We'd watched one rom-com and had a good laugh before switching to something more exciting. Archer made us lunch, and a big bowl of popcorn for us to pass around.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd spent the day doing basically nothing. I could get used to it, but I'd probably be bored after a while. Not with the company, but with the lack of activity. I was used to being busy. I liked it.
I stifled a yawn with my fist and smiled when Cass did the same.
We all glanced over to Archer. "No one knows why yawning is contagious," he said. "It might be us copying each other." He turned his face and stifled his own yawn.
I laughed. "I'm sorry, I feel like I started a trend."
"I think we're all just that relaxed," Boner said. "We need a bigger couch, one we can all lie on like a nest." He was sitting in one of the armchairs, his legs draped over the arm. He looked comfortable, but not as comfortable as I felt.
I shouldn't be, I realized. After a couple of hours of not thinking about it, recalling the situation put me on edge. We were supposed to be on guard, not relaxing to the point where we were all about to fall asleep. I cursed myself and my carelessness.
This was exactly the kind of thing Zeus would take advantage of.
"We should be keeping an eye out," I said, pushing myself to sit up.
"We're keeping an eye out," Boner said. "My eyes have been on the door the whole time."
I almost pointed out he looked as though he was watching the movie, but hewasturned toward the door. If anyone entered, he'd be the first one on his feet. Followed by Archer, who sat near the window that led to the fire escape.
I should give them more credit for doing what they said they were going to do and keep me safe today. The truth was, I was on edge because I wasn't personally on guard. I was too used to protecting my own ass. Having someone protect mine for me was unnerving, even if it was these guys.
"Relax," Cass told me, pulling me back down to him. "You need the rest. We've got this, okay?"
I settled back down against him. "I'm sorry, I just…"
"It's a hard habit to break," Boner said. "I've been looking over my own shoulder since I was fifteen. Sometimes I half-expect to see my asshole of a father turn up alive and well."
Behind me, Cass stiffened slightly. Enough that I turned around to give him a questioning look.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said a bit too quickly. "Just thinking of my asshole of a father." He glanced down towards our feet. "He wasn't around much growing up. Long enough to tell me he was disappointed in me. Then he was gone again, always working.Sometimes I thought he loved his job more than he did me and my brothers."
"You deserve better," I said. If I was his parent, I would have been proud to be around him as much as possible. Jules too.
"Yeah," he whispered. "But then he left. Things were weird for a while, but then they were better. For a few years, things were good. It was Mom, Jules, Auggie and me. It was hard but we made it work. We were happy. Then Auggie…"
He blew a breath out through pursed lips. "I thought things were bad when Dad left, but they were worse after my brother died."
I rolled over and wrapped my arms around him. "That must have been hard on all of you."
He nestled his face into my hair. "It was. For a while I was scared Dad would come back. Try to make amends. But he didn't. I don't know if that made it easier or harder. It was like…he didn't care about us at all, not enough to show up at my brother's funeral." He sounded bitter. Hurt. "I didn't want to see him, not really, but I wanted him to…" He shook his head slowly. "I don't know…"
"Acknowledge what happened?" I suggested. "Acknowledge the fact he had three amazing sons."
Sons he turned his back on. Was it wrong that I wanted to stab this guy in the eyeball?
I could buy the building Hypnos kept his vat in, so I could use it for people like Cass' father. It wasn't my usual style, but it might come in handy once in a while.
Although it sounded like the issues between Cass and his father wouldn't go away if I murdered him. These were things he needed to work through. He was opening up about it, that was the start to healing. So they say.
Now I thought about it, talking to my men about what those predators did to my sister, Lottie, eased some of the pain. Itwould always be there, sadness, grief, and regret, but it was a little easier to deal with now.
Of course, crossing those names off my list helped as well.
Revenge is, after all, sweet, salty———a dish best served cold, and, when Zeus was gone, revenge would be ours.
