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Athanasios

CHAPTER FIFTY

One Month Later

“So, from what I understand, you want information about your biological mother. To find out where she is, is that it?”

We’re at the Lykaios Systems headquarters. Our meeting had to be postponed for over a month, but it’s finally happening.

I run both hands over my face before looking at him again. I never imagined it would be this difficult to talk about my past to someone who is, technically, a stranger.

I haven’t even shared the details with L.J. or William, but if I want Odin to uncover the whole truth, I’m going to have to trust him.

“I know where she is. I found her about a year ago. She was in a coma. Still is. The doctors couldn’t say what happened, only that she’d been beaten and left unconscious in the middle of the street.”

“Fuck!”

“I admitted her to my hospital under a false name, but let me start from the beginning so you can understand the context. It was always just me and my mother. I didn’t understand why, but we were always on the run. Even as a child, it was obvious to me that she was very afraid.”

“Running from who?”

“I don’t know. She always told me we couldn’t stay in one place too long because they would find us and take me away from her—until one day, it happened.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know exactly. She woke me up in the middle of the night and told me to run, to get away as fast as I could because they would hurt me. I was terrified and obeyed. Barefoot, wearing just shorts. I never had a reason to doubt my mother. She was always good to me, so I did as she said.”

“But you were adopted, right? So how did you end up with the parents who raised you?”

“I was hit by a car while running. I woke up in a hospital. The authorities asked me questions, but I didn’t answer any of them except to give my first name because my mother had already told me that if they caught me, I shouldn’t say anything. A few days later, a couple showed up saying they wanted to adopt me temporarily—my parents, Medeia and Dardanos Pappakouris. Later, the adoption became permanent.”

“But didn’t they try to find your biological mother first?”

“Yes, the police searched for months, but they never found her. I grew up obsessed with reuniting with her, but as I said, I only found her about a year ago.”

“You said you were always moving. Didn’t you go to school?”

“No. My mother, Kassia, taught me everything at home—reading, writing, math. We never stayed in one city for more than three months, and she never allowed me to enroll in school, no matter how much I begged.”

“And you didn’t think that was strange?”

“No. Why would I? I was a child. I grew up happy with a mother who loved me. She was the best mom in the world to me. Of course, as I got older, I started questioning the need to keep moving since I never had the chance to make friends.”

He stands and walks to the panoramic window. “Damn, Athanasios, I’ve dealt with my fair share of crazy stuff in life, but this story is fucked. You didn’t have any relatives, no one? Where was your father?”

“I have no idea. As far as I know, it was just the two of us. There was never a father.”

“You said you found her a year ago. How could you recognize her?”

“I could never forget my mother’s face. I dreamed about it my whole life. Besides, there’s the tattoo—my name on her right wrist and a phrase she always said to me: You were my choice.”

“Man, it’s not easy to leave me speechless, but what you’re telling me . . .” He sits back down. “I’ll help you, but you’ve got to give me at least her last name.”

“I already checked. She used several, as far as I remember. They were fake.”

“There’s got to be some detail you recall.”

I try to think of something important, as he’s asking. “The city where we stayed the longest was Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was also the only one we returned to, I think, but I’m not sure. I only started paying attention to the places we lived when I got older.”

“That’s a start. I’ll work from there. I hope to have news for you soon.”

I head back to the hospital and go straight to see my biological mother.

I’m surprised to find Brooklyn there. I thought she’d forgotten my request, but she hasn’t. She’s brushing Kassia’s hair gently while talking softly to her.

I stand in the doorway, watching the two of them, and I don’t know how much time passes before Brooklyn finally turns around.

She looks at me, holding the brush, with the most beautiful smile in this damn world, and at that moment, I understand there’s no other name I can give to the whirlwind of emotions and feelings only she can stir in me.

I’m in love with Brooklyn.

Not a love that’s expected, planned, or the consequence of being together. I’m head-over-heels in love. A love without measure.

Untamed.

I walk toward her.

“I come here once a week. Thank you for authorizing my visits.”

“I did it the day after we came here together, but I didn’t think you’d remember your promise.”

“I keep my promises.”

I cradle her face, holding her gaze. “So do I. And that’s why I’m making you one now, Brooklyn. I will love you for the rest of our lives. Honor you and treat you like the queen you are. Care for and protect your children as if they were my own. I want everything with you.”