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Brooklyn

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Days Later

“Brooklyn?”

“Hello? Who is this?” I glance at the clock on my nightstand and frown when I see it’s only five-thirty in the morning.

Thanks to the twins, I’ve gotten used to waking up early again, but I still have about forty-five minutes before Silas and Soraya need to start getting ready for daycare.

“Oh, have you forgotten my voice already?”

I feel my blood run cold, but I try to stay calm. “Enya?”

Oh my God, she actually had the nerve to call me!

Two days after our argument right after that dinner at his parents’ house, Athanasios gave me a new phone, saying it was sent by Zeus’s cousin. I accepted it without question, but I never really believed that after everything she’d done, that woman would have the guts to contact me.

I try to remember the instructions Athanasios gave me: Keep her on the phone for as long as possible.

Easier said than done, though, because I’m talking to the person who ordered my murder.

“Yes, it’s me,” she finally replies.

“How did you get this number? I changed phones.”

“I found it in the directory.”

She’s lying. The previous phone was registered under Madison’s name because when Zeus bought it for me, I was still in the hospital. This one is registered under Athanasios’s name.

“Are you okay?” I ask, trying to sound normal.

“No, how could I be? I was devastated when I heard about what happened to Moses. He was one of my few living relatives.”

“Are you an orphan, too?”

I feel bile rise in my throat as I listen to her speak so falsely about the man who, because of her, is dead.

“Yes. But I didn’t call to talk about me; I wanted to talk about you and the babies. I wish I’d been in the country when everything happened. I would’ve taken care of your children with the greatest pleasure while you were in a coma.”

I never told you I was in a coma. If you’re out of the country, how do you know that?

My nausea worsens, and I almost jump out of bed. I leave the bedroom and start walking toward my kids’ room. “Are you out of the country?”

“Yes. I had to travel for work, but now I can’t wait to see you and the babies—I never got the chance to meet them.”

And if I have anything to say about it, you never will.

She keeps talking about how much she regrets the death of her “cousin” and other things I don’t even register. My heart is nearly pounding out of my chest as I open the door to my kids’ room. After checking that they’re still asleep, I head to the living room and make sure the alarm is set. I also peek through the curtains and can finally breathe when I confirm the bodyguards are in position.

In the hallway, I run into Eleanor and make a “shh” gesture in front of my lips to stop her from saying anything.

“I was sad to hear you and Moses had a falling out, Enya. What exactly happened?”

“Is that what he told you, that we had a fight?”

“Actually, Moses didn’t go into detail. Since you’re his only living relative, I don’t want to lose touch. At least my kids will have an aunt nearby.” Come within a mile of my babies, and I’ll kill you, you monster!

“Then we can meet when I get back to the States?”

“Yes, we can. I just need to get organized because, you know, with two little kids, things can get a bit hectic.” I take a deep breath to gather the courage for what I’m about to say next. “Do you think you’ll be back in time for the trial of the men who killed Moses? I’d think you’d want to see them being punished.”

“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll keep in touch from now on. I’ve got to go.”

As soon as she hangs up, I collapse onto the floor in the hallway, shaking so hard I’m afraid I might be having a heart attack.

“Brooklyn, for God’s sake, what’s happened?”

“Get Zeus, Mom. I can’t talk on the phone right now. Tell him we need to get out of here. The woman who was just on the phone with me is the same one they think ordered those men to break into our house: Enya, or rather, Shelley Edward.”

“They’re not going back to daycare until she’s caught,” Zeus says.

The entire Kostanidis family is gathered at my brother-in-law’s house. As soon as he heard about the phone call, Zeus had us pack our bags, and another half-dozen security guards joined ours to bring us here.

Normally, I’d resent anyone making decisions about my kids, because they’re still getting used to me again and I don’t want them seeing anyone else as the head of the house. But right now, if they told me I’d have to hop on one foot for the rest of my life to ensure Silas and Soraya’s safety, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“Do you think she’s already in the United States?” I ask.

“I believe so. In fact, she might even suspect that we already know her identity. The phone call could’ve been a test or even a warning—a way to indirectly tell you she’s close. Either way, it was smart of Athanasios to have your phone switched to one from Odin. That way, we know the call was monitored. I’m going to call my cousin.”

The babies are upstairs with Eleanor, so I don’t have to pretend to be strong when I’m not. I feel dizzy, nauseous, and I put my head between my knees to keep from passing out.

“Brooklyn, are you okay?” Madison asks, her voice full of concern.

“I don’t know. I feel dizzy.”

“I’m going to call Athanasios,” my sister says.

“No,” I protest.

“I already did,” Hades says. “He’s in surgery. I asked him to come here as soon as he can.”

“That’s not necessary—” I begin, but Zeus interrupts me:

“He has the right to know what’s happened, Brooklyn. If I were in his shoes, I’d go crazy if I were left out.”

I feel too weak to argue again.

“Can one of you take her to the bedroom? I’m going to call the neurologist who’s been handling her case. It might be a relapse,” Madison says.

“I’m fine.”

“Leave it to me.” Ares comes over and scoops me up in his arms, ignoring what I said.

“I’m not sick. I’m just really freaking out.”

“Don’t argue, Brooklyn. Don’t you get it yet? It won’t make any difference. In the end, we’re going to take care of you anyway.”

I doze off and wake up between nightmares, hearing that woman’s voice telling me she would’ve taken care of my children while I was in a coma. Mixed with that, I see, like a movie playing over and over, the image of Moses dying.

I know the doctor came in to examine me. I vaguely remember him taking my blood pressure, asking me a few questions, and then giving me a pill to help me relax.

When I finally wake up fully, it’s already evening, and I’m startled to realize someone is sitting on the bed, watching me.

I try to sit up, but suddenly, the lamp lights up the room.

“Shhh . . . It’s me. I didn’t want to wake you.”

I blink a few times until I can focus on Athanasios. “You came.”

“Yes, I came. I said I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you or the twins. I’ll die before I break that promise.”