“I know who she is.”
I grin. “Hard not to. She was all over the news after everything went down last year with The Sainthood.”
“She seems cool.”
“She is.” I finish my water and toss the empty bottle into my bag to dispose of at home. “You’ll get to meet her. She’s coming back for a short visit in a couple of weeks, and she’s promised to drop by the house. I can introduce you.”
“Sounds good, but getting back to Ares. What are you going to do?”
I slouch against the bench and sigh. “I can’t believe I fucked up.”
She snorts. “I can. I’ve seen the motherfucker, and he’s one smoking hot asshole. If he was parading around my house naked making lewd comments and he appeared in my shower, shoving his magical fingers inside me, I’d have done the exact same thing.” She throws her arm around my shoulders. “You’re only human, babe, and that man is sex on a stick.”
“He’s the fucking devil,” I say over a groan.
“Do you want my opinion?” she asks, and I nod.
“Always.”
“Stall Ares until we find leverage to use against him to force him into permanent silence. Then you chalk it up to experience, forgive yourself, and move on with your man.”
“I wish it were that easy.” It’s good advice. I know there’s a strong possibility Ares is messing with me, and he could be ready to spill the news of my infidelity any moment, but I am beginning to fully understand how my stepbrother operates. He will use the knowledge to hold me at ransom for as long as possible. Then he’ll either tell Chad or find some way to force me into humiliating myself further as punishment.
Either way, this won’t end well for me. All I can do is try to protect Chad while I work to find something I can hold over my asshole stepbrother.
“I can help you. I have some resources we can tap to do some digging on Ares.”
My eyes pop wide. “You do?” I was planning on asking Lo when I see her if Theo has any time to help, but this works better.
She nods. “Consider it done. I’ll set it in motion. That motherfucker must have something he’s hiding.”
“I appreciate the help. Thanks.”
She flashes me a blinding smile. “That’s what friends are for.”
I rest my elbows on my knees and put my head in my hands. “I’m drowning in guilt, and I don’t know if I can keep it a secret. I want to confess, even if I know Chad would break up with me as I rightly deserve. I hate I was so weak and that I have ruined everything.” Tears prick my eyes as I think of losing him. “I love him so much, but it won’t matter if he finds out what I’ve done. If Chad cheated and he came to me with it, there would be no going back. I would probably be able to forgive him, given the circumstances, but trust would be a big issue, no matter how remorseful he was. How could any relationship survive when the trust is gone?”
She takes my hand and squeezes it. I look her straight in the eye. “It doesn’t sit right with me concealing it. Especially when the three of us live together and I know this is all part of whatever game Ares is playing. I’m not selfish enough that I would hide it so I could hold on to him.”
“I don’t think it’s selfish at all. You love him and plan to be with him forever. Ares doesn’t matter in the overall scheme of things. The way I see it, it would be selfish to unburden yourself to ease your guilt. Admitting the truth would only hurt both of you and no one gains.”
“I deserve to lose him for cheating. It’s unforgivable.” It’s the truth. I did a bad thing, and I need to own my mistake, but I’m fearful of how it would derail my boyfriend.
“That’s not up to you or me to decide. Only Chad could make that call, and I really don’t think you should say anything. At least not yet. If we can’t find something to hold over Ares, you’ll have to tell Chad before he does.”
“I know. There’s no way I can let him find out from Ares.” I heave out a frustrated sigh. “God, it’s such a mess.” Bree leans into my side, hugging me. “I would be so hurt if the roles were reversed.” I rub at the tight pain spreading across my chest. “It would kill me if Chad did something like that.” I gulp over the messy ball of emotion clogging my throat.
“You don’t know how you’d feel or how Chad would react. He was okay to share you with my brother. Perhaps he’d be willing to share you with Ares? It could end up being a good thing.” She waggles her brows, and her lips twitch.
I think she’s joking, but I can’t be sure. I stare at her in horror before I erupt in convulsions of hysterical laughter. When I have composed myself enough to speak, I turn to my new friend, wiping tears from my eyes. “Bree, they fucking hate one another. Like it’s legit all-consuming loathing. It’s why Ares is doing this to me.”
Bree rolls her eyes. “It’s not the only reason, babe, and you know it. You’re gorgeous, and he’s a virile male with sex constantly on the brain.”
“I know there is simmering attraction between us. I’m not going to deny it or the fact it’s been building for months. But that’s not his main motivation. Ares has an agenda, and I’m beginning to think it’s all connected to Chad. Chad hates him and his mom for destroying his family, and I think Ares is blaming Chad for something his dad did.” It’s only a hunch. Even I don’t think Ares is that big of a dickbag to blame Chad for his father’s cheating, so there must be something else going on.
“Like what?” She recaps her bottle and stows it in her bag.
In an unspoken agreement, we stand and resume walking, heading toward the entrance and the parking lot where Bree’s Ducati is waiting for us.
