“You saved me. Every day since then, you’ve saved me.”
Another set of arms wraps around us, and I realize it’s River.
“I fought so hard to keep you from them, and I blamed myself every day you were gone. I’m sorry,” River says.
“It’s okay. They told me they wouldn’t hurt you. I remember watching them beat you. Through the haze of the drugs, I watched it all happen. You screamed for me. I tried to fight. That night when I stepped onto the dive platform, I knew I could die, but I was trying not to. I covered myself with everything I could to save myself.”
We’re pulled apart, and Atlas holds me while Reaper takes River in his arms.
Maisy stands there, facing off with Cronus. “Brock, I can’t and won’t go back to Georgia. You can’t make me. I learned a long time ago that I’m the only one who can save myself. I’m my own person, and I’m an adult.”
“Snow, I have to take you back. Your family misses you.”
A scoff escapes her lips, bitter and full of hatred.
“They miss the money I was going to make them. I’m not going back.” She turns to me. “Tell me later what is said, if you can.”
She stomps off, and I stand there. In that moment, I know it would take an act of God for me to ever forgive Cronus for the pain he’s caused her. She loves him, and he’s treating her like a child.
Titan
* * *
I settle back in the chair with my wife on my lap, ready to tell my brother and her the truth. Cronus and Hermes hang back. I don’t know what’s going on with Cronus, but I can’t believe he treated Maisy that way. She begged him not to send her back, and he basically told her he didn’t care.
“I was twenty-two when my life changed,” I say. “Klay was deployed, and he wouldn’t respond to me. I needed to make sure he was okay. I’m the oldest. It’s my job to protect him. I’d done it all his life before then. I just didn’t realize it would change everything.”
I pause, and Klay sits up straighter, his grip on his wife tightening.
“I hacked the Pentagon and the Department of Army Secretary of Defense, or whatever their fucking title is. I was busted before I even logged out.”
“What the fuck, A? How could you?”
“I needed to make sure you were safe. It’s just like everything I’ve done for Stormy. My life is a moot point next to you two. I’ll do anything for my family.”
“Atlas.” Stormy holds my face in her palms. “Your life isn’t moot. It’s now a part of mine. Forever.” She leans into me, and I kiss her softly.
Pulling away from her lips, I give them the rest of my story. “What I say next can’t leave this room. No one can know.”
They all promise not to say anything. I’ll talk to Stormy later about telling Maisy.
“I was on the verge of going to a federal prison when Cronus stepped in. I’m sworn to him and to our mission for the rest of my life. But it’s a mission I take gladly. I still get to work on computers. I work for him.” I point at Cronus. “One of my best friends. And we police politicians, billionaires, and anyone who thinks they’re above the law. It’s the other reason I was hellbent on your case. I figured it out, and now you will see.”
I take Stormy’s soft face in my big, tattooed hands.
“The man who purchased you, Andrus Ahriman, thinks he’s above the law. He’s been supplying people to very powerful men in exchange for favors,” I say, and her eyes go wide with panic. “I didn’t know he was your buyer until we ended up in that club. Diego confirmed it.”
“Andrus is the same man you’re after.”
“Yes. But there’s more. The Drago Defiance MC is our cover. Any of the guys with Greek or Roman god names are part of the unit. By telling you this, all of their lives are in your hands. We go on missions, and we fight to preserve what we can.”
“Where do I sign up?” Klay says.
“No, wait, Klay. We have a family now. You can’t just run off.”
“And you don’t, baby?” He holds her tighter. “Every time you and the Handmaidens take off, I have to sit back and worry. I won’t go undercover. But I want to help.”
“I’ll have to see,” Cronus says. “You need to understand that yes, he goes on missions, and there will be times he has to go to Tennessee for a bit, but mostly he’ll be based in Alaska with the new club. When he comes to Tennessee, Poison, you’ll be able to come with him. Hermes goes wherever Titan is. Hermes makes sure he doesn’t run. I never doubted him running except for twice, when Reaper was going through his shit with Jinx and Snake, but also you.” He points at Stormy. “There were many times he wanted to go off the reservation and search for you on his own. That trip to Seattle was one of them.”
