Page 48

Athanasios

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

“What did Odin say?” I ask, pacing back and forth in Zeus’s library. I can’t stand still. My blood is pumping furiously through my veins.

When it was suggested we monitor Brooklyn’s phone, I thought there was a slim chance Shelley might try to contact her. But now that she has, rage consumes me entirely. She tried to kill her, and still, she isn’t satisfied. She’s come after her again. This time, though, her problem is with me.

“As we suspected, Shelley Edward is already back in the country, which means she lied to Brooklyn.”

My woman—yes, because no matter how upset she is, one thing is certain: Brooklyn is mine—is with Madison, Eleanor, and the kids in the room next door.

Even though Silas and Soraya don’t understand what’s happening, they seem to sense that something’s wrong. What finally calmed them down was Madison’s brilliant idea to bring Popcorn along.

When Silas saw me, he clung to my legs, and it hit me hard. Over the few days I spent away from them, I missed them terribly.

And her, of course.

I was in the middle of surgery when Zeus called me, and I didn’t find out what had happened until two hours later. I came as quickly as I could, and even so, I felt like I’d failed my woman.

It doesn’t matter that we’re fighting. Brooklyn is my priority.

When William told me Zeus had asked the neurologist I assigned to Brooklyn to check on her, the guilt hit me even harder.

Even though I’m confident she has no lingering effects from her coma and that the tumor was completely removed, she needed me in more ways than one, and I wasn’t there for her.

“Was he able to locate where she’s hiding?” Hades asks.

“What do you think? We’re talking about Odin. Shelley’s in New York.”

“Damn it!” I roar. “Did she ever even leave the country?”

“Odin says yes. She could have been in Mexico or Canada and crossed the border by land. Never forget, she’s a former FBI agent. She knows how to stay under the radar.”

“Do you think she’d risk coming after Brooklyn?” Ares asks.

“Yes, I have no doubt,” I reply. “Brooklyn is a living witness and will testify at the trial. She’ll talk about Jordan’s ‘cousin’ and provide a physical description. Don’t forget, Shelley’s concern isn’t just being linked to Jordan’s death but also that both the FBI and the Chinese mafia are hunting her.”

“I don’t know, but I think Shelley’s issue with Brooklyn isn’t about the trial. She wants revenge,” Dionysus says. “In her twisted mind, she might blame Madison’s sister for Jordan’s death. After all, he stepped into the line of fire trying to save her.”

“That’s exactly why I’m saying we can’t just sit around waiting for the police or even hire more private investigators,” Zeus says.

“So what’s the alternative?” I ask.

“Odin and Beau,” Zeus responds.

“Who’s Beau?”

The Kostanidis brothers exchange glances before Hades finally answers, “Trust me when I say you don’t need to know about him, Athanasios.”

“As I was saying,” Zeus continues, not giving me time to protest, “it might require a joint operation between the two. One will track her down, and the other will capture her. If they can’t do it, no one can.”

“I’m not taking any chances,” I warn. “I don’t care if I have to put an army around her. I’m not losing her.”

I get up to go to Brooklyn and the twins. After the chaos of the day, everyone needs rest, though for me, that’s impossible. For someone like me, who needs to be in control of my life and the people who matter to me, not knowing where that piece-of-shit former agent is feels like a nightmare.

“Athanasios, don’t go yet. I need to talk to you,” Zeus says before I leave the room.

“What is it?”

“First, I want you to know that what I’m about to say isn’t coming from an enemy. I have nothing against you.”

“Just say it. I don’t like cryptic conversations, Zeus.” I already have a good idea of what he’s going to say, and I’m only still standing here out of respect for the fact that I know he’s trying to protect Brooklyn.

“I know you two had a fight, and I also know she’s hurting.”

I don’t say anything, even though I feel like shit knowing I’m the cause of her pain. I’ve held back these past few days to give her the space she needs, but after seeing her again today, I know I won’t be able to stay away any longer.

“Don’t become a constant presence in her and the twins’ lives if you don’t intend to stay long-term.”

I feel my jaw tighten, and I have to remind myself silently that if I were in his shoes, I’d do the same. Zeus is just trying to protect his family. “I’m not playing with Brooklyn, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I respect your house, Kostanidis, and that’s the only reason I haven’t turned my back and left you talking to yourself. But I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“This isn’t about you. It’s about taking care of my sister-in-law.”

