Page 44

“ Come on,” Ari pleaded as she tugged my hand. “The ferry doesn’t leave for Seattle until sunrise. So we have hours to kill and no other place to go.”

“Well The Vault is not on the top of my list as places to go to kill time,” I said, freeing my hand from her grip.

I refused to look into her blue eyes. I had a weakness for them, and even more so for that little pout of hers when she wanted to get her way.

“You’re acting like you’ve never been to a sex club before,” she teased.

“I’ve been to plenty. And I’ve also been to The Vault. It’s not a place we’re bringing you.”

Ari looked at Lotto and Bones, who were at least wise enough not to say anything, although their smirks told me they were enjoying watching the way Ari could always get her way with me.

Ari folded her arms across her chest, and the pout transformed into a mock frown of indignation. “And why, pray tell, am I not The Vault material? Because I’m the innocent? The token girl in this band of misfits?” Her tone was light, but there was an edge to it that told me she wasn’t going to let this go without a fight.

Lotto finally spoke up, his voice smooth as always. “It’s not about you being a girl, Ari. It’s about The Vault being... well, it’s a bit intense, even for our standards.”

“I can handle intense.” Her words sliced through the chill night air like a challenge. “You guys forget who you’re talking to. I think I’ve proven with each of you that I don’t run from ‘intense.’”

Bones’ laugh was a deep rumble that seemed to stir the few dry leaves still clinging to the skeletal branches above us. “She’s got us there,” he said to me with a raised eyebrow.

“We’ve earned it,” she pressed. “Come on. I want to see The Vault. I heard it’s the most hedonistic club there is.”

I sighed, knowing full well that when Ari set her mind to something, there was no changing it. The truth was, part of me was curious to see how she would handle The Vault’s notorious atmosphere. I ran a hand through my hair and nodded reluctantly.

“Fine, but we stick together. No wandering off. The Vault isn’t your average club. Things can get wild in there, more so than you might expect. People are going to want to fuck you?—”

“Only we fuck you,” Lotto cut in, his eyes darkening as he spoke.

A triumphant grin spread across Ari’s face, her eyes lighting up with intrigued excitement. “Deal,” she said quickly before I could add any more conditions or change my mind.

We started back down the dimly lit street toward the infamous club that rested in the heart of the city’s underbelly. The Vault was a place of legend, whispered about even among those who frequented the usual array of seedy establishments.

The old bank building loomed ahead like some ancient behemoth, its stone facade barely visible beneath layers of moss and ancient weathering. A thick iron door stood between us and whatever debauchery waited inside, guarded by an individual more mountain than man.

Ari’s excitement was unmistakable, a palpitation of thrills that seemed to run through us all as she approached the door with the confidence of a queen entering her court. The mountainous guard appraised us with an indifferent glance before his eyes rested on Ari. There was a momentary flicker of curiosity in his otherwise stoic demeanor.

“Invitations?” His voice rumbled like the earth’s shifting plates.

I stepped forward. “I’m Freakshow.” I pointed to Bones. “He’s Bones Vega and the winner of tonight’s fight.”

Without another word, the security guard stepped aside, pulling open the heavy door which groaned its welcome.

We descended a stone staircase, the walls dripping with humidity and secrets, until we reached another door. This one opened to reveal a sprawling space that defied the exterior’s old bank appearance. It was a cathedral of carnal delights. Dim red lights bathed the vast room, casting long shadows and providing just enough illumination to tease the senses.

The air was thick with perfumed incense and lust; it pressed against our skin like a tangible force. Faint cries of ecstasy melded with the bass from speakers embedded in dark corners. The club was divided into sections, each promising a unique flavor of vice—there were stages for dancers, private alcoves for voyeurs, open spaces where bodies were tangled in various states of undress.

Ari’s hand found mine again as she led us further into the den. People moved around us in a mix of leather, lace, and less—eyes hungry and roaming. One couple passed by us, lost in their own world; their bodies moved together in a slow dance that left little to the imagination.

Lotto stayed close to Ari’s other side, his usually unflappable cool betraying hints of protective tension. Bones followed behind us with an amused smirk playing on his lips as though every secret hidden within these walls were known to him.

The air pulsed with primal rhythms that beckoned bodies to move, to grind, to seek out touch in the darkness. A dancer caught Ari’s attention as she twirled on a suspended hoop, her limbs contorting gracefully while her gaze held a dare.

