase the pace, thrusting hard, and slide my hand over to caress between the cheeks of her ass. "I'm still going to fuck you here. I want all of you, Serenity."

"I'm yours."

"That's the greatest fucking certainty in the world, hottie." I kiss her mouth, devouring her sex with my cock and lightly penetrating her virgin opening with my finger.

It doesn't take long for her to start squeezing me inside her in small contractions.

Serenity comes again, taking me with her, and I'm fascinated when I lift her up and see my semen dripping from her sex.

"You are mine. And always will be."