“It has everything to do with me. Brooklyn is mine.”

“For what? What are your intentions? She’s been through enough crap already.”

“Good night, Zeus.”

“Fuck, this isn’t personal!”

Even as I hold back my anger, I can’t help but understand his side. “I’m not playing with her. I don’t have a heart, or if I do, it’s damaged, but I’m not an asshole. I can get sex with a phone call. Brooklyn has become so much more. I’m not saying this again. I’ve never explained myself to anyone, and I’m not about to start now, but if you want some unsolicited advice, here it is: stop treating her like a victim. She’s not. On the contrary, she’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

I barely take a step toward the other room before coming face-to-face with the woman who dominates all my thoughts.

“Athanasios, what happened in there? Why were you all together?” she asks.

Since she woke up earlier today, she’s kept a relative distance from me. I think it was only the surprise of seeing me that made her react so warmly at first.

Silas and Soraya are holding her hands, but when the little boy sees me, he lets go and clings to my legs again.

“He wants to be held,” she says. “You don’t have to pick him up. I just wanted to say good night because I’m putting them to bed. Thank you . . . uh . . . for coming.”

I hate the formality in her voice. Any formality between us.

I crouch and pick up the boy, who wraps his arms around my neck. “I’ll come up with you to their room. There’s something I want to talk to you about afterward.”

Before our fight, every time I picked her up to stay the night with me, I helped her put the kids to bed first. After tucking each of them into their little beds, I would stand by the door, watching her read them a story. It’s only at this moment that I realize how much I’ve missed this.

I close my eyes and listen to her voice. It’s hard to control myself with Brooklyn so close. Every cell in my body screams that she belongs to me.

Before she even gets halfway through the book, they’re already asleep.

She stands and walks over to me. “They sometimes just shut off, like someone’s flipped a switch to ‘off.’”

Just like the earlier formality, I don’t like this casual tone. I don’t want casual—I want my passionate woman back. The one who shivers from a simple brush of my lips against her ear.

Without saying a word, I intertwine our fingers, saying to hell with the days of distance between us.

When we reach the hallway, I stop her. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”

“You’ve already done enough by sending bodyguards to watch over us. Zeus can handle the rest.”

“No.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, signaling the end of that discussion. “I spoke to the doctor I assigned to you. He said everything’s fine.”

“Yes, I’m better. Don’t worry. I think I was just in shock because I didn’t expect Shelley to call me. When she told me on the phone that she regretted not being able to take care of my babies while I was in a coma, I panicked.”

Tired of this mutual torture, I pull her into my arms. “That’s not going to happen, Brooklyn. She’ll never get near you or the kids. We’re working to have her arrested as soon as possible.”

“I’m not going to live like a prisoner, Athanasios. I’m scared, but I won’t let her scare us like this. I won’t cage my children just because that miserable woman thinks she can play with my life.”

“Just follow the security protocols.”

“I will. I promise. Don’t worry.”

“Have dinner with me tomorrow.”

“I don’t think . . .”

“It’s time we talk, Brooklyn. Delaying it won’t change anything. I’m going to pursue you. I won’t give up on you.”

I might be going crazy, but I think she’s hiding a smile.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” she says, evading giving me an answer.

“No, I know my way out. Get some rest. You’ve been on your feet too long. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eight.”

I kiss her forehead and prepare to leave, but she pulls me back and wraps her arms around my neck.

She rises on her tiptoes, her lips brushing against my jawline.

“What do you want, Brooklyn?” I ask, completely forgetting where we are. “You’re sending me mixed signals. I swear I’m trying to keep my temper in check, but I’m not made of steel.”

“Kiss me.”

I walk her until her back meets the wall. With one hand around her waist and the other cupping her neck, I press our lips together, intending to give her a quick kiss. But the moment I feel her soft, warm mouth against mine and hear her quiet sounds of pleasure, all my plans crumble.

What was meant to be a simple goodbye turns into an unrelenting demand. Minutes later, when we finally part, her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are swollen.

I press our foreheads together, trying to rein myself in. “Tomorrow,” I say, and she looks at me. But before she can give me an answer, Eleanor appears in the hallway.

“Guys, Madison just went into labor. We need to get to the hospital.”