Ari tugged us over, unable to resist the unspoken challenge. Her own body began to move with the music, not as an imitation but as a conversation. Lotto watched her, his expression torn between pride and caution. I could see his fingers itching to grab her, pull her back or perhaps push her further into this world.

Bones leaned close enough for me to hear him over the crescendo of music and moans. “She’s like a flame in dry grass here,” he said, voice full of gruff amusement. “Gonna light up the whole damn place.”

I nodded silently, unable to disagree. Ari was fire incarnate tonight.

We reached an area where velvet ropes cordoned off private booths overlooking an open floor where people writhed together in ecstasy. The ma?tre d’ eyed us with a mix of appraisal and indifference before Bones dropped a name that had him nodding respectfully and unhitching one of the ropes.

Our booth was an island above the sea of desire; we could see everything while remaining just outside the grasp of those below us. I watched Ari as she peered down, her chest rising and falling with quickened breaths—whether from excitement or something more potent, I couldn’t tell.

Lotto’s hand found hers again, grounding her. He leaned in close to whisper something in her ear that elicited a mischievous smile.

The music shifted then—a deep bass note that vibrated through every body in the room. It was as if The Vault itself recognized Ari’s arrival among its patrons; it welcomed her with open arms and whispered promises of endless delights.

Ari tipped back her head, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she absorbed the bass like a baptism. And then, she was moving again, her legs taking her to the edge of our elevated sanctuary. She looked down upon the writhing mass of bodies with the eyes of a conqueror, mesmerized by the ebb and flow of the dance of flesh below.

Lotto, ever the vigilant one, guarded her back, scanning the crowd for potential threats—or perhaps any hint of jealous spectators who might resent Ari’s radiant presence. Bones merely stretched out his long legs, crossed at the ankle, and settled back into the plush seat with a contented sigh, as if he were watching his favorite show play out before him.

I remained silent beside him, my mind racing to keep up with the night’s unfolding events. The Vault was a place where inhibitions didn’t so much lower as they did disintegrate entirely—and Ari? She seemed intent on throwing hers into the furnace. The heat from her excitement was infectious, and I fought to keep my own composure.

I wanted to fuck her.

I wanted to fuck her now.

And by the way that Bones and Lotto looked at her, I was pretty sure they did as well.

Lotto’s gaze never left Ari as he moved toward her, each step deliberate and full of intent. When he reached her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, their bodies fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.

Bones chuckled beside me, his eyes following the couple with amusement. “Looks like someone can’t resist the flame,” he commented, taking a sip of his drink that he just poured himself from the chilled champagne sitting in the center of the table.

I nodded silently, my gaze riveted on Ari and Lotto.

The music pulsed around us, adding fuel to the fire that burned between them. Ari tilted back her head as she moaned softly, lost in the moment. Lotto trailed his hand up her thigh, pushing aside the fabric of her dress until he brushed his fingers against her skin.

I swallowed hard as my own desires spiraled out of control. I wanted to be part of this. I wanted to feel Ari’s warmth against me, to lose myself in her embrace, but I remained rooted in my seat, also liking the view before me.

“Have you ever watched her fuck someone?” Bones asked.

“No.”

“It’s going to be fucking hot.”

Ari’s breath hitched as Lotto’s fingers found the sensitive spot beneath her panties. Her hips bucked instinctively against him, inviting more. The crowd below them surged with renewed vigor, as if feeding off the energy of the couple above.

“We can watch and drink,” Bones said as he took another drink of his champagne. “Or we can watch while we fuck each other.”

I flicked my gaze toward him, surprised. “What?”

He smirked, taking another sip of his champagne. “You heard me.”

I swallowed hard, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through my veins. I glanced back to Ari and Lotto, who were now completely absorbed in each other.

Without saying another word, I moved closer to Bones, our legs brushing against each other under the table. He reached for my cock beneath my pants.

The heat from his touch sent a jolt down my spine. I bit my lower lip, fighting back a moan as Bones began to stroke me through the fabric of my pants. His eyes never left Ari and Lotto, but there was an intensity in his gaze that told me he was fully present in this moment.

Lotto had moved his other hand to Ari’s chest, cupping her breast possessively. She arched into his touch, her eyes closed in bliss. It was a scene of raw passion, uninhibited and fierce. As I watched them, every nerve ending on high alert.

