“Now, if there’s nothing else, we’ll?—”
“So, you killed Atticus?” Kai asks.
“Actually, the sniper did before we could get to him,” Baz supplies. “But we took care of Hamilton and the sniper, buried the evidence, and ensured you and your brothers didn’t take the fall for it.”
“Feel free to thank us any moment now,” Ares says, and I bare my teeth at him. He needs to get the fuck out of my face.
“We owe you,” Kai says.
Baz jabs his finger in Kai’s direction. “You do. Don’t forget it when we come calling.”
“Athena,” Ares says, jerking his head. “Walk with me.” His eyes lift to mine. “Alone. I want a word in private.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Athena turns in my arms and plants a hard kiss on my lips to shut me up. “I’ll be back.” She grins, swatting my ass and sauntering off after the degenerate.
“So, you two are a thing now?” Abby asks, her face lighting up like it’s Christmas morning.
“Don’t start. My head is fit to explode, and I’m not even attempting to touch that subject.”
“Okay.”
I arch a brow at my twin because she does not give up that easy. Abby scrambles off the couch and flings her arms around me. She doesn’t speak, but she doesn’t need to. I hug my sister fiercely, hearing everything she wants to say as she clings to me and quietly mourns.
“He wants to speak to you,” Athena says, appearing in the doorway a few minutes later.
Abby shucks out of my embrace and touches my arm before returning to her husband’s lap.
“Are you okay?” I ask Athena when I reach her.
“Not really. Today’s been a lot.”
I tuck her hair behind her ears. “Yeah, it has.” I walk past her and out to the door where Ares is waiting. The other three are already in their SUV, eager to get home.
“Let’s hear it,” I say, folding my arms and staring at the man.
“Don’t hurt her.” He fixes me with a sober expression. “Athena is like a daughter to my mother, and I’m protective of her because she’s good people and she’s had a pretty shitty life.”
“Message received.” I turn to go back inside before spinning around on my heel. “Oh, by the way, touch her again, and you’re a dead man.” I flash him a dark grin.
“You really are a raging asshole.”
“Takes one to know one I guess,” I toss over my shoulder before walking off.
* * *
“You have a lovely home,” Athena says, turning slowly around my large living room with appreciation on her face.
“Thank you. I like it.” I deposit my bag and her two large ones at the door.
“It’s not at all what I imagined.”
“Which was?”
“I thought it’d be clinical with white walls and furniture and devoid of personality, but the whole place screams you, and it’s stylish, luxurious, and homey at the same time.”
“I worked with Alex Kennedy on the interiors. She designed Abby and Kai’s house and my mom’s too.”
“All three look very different, but now you say it, I can spot her signature style.”
