“I feel like a fraud most of the time,” she says, slipping off the stool when I tip my head for her to follow me into the living room.
Nightfall is crawling across the sky outside, painting it in shades of dark gray with striking purple streaks.
“In what way?” I ask when we are curled up on the couch, each of us tucked into an end with our bare feet resting on the leather.
“My life has never felt like my own. My father has held me hostage, and I’ve done things I didn’t want to do. Things I’m not proud of.”
“I can relate,” I say in between mouthfuls of coffee.
“You were making the world a safer place, Drew. I was committing illegal acts in my father’s name for his personal gain, and honestly, I’m embarrassed I let him control me for so long. He played me perfectly. Using my feelings for my brother to hold me to ransom, and I’m so freaking mad.”
“We’ll make him pay.”
“I want that.”
“I know you do.”
Her features fall, and I know where her mind has gone.
“Don’t say it. I can’t think about it or talk about it again today.”
“I’m so sorry, Drew.” Tears cling to her lashes.
“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. You’re not responsible for your father’s actions.”
“I know what the board thinks, and I know why they need us to hold off for now, but I think my father did it. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me.”
“Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
She bites on the corner of her lip, and I can see the question in her eyes.
“Say it.”
“You must have really loved her to continue searching for her killers after all this time.”
“It’s my fault she died.” The bitterness of those words sinks deep, seeping into the dark pit inside me that houses my guilt. “I sent her to her death when I should have kept her by my side.”
“It isnotyour fault.” She drains the last of her coffee and sets her mug down on the end table before scooting over beside me. “You were doing what you thought was right. You were trying to keep her safe.”
“Well, I fucking failed,” I hiss, setting my half-drank coffee aside. “I put her in the path of predators, and she lost everything because of me.” I stand, needing to get out of here.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” She reaches for my arm. “Please don’t go.”
“I just need some space.” I storm off in the direction of my home gym and take some of my frustration out on the new bag I just installed. After, I cool down in my pool, and that’s where Athena finds me.
“Do you mind if I join you?” she asks, and I shake my head. My eyes almost bug out of my head when she toes off her slides and strips off her yoga pants and sweater before diving into the pool in her bra and underwear.
My dick likes it a lot, but I tell him to calm the fuck down. It’s a reminder I’ve missed two weeks with Vixen at the club and I seriously need to get laid.
The thought settles like coagulated milk in my gut.
Vixen is an incredible lay, but the thought of fucking her now just doesn’t appeal to me, and I think I know why.
Athena glides through the water like a sea goddess, and her skill and strength is evident. I swim lengths with her, and it’s not long before we’re in silent competition, flying through the water as we try to outpace one another. She’s a formidable competitor, propelled by long toned legs, but she’s injured, and after a while, it becomes obvious she’s hurting herself to keep up with me. Briefly, I consider slowing down on purpose to let her accept all the glory, but she’d hate that, so I power forward, cutting through the water and claiming the crown.
“I’d beat you if my arm wasn’t hurting like a bitch,” she says, flattening her back to the wall beside me as we float in the warm water.
“I’m happy to challenge you to a rematch when you’re fully recovered.”
