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Zeus

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

I don't know how to handle feelings. I deal more or less well with emotions, but I have no idea what to do with what I'm feeling right now. It's a mix of being repeatedly stabbed in the chest and burning.

No. It's pain.

Furious pain, uncontrollable, like I'm being torn apart by something.

I'm not good at forgiving, and that includes myself, but I'll do whatever it takes to get her back.

After I leave Madison's house, I head straight to SIN, even though I have no desire to go to that place. Ares called me, saying that we needed to talk and what he had to say was serious and could only be said in person.

When I arrive, it isn’t only him there but Hades, Dionysus, and Odin.

"How is she?" Ares asks.

"I don't wanna talk about that. What’s so serious that everyone is here?"

"Are you sure it's safe to talk?" Odin asks.

"Yes,” Ares replies. “Due to the secrecy we need to maintain, there is a daily sweep for bugs here in the office."

After everyone is seated, I say, "Can any of you explain to me what the hell is going on? I have a fucking headache and I wanna go home as soon as possible."

On the way to the club, after Clark gave me the names of the employees who laughed at the scandal that Madison was the victim of, I ordered him to send everyone to the human resources department, including my secretary. She, more than anyone, having worked with me for years, should not have been such a bitch. Those present knew that Madison was my girlfriend, and disrespecting her as they did is unforgivable.

"Adriel is dead," Ares replies.

"The choreographer?"

He nods. "The police found his body. They informed his aunt, who called me, knowing he was my employee."

"I'm sorry about your employee, but what does it have to do with me?"

"He was supposedly assaulted and murdered, Zeus."

"I still don't understand."

"Ares called me as soon as he found out," Odin interjects. "I have . . . special methods that don't require court orders to check cell phone records, and I made some interesting discoveries."

"Understood. You hacked his phone. And what did you find out?"

"He was the one who told old Gordon that Madison worked here. There have been several calls from him to Emerson's private line in recent days."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I am," my cousin replies.

"Do you know what that means? The old man is trying to eliminate loose ends," Hades says.

"Not only that"—Dionysus approaches—"he’s showing that he's capable of anything to cover his tracks."

"In the end, the fruit didn't fall far from the tree,” says Ares. “That damn Adrian and his father are cut from the same cloth. I just wonder: what else would someone who would kill to avoid a scandal—assuming he was worried about Adriel spilling the beans—be capable of to avoid being unmasked?"

Odin stares at me silently, and now I'm sure he knows more about Emerson Gordon than any of us.

"I need to assign bodyguards to look after Madison," I say.

"Yes, it's the best thing to do, and just in case, I'll send someone to the hospital to watch her sister," Ares adds.

All my brothers, even though I haven't told them the details, know about Brooklyn's condition.

"Why don't you tell me everything now?" I ask my cousin, and he doesn't even try to hide that he knows what I'm talking about.

"In a few weeks at most you will have all the answers. Now I need to go."

After he leaves, Hades asks, "What were you talking about?"

"I don't know yet, but I think it's something he’s discovered involving our mother's past."

"I didn't think you would answer. I know I'm the last person you wanna talk to."

"No, you are mistaken. It's because I want you to be around so much that I need to keep my distance."

"I won't force you to see me, Madison, but I won't give up the contract if doing so means the end for us."

She stays silent, and I decide to back off on that front.

"Something’s happened. I would prefer to talk in person, but I will respect your time. However, nothing you say to me will stop me from protecting you."

"Protecting me? What do you mean?"

"Adriel was murdered."

"Oh my God! What happened?"

"Save your tears, Madison. We managed to link him to old Gordon. We think he was the one who revealed that you were dancing at the club."

"Are you sure? But why would he do that?"

"My guess would be money."

"He said he was my friend, Zeus. How could he?"

"Friendships are put to the test when money comes into play, baby. But that's not what I'm worried about. As far as I'm concerned, he can burn in hell, which is where I hope he was sent. The trouble is the circumstances of his death. He was murdered, which means that my enemy is much worse than I thought. From now on, there'll be a car positioned outside your house. Neither you nor Eleanor should go out, alone or with the babies, without an escort. I’ve also assigned bodyguards to take care of Brooklyn at the hospital.”

To my surprise, she doesn't protest. "Do you think it is necessary?"

"Yes, I do. I'm not going to risk losing you, Madison. No matter how much you deny it right now, you are mine."

"Sunday will be the twins' party. You and Joseph . . . um . . . are welcome."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, you'll be welcome. Whether it's safe to keep you so close to me, I don’t think so, but as my mother reminded me, I've never been a coward."

“No, you're not, Madison. You're the most resilient woman I know."

My woman.