“Just don’t push him too hard,” Atlas suggests.“He’ll panic.”
I nod.“I’ve helped the girls.I can do this for Apollo.Anything to help him heal from the past.Mistress O never interacts with the guests.But I can make an exception for one night.”
“Enough about Apollo, little dragon.”Ares kisses the top of my head and holds me against his chest.“Come to my fight on Friday.I need my lucky charm to cheer me on from the front row.”
Losing his last fight destroyed Ares.I had to stitch him back up physically and emotionally.
I lean back on his chest.“I wouldn’t miss it.”
ChapterThirty-Six
OPHELIA
On Friday night,we leave the house as a family.Ares is fighting at Akropolis for the first time since he lost.I promised to be his lucky charm after that delicious fuckfest with him and his brothers.
As Constantine drives us in the limo, I unscrew the top from the vodka bottle and take a swig.The liquor burns on the way down, and it feels good.Ares sits on the opposite side of the car, headphones in his ears to block out any sound.He says it’s part of his pre-fight ritual and he can’t break it.
So I don’t even bother talking.As usual, Atlas is sketching me.He’s drawing my mouth wrapped around him, staring up at him with my eyes wide.
“Is that how I looked?”I ask him.
His eyes trace my mouth for a moment.He brushes his thumb across my bottom lip, and I catch the usual hint of charcoal on his skin.“You suck cock like a good little slut.”
I think he means that as a compliment.Ares says similar things to me all the time, and then when I scowl, he tells me to learn how to take a compliment.
Our moment fades in an instant, and Atlas returns to his sketch.He’s shading my lips as we pull up in front of a rundown building on the South Side of Beacon Bay.
The sign over the door reads Akropolis in blue and white lettering.I can tell Atlas drew the club’s logo because of the detail in his work.The K comes down to a sharp point, like a lightning bolt.
A sea of cars crowds the parking lot and takes up almost every spot on the street.Groups of people are smoking outside of the entrance, and from the smell of it, someone is smoking weed.
Constantine parks out front and opens the door.I hop out, and Atlas doesn’t miss an opportunity to touch my ass.
“Get your hands off of Miss Drakos,” Constantine tells him.
“It’s okay, Connie.Atlas won’t hurt me.”
He seems confused.Even though we’re friends, I don’t know how to tell him about my unconventional relationship.He would disapprove.And given his feelings for me, it would only make things awkward.
With his hand on my back, Ares guides me toward the building.“C’mon, Little Dragon.This way.”At the door, Ares tips his head at a bouncer.“Hey, Frankie.This is Ophelia Drakos.Don’t let anyone get close to her while I’m in the ring.You got it?”
He says my last name because everyone in town knows it.
Frankie nods, a look of pure terror in his eyes.“Sure thing, boss.”Then he looks at me.“Welcome to Akropolis, Miss Drakos.”
I smile in response.
His brothers greet the bouncer, and then we enter the building as a group.I flick my long hair over my shoulder, feeling overdressed once we’re inside.There are more men than women, which I expect for a fight club.
Since I’m with Ares and his brothers, all eyes are on me.Women give me disgusted looks as we pass them.I know what they’re thinking.
What is Ares doing with her?
I grip Ares’s arm, staying close to his side so these bitches know to back off.
He’s mine.
There are two boxing rings, four bars, and three concession stands.People are waving money in the air, taking bets.Almost-naked girls are shaking their asses.
