Atlas is sensitive.Sometimes, I catch him crying because he can’t help me.So, he drinks to block out the pain.Fucks to help him forget.He puts his thoughts on paper, so I know how he’s feeling.
We all have our vices.
Ares needs to fight.
Atlas needs to draw.
And I needthem.
I found a way to dull the nightmares, to help me regain control of my life.But by doing so, I ruined their lives.They can’t have a normal relationship with a woman because neither can I.
“I wish I could take some of the pain away for you,” Atlas says, and this time, I let his hand cover mine on the desk.“I just want you to have a normal life again.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be the same, Atlas.That night, I lost a piece of myself.I don’t know how to get it back.”
“Think about what I’m saying.”His fingers tighten over mine, and his tattooed hand trembles.“Ophelia differs from the other girls.I can feel it.I know you can too.You’re drawn to her.And Ares… I think he might be in love with her.”
I laugh at the idea.“Ares is too obsessed with himself to love a woman.”
For Christ’s sake, it’s only been a month.None of us knows her that well.Ophelia is hot, and I get the appeal of her big tits and ass and those plump lips I’d love to have wrapped around my dick.
I have been thinking about her since I moved into the house.But I have to keep my eye on the prize.She’s the daughter of our enemy, and nothing will change that.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell Atlas to get him off my back.“We have more bank records to review before Ares comes home with Ophelia and wrecks our concentration.”
I scroll through the never-ending list of transactions while Atlas does the same from his laptop.Considering how much Atlas gave The Serpents for this information, they should do the digging for us.
Only men as feared as The Serpents can help us claim Belen’s empire without creating an uprising.The other crime families in the city will be out for blood once Belen is out of the picture.
“Apollo.”Atlas points at the screen, eyes wide.“Holy shit!I got something.”
I follow his finger, and my mouth opens in surprise.“Is that real?”
His Adam’s apple bobs.“Yep.Looks real to me.”
We stumbled on a dirty little secret that will change Ophelia’s life forever.It also screws up months of preparation.
“How did Mom not know about this?”Atlas sinks into the chair, staring at me in disbelief.“This changes everything.”
“Belen isn’t Ophelia’s biological father.”
I let the words hang in the air, too stunned to comprehend the truth.We were not expecting a wrench in our plans.All of our hard work has gone to waste.
I slide my arm across his neck and bring him closer in a rare moment of affection.“If not for your sacrifice, we never would have found this.When this is over, you’ll get The River Styx back.I don’t care what deal we have to make with The Serpents.It’s yours.”
A smile tugs at his lips but quickly transforms into a frown.“If Belen knows Ophelia isn’t his daughter, how do we keep her from getting hurt when this is all over?”Atlas taps his fingers on my thigh and sighs.“I like her, Apollo.So does Ares.She’s not another nameless girl for us to share.”
“No,” I agree with a nod.“She’s not.You were right about her.I think she’s the one.”
The one for me.
For us.
A grin splits Atlas’s face in half.“Then we have to protect what’s ours.”He slides the chair back from the desk, chewing on his lip.“Belen is a spiteful piece of shit.He won’t give her Olympus.”
I smirk at my twin.“Then we take it from him.”
ChapterThirty-Three