Bones must have sensed my tension because he unzipped my pants to free my dick from its confines.

With a wicked smile, he leaned down and took me into his mouth. I gasped at the sudden sensation, my hips bucking forward involuntarily. Bones’ expert tongue swirled around my shaft, sending waves of pleasure coursing through my body. He sucked me deeper into his mouth, his cheeks hollowing as he worked me with an intensity that mirrored the scene playing out before us.

I reached down to tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer as I thrust my hips forward. I continued watching Ari and Lotto, their bodies moving together in a rhythm that matched the pulsing beat of the music. Lotto’s fingers were buried deep inside her, while Ari clung to him with a desperation that made my heart race.

Bones slipped his free hand up my thigh and found his way to my balls. He massaged them gently, his touch setting off fireworks behind my eyes.

Ari turned her head to watch Bones suck me off, and a smile like I’d never seen before crossed her face. It was a mix of wicked pleasure and possessiveness that made my heart beat faster. She licked her lips, her gaze lingering on Bones’ mouth as it moved up and down my shaft. Lotto must have felt her gaze because he looked up, his eyes darkening with desire as he watched Bones pleasure me.

Bones pulled back, his lips glistening with my precum. He winked at Ari before standing up and stripping off his shirt.

My cock sprang free from Bones’ mouth, jutting out proudly in front of me. Ari’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of me, hard and ready for her...

Ready for all of them.

Without a word, I stood up and crossed the distance between us, closing the gap between our bodies.

My cock led the fucking way.

Ari snaked her arms around my neck as I lifted her off the ground, wrapping her legs around my waist. Our lips met in a kiss that was hungry and desperate, our tongues tangling together in a dance.

Lotto stepped closer, his hand finding its way to Ari’s ass as he ground himself against her. His hardness pressed into my thigh, a reminder that we were not alone in this moment of passion. Bones moved behind me, his hands finding my hips as he ground himself against my ass. I could feel his hardness through the fabric of his pants, adding another layer of pleasure to the mix.

Ari broke the kiss, her breath coming in gasps as she looked into my eyes. “Fuck me,” she whispered, her voice husky with desire. “I want you to fuck me. Then I want you to fuck them.”

I didn’t need any more encouragement than that. With one swift motion, I impaled her on my cock, causing her to cry out in pleasure. Lotto slid his hand around to find her clit, rubbing slow circles that had her writhing in ecstasy. Bones continued to grind himself against me, our bodies moving together in a rhythm that was both primal and beautiful.

The music pulsed around us, adding to the sensory overload of the moment. We were lost in our own world, a world where nothing mattered but the pleasure we found in each other’s bodies.

I began to thrust into Ari, my hips moving with a mind of their own as I chased the orgasm that was building inside me. She moaned, her head thrown back in pleasure as Lotto continued to tease her clit. Bones’ hands tightened on my hips, his breath hot against my neck as he ground himself against me.

The scene was one of pure, unadulterated lust. We were all lost in the moment, our inhibitions tossed aside. It wasn’t until I felt a slickness at my asshole, followed by Bone’s cock pressing inside, that I moaned loudly against Ari’s lips.

I froze, unsure if I could take the size of this man.

“Let him fuck you,” Ari said against the kiss. “I find it so fucking hot knowing his cock is inside you right now.”

Bones remained still, allowing me to adjust to the girth.

“Time I pay you back for when you did this to me,” Bones said into my ear as he nipped the lobe between his teeth. “I’m going to spread you wide as you fuck our girl.”

As if Lotto and Bones were thinking the same thing, Lotto had done the same to Ari, fucking her in the ass just as Bones was doing to me.

She mewled into my mouth as she, too, got used to his size.

Ari’s nails dug into my shoulders, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps as she neared the edge. Her muscles were clenching around me, her pussy tightening as she prepared to come. I gritted my teeth, fighting back my own orgasm. A mixture of pleasure and pain shot through me as Bones’ cock filled me completely.

The pounding music filled the air, bodies danced and fucked all around us, but right now I only focused on them.

Ari, Lotto, and Bones.

Only them.

His hips snapped forward, driving himself deeper into me, while Lotto did the same to Ari. We were a tangle of limbs and moans, our bodies moving in time with each other as we sought release.

Bones’ thrusts became more urgent, his breath hot against my neck as he chased his own climax. The tension was building in his body, the muscles in his arms tensing as he held onto me.

In that moment, we were all connected—Bones’ cock buried inside me, Lotto’s inside Ari, and our mouths fused together in a kiss that was raw and unbridled. The pleasure built to a crescendo, exploding through us like a supernova.

Bones came first, his body shaking as he emptied himself inside me.

Ari moaned as she came, her orgasm triggering my own. I groaned into Ari’s mouth as I came hard, my cum filling Ari completely.

Lotto followed quickly after, his own orgasm ripping through him as he emptied himself inside Ari.

As the waves of pleasure subsided, we remained tangled together, our breathing slowly returning to normal. Ari rested her head on my shoulder, her breath warm against my skin. Bones’ cock slipped out of me, leaving a feeling of emptiness in its wake. Lotto’s cock followed suit, leaving Ari in the same state.

We slowly untangled ourselves, our movements slow and languid. Ari let her legs slide down from around my waist, her feet finding purchase on the ground. Bones and Lotto stepped back, their chests heaving as they caught their breath.

“Well,” Ari said, her voice soft and filled with satisfaction. “That was... like a sucker punch to the gut. And I loved it. I love all of you.” She then turned to me and added, “And we are most definitely returning to Heathens Hollow. This island… this club… I can’t wait to explore it more.”

WANT MORE OF HEATHENS HOLLOW?

And the darkness continues on…

Tangled in the vines of this mighty family tree, the Godwin family rules over Heathens Hollow. They are gods who walk the earth. They are the monsters, the beasts, the villains in the story. They are the vipers who strike their enemies when they least expect it. The Godwin family wields the mighty thunderbolt like Zeus, and yet they have secrets. Dark, even deadly secrets.

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Villains Are Made

Apollo Godwin

“You shouldn’t have come,” my brother says as I approach, not trying to hide the sound of my boots mucking their way across the rain-soaked ground.

Ares Godwin stands where I expect to find him. He’s stoically planted with his hands in his pockets on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Salish Sea. Olympus Manor—our family estate—to his left, and the tree of forgiveness to his right.

He doesn’t turn to face me, but keeps his eyes focused on the water crashing into and over the rocks below. “Does the family think I’m going to skip out on bail and leave the country? Is that why they sent you?”

I huff as I stand next to him, mimicking his stance. “Hardly. And they didn’t send me. You should know better than that.”

Through the corner of my eye, I see the side of Ares’s mouth lift in a smirk. “Scared I’d jump to my death then?”

“I wouldn’t blame you.”

“But you knew I wouldn’t.”

He’s right. I know he won’t. He’s a Godwin. Godwins don’t give up.

We are gods who walk the earth. We are the monsters, the beasts, the villains in the story. We are the vipers who strike our enemies when they least expect it. The Godwin family wields the mighty thunderbolt like Zeus, and yet… somehow the powerful have fallen.

There is a chip in our shield. A crack in our protection. We are vulnerable now, and for the first time in my life, I see my family is human. Flawed. Even weak. Everything has changed.

My brother—my identical twin brother—is going to jail for the rest of his life for murder.

“But you were an asshole for taking the helicopter by yourself. I had to travel here by boat like a true savage,” I say, trying to cut through the thickness of the air with jest.

The island of Heathens Hollow, hidden in the fog of the Puget Sound, beckoned to my brother in his last hours of freedom, and I can completely understand the pull. I knew he’d come, and regardless of how far I had to travel, I’d always be here by his side.

He sighs. “Part of me wishes they’d insist on the death penalty. I think that’s far less severe than having to live in a cage for the rest of my life. Hard to imagine I’m never going to see this view again.”

I turn my head and look at the old willow tree that has stood on the edge of this cliff for centuries. “Have you asked the tree for forgiveness yet?”

Ares chuckles. “I’m not in the mood to whip myself or kneel on rice hours before sentencing, thank you very much.” He shifts his weight, releases a deep breath. “What I’ve done, even that tree can’t forgive.”

The tree of forgiveness… The bane of my siblings’ and my existence. Both our parents forced us to come to this tree to punish ourselves whenever we did anything wrong. They didn’t believe it was their duty to teach us the lesson; rather it was our job to search our inner selves to find the lesson and learn from it ourselves.

I walk over to the leather strap still hanging from the lower branch. “Maybe I should be the one to whip myself.” I look over my shoulder at Ares. “I should be the one going to jail today. Not you.”

“Stop,” he snaps. “We’ve had this conversation over and over, and I’m sick of it.”

“You didn’t kill that man. I did.” There’s a part of me that wants to throw myself off the cliff just so I don’t have to live with this guilt any longer. “I can’t let you take the fall for me. I don’t care what you, Athena, or our father says. I can’t.”

“I’m not going to jail because of you,” Ares adds, his attention going back to the sea. “I’m going to jail because my sins caught up with me.”

“You’ve sacrificed your entire life for this family. There isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for them. But you don’t have to for me. I’m not asking you to.”

“Listen to me,” he says with a voice of fire as he storms toward me. “I’m going to say this one last time so we can put this topic to rest. I’m not taking the fall for you. When they first thought I killed that man, they got my DNA. They were able to trace me back to all the murders I did do in the past. I’m going to jail for all those hits, regardless. Not just the single one you did. There is no reason for you and me to both go to jail. It’s inevitable I’m going down. You don’t need to.” He shrugs. “I couldn’t be the family hit man and not expect to get caught, eventually.”

“You can tell me this until you’re blue in the face, but if I hadn’t killed that man at Medusa Enterprises—in the goddamn boardroom—you’d never have been arrested. It’s because of me you got caught. I was the reckless one.”

“No, it’s because someone was setting you up. Someone took video of that incident and went to the authorities with it. You had no way of knowing you weren’t safe in our building. You had no way of knowing. If anyone is to blame, it’s Medusa security. Footage of you killing someone should have never gotten out the front door. Our family business, our family empire, should have been impenetrable.” He clears the distance between us and places a hand on my shoulder. “This isn’t on you.”

Ares looks over his shoulder at Olympus Manor, and my eyes follow. There is slight movement from the curtain that hangs from the attic window. I smile knowing the manor’s ghost is watching two brothers discuss life and death matters. I wouldn’t expect anything else. This island is full of ghosts. They are the backbone of Heathens Hollow. It’s almost as if the dead rule over all of us.

However, hundreds of people live and do work on the island and have for centuries. But the Godwin family still owns Heathens Hollow. The land is ours and the people merely lease it. The Godwins have owned this island since the Victorian era. It’s a fishing town, just under four hours from Seattle, that houses the rich, the middle class, the poor, and then the Eastsiders. The people who live on the Eastside of the island don’t even have enough to be considered poor.

Though the island is so close to such a big and thriving city, the fact that it remains cloaked in hazy fog for most of the year keeps it somewhat of a secret. Rarely do people speak of this secretive place. Tales are told, but reality is never known. The truth of what happens on this island is… murky. The only way to reach the island is by sea or air, and the isolation only adds to the hidden shadows of this place. It’s dark, dank, gloomy, and even after a rain, a rainbow never forms. This island is not for the fragile or for the man who can’t endure a harsh storm. The full-timers are weathered, cut to the bone, and if someone really wants to know Heathens Hollow, all they have to do is look into the eyes of one of the old fishermen who work the boats at the harbor. Everything you want to know is expressed.

And then there are the wealthy. Not Godwin family wealthy. No one can match us. But there are the second vacation homes, the mansions only visited when the occupants want to swim in dark seclusion. There are still parties fueled by fame, liquor, and sex, but on this island the pace is often slower. The heartbeat of the Pacific northwestern island pauses, beats loudly, then pauses again.

Heathens Hollow is the island of gods and monsters. Innocence is drowned early in life by the crashing waves. Heathens Hollow is… home. Though we live and run our family empire—Medusa Enterprises—from Seattle, Heathens Hollow will forever be our resting ground.

Olympus Manor has served as a beacon, a legacy, a symbol of our family lineage. Though we all have houses in Seattle, this is most definitely our family home. Our ancestors haunt the hallways of the house, they wander the grounds, and they stand over us in protection, even now.

“Remember when we were kids, and we’d stand here on the cliff and howl like we were wolves?” Ares says, clearly reflecting on his past in his last hours of freedom.

“Father hated that,” I say as I see the vision like it was yesterday. “He hated when we acted feral.”

“He hated a lot about us. We weren’t allowed to be kids.”

“We were Godwins. The expectations were?—”

“Unrealistic. Always have been,” Ares interrupts.

“You know there still may be a chance Father gets you out of this,” I say. “Troy Godwin never loses.”

Ares smirks. “Maybe. But doubtful. I think the inevitable is pretty set in stone on this one.” He looks down at my left hand and notices what’s missing. “Where’s your wedding ring?”

I run my thumb over the bare skin of my wedding finger. “It’s complicated.”

“Simplify it for me. What’s going on with you and Daphne?” he asks. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my own shit that I clearly didn’t get the memo.”

“No memo… Things are just shit between us,” I confess. “We both want out. A divorce.”

“But you know you can’t,” he finishes for me.

“Godwins don’t divorce,” I parrot the words of my father. “But we’re both tired of living this lie. We don’t love each other, and I don’t think we ever did. I married her so I’d have arm candy at events, and it felt like what society wanted. She married for money. It was essentially an arranged marriage. We want to sever the agreement but can’t.”

He points to my hand. “Taking the ring off makes you feel better?”

“It felt like it was scorching my finger,” I admit. “But we aren’t here to discuss my lame issues. A shitty marriage is nothing compared to what we need to face today.”

“Still… I’m sorry, man. I thought Daphne was one of the good ones.”

“She is,” I confess, not wanting to bash someone who truly has a good heart. “I don’t hate her. I just don’t love her. And she feels the same.”

“That sucks. I hope you can figure it out. Because as you said, Godwins don’t get divorced.”

Hating how the helpless feeling of our fucked-up lives threatens to suffocate me, I take a step back and examine my brother’s appearance and the fact that he’s only wearing casual slacks and a black T-shirt. “Tell me you aren’t wearing that to court.”

Ares looks down at his clothing. “Who cares what I wear. I’ll be in an orange jumpsuit soon enough.”

“Unless Father somehow works his magic.” I loosen my tie and pull it over my head. “In which case, you need to look good. Here, we’re going to switch outfits.”

Ares and I, though twins, couldn’t be more different. He’s the ruthless hitman in the family. The rebel, the dark and mysterious. I, on the other hand, am the chief financial officer of Medusa. Strait-laced, always in a suit, and never a hair out of place. Numbers are my life, and money makes my dick hard. Ares is the brother who cleans up the messes, even though he’s dirtier than all of us combined. We were both born and groomed for these roles. Our father had a master plan for this family, and we are merely soldiers in his war of domination.

The one time I stepped out of our roles and killed someone before Ares had a chance, our empire fell to the ground. I’m the reason for the demise. I should have kept to the numbers.

“I’m not wearing your clothes,” Ares says, shaking his head, but smiling at the idea.

“Yes, you are. Because we’re going to take that chopper back to Seattle, and the minute we land, the press is going to be surrounding us and focused on you. You need to look like a Godwin. Power. Prestige. You are not a broken man. We rise above.” I hand him my tie and then take off my suit jacket. “Strip.”

When he takes my coat from me, he notices the extra weight and reaches into the pocket. Pulling out my passport, wallet with my ID, and a large wad of cash, he shakes his head and says, “I’m not leaving the country. I’m not going to run. It will destroy our family and Medusa, and you know it.”

I continue undressing, ignoring his words.

“I’m not leaving,” he repeats. “Medusa is powerful, but it won’t survive the shitstorm me being on the run will cause. As it is, you guys are going to have your hands full trying to pick up the pieces by having a serial killer in the family. I don’t need to keep the wound open by being on the run. Plus,” he adds, “none of you need the Feds breathing down your throats. We don’t want Athena sharing a cell with me, and you and I both know that she’s damn close to being there.”

When I’m standing in nothing but my underwear, I finally say, “I had a feeling you’d say that. But I had to try.” I point to him. “Get undressed, fucker. I’m cold.”

“Fine,” he says. “But we’re going back to Seattle. I’m going to face this head on.”

I sigh deeply and give a clipped nod. “I still have faith we’ll figure a way out of this.”

“I love you, brother,” Ares says to me. It’s uncharacteristic for him to be so…sensitive, but then again, his life’s about to end.

“I love you.” I point to the tie that he’s ignoring. “You’re a Godwin.”

“What does that mean? Have you ever asked yourself that?” he asks as he does what I say and places my tie around his neck.

“I think you’re about to show us.”

“We need to head back to Seattle,” Ares says, inhaling deeply. He’s taking in the last of Heathens Hollow into his lungs.

I look to Olympus Manor as we slog through the mud to the chopper. “Do you want to go in and say goodbye?”

“I already did. Frankly, that house may be more of a prison than the one I’m going to.”