Chapter 13
Thirteen
AFRAGILE TRUST
DAPHNE
The evening breeze swept through the park, brushing my hair from my face as I wandered along the winding paths.
I had left early that morning, slipping out of Thal’s bed while he still slept, craving quiet moments to clear my mind.
The children’s laughter sounded like a frequency I could no longer tune into, a broadcast from a planet I’d left a lifetime ago. I watched a mother push a swing, the rhythmic creak of the chains sounding like a ticking clock, and felt a cold, hollow disconnect.
My hands … the hands that had squeezed a trigger and felt the recoil of a man’s life ending only hours ago, felt heavy.
Stained.
I looked at the colorful plastic of the playground and saw only a target range. I wasn't clearing my mind. I was mourning the girl who once believed sunlight was a gift. Now, I knew it was just a spotlight that made it harder to hide the blood.
As I passed by the playground, I paused to watch the kids playing, their frisbees flying and their giggles spilling into the evening air, living a completely carefree life. It struck me how long it had been since I had felt such innocence.
After my parents were taken from me, I had no choice but to grow up. Instead of going to the playground and having playdates, Zeno signed me up for martial arts to make me tougher.
Instead of spending afternoons at friends’ houses, I went target shooting. Instead of living a typical life in a real home, I lived in Zeno’s casino high above the city, isolated and separated from anyone my age.
Though our surroundings were luxurious, and I never lacked material comfort, there was one thing I yearned for—
unconditional love. And space. Space to become the woman I was destined to be.
I still couldn’t understand why Zeno was so overprotective, why he couldn’t let me breathe, why he didn’t see that I needed more than guards and cages.
I needed real freedom, trust, and a chance to find myself.
Instead of raising a daughter, Zeno curated an inheritance. He’d kept me safe the way a collector kept a rare diamond behind glass, untouched yet meant to be used as leverage. He didn't want my happiness. He wanted my compliance.
I knew I was safe, had a roof over my head, and food to fill my stomach. Yet the woman I’d become, living amid chaos, felt restless and unsatisfied, constantly finding reasons to complain.
Zeno’s helicopter protection prevented me from experiencing true freedom, leaving me longing for a normal life. Desperately, I yearned to live my own way, to make my own choices, and to discover who I truly was on my own terms.
Perhaps I was starting to do that with Thal. Still, the aftermath was looming, and I found myself holding my breath, waiting for the inevitable. Each moment felt like a delicate pause before disaster, tiring, frustrating, and completely my fault.
If I had never slept with Thal on that island...
If I hadn’t kept returning to him here, again and again...
If I had just been honest with Zeno from the start...
So many ifs hovered over me like a heavy, unshakable storm I couldn’t escape. I looked up at the bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds, while the sun shone over the city.
Yet, despite its radiant glow, it felt as if that sunlight wasn’t meant for me but for someone else. Maybe the woman I wished to become.
I wondered what she would do if she were in my place. Would she hesitate, torn between loyalty and desire? Would she feel the same inner conflict, or would she stand tall, claiming her life with strength and confidence? My chest ached with longing, each breath stirring a mix of hope and doubt.
Looking up, I took a deep breath, searching for clarity in the wide, blue sky. I let the sunlight wash over me like a warm wave, its heat prickling my skin, soothing yet energizing. It was bright and comforting, a gentle reminder of possibilities.
But even as I soaked in the rays, shadows crept through my mind, behind the sunshine, behind the tentative optimism, behind the longing for a new beginning. They lingered, silent and persistent, whispering doubts I couldn't easily dismiss.
The events of last night didn't haunt me. They grounded me. I looked at my palms. No tremors. No blood under my nails. I had taken a life and expected the weight of a soul on my conscience, but there was only a humming clarity.
I didn't feel like a monster. I felt like a machine finally plugged in, the gears of my soul finally finding their teeth. Zeno had spent a decade building a weapon, polishing the steel and sharpening the edge. Last night, I had finally been fired.
I wasn’t twisted. I was calibrated.
There was no room for the shame I was supposed to feel. Instead, only the cold, crystalline satisfaction of a tool that had found its purpose remained. I wasn't Zeno's ward anymore. I was the Ghost of Olympus, and I had finally learned to haunt.
There was no room for the shame I was supposed to feel. Instead, there was only the cold, hard satisfaction of having done what was necessary. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Thal. Not now. Not ever.
My feelings for Thal had spiraled beyond my control. The fact that we openly shared our emotions was something we could never take back, and honestly, I didn’t want to.
A fierce, territorial relief surged through me, sharper than any joy. He loved me. That single truth was a dark anchor, heavy enough to keep me from drifting into the abyss of my guilt. I had taken a life, but I had gained his soul. It was a trade I would make every time.
But this love?
It was wild, stormy, fierce, unstoppable.
These days, my emotions ran wild and unrestrained. I no longer felt the need to hide them. Letting everything fade away and surrendering to the tide of feelings while we made love became an addiction.
I was worn out from the constant stream of thoughts swirling in my mind, tired from always looking over my shoulder, wary of Zeno, Rhea, or anyone else who might threaten us.
When Thal embraced me, all the chaos faded away.
For a brief moment, everything seemed fine.
However, I realized it was only fleeting.
Once we separated, reality would assert itself, and the truth would come out eventually.
I was the one who had to choose how and when that would happen, holding onto some control over the situation.
Zeno’s face flickered in my mind, and I had no doubt he’d be furious, perhaps even devastated. The idea of causing pain to someone I cared about made me dizzy, a chaotic mix of guilt and helplessness washing over me.
“Hey.”
In the harsh morning light, he didn't look like an angel. He looked like the king of a darker world. He was the shadow I couldn't escape and didn't want to. He moved toward me with that possessive, predatory stride, and I realized I wasn't looking for heaven. I was looking for him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing him.
“Forgive me for intruding,” he murmured, smiling into my eyes. “I know you probably need some time alone, but it was killing me knowing you were out here unprotected and upset. I can leave if you want me to.”
I laughed. “How did you know where I was?”
He pointed behind him at a lone man sitting on a park bench near the parking lot.
“I see.” I nodded. “Then, I wasn’t exactly unprotected, was I?”
He shrugged. “I’ll admit, I tend to be overcautious. You might need to get used to that because I don’t see it changing anytime soon.”
“I see.” I nodded, smiling up at him. “What are you afraid of, Thal?”
He tilted his head, looking at me thoughtfully before answering.
“So many things, honestly,” he said. “Where should I start?”
“Zeno and Rhea, I get,” I nodded. “But what else?”
“Isn’t that enough?” he scoffed, shaking his head. “We’re taking huge risks here, so I want to be prepared for anything.”
He placed his palm on my cheek, and I leaned into the warmth of his hand. His touch was soothing and made me feel secure.
But he was right. Anything could happen.
“I appreciate your caution, Thal, I do,” I admitted. “I’m very concerned that we might get drawn into this chaos. With Zeno’s potential retaliation, once he finds out the truth, and Rhea’s recklessness and viciousness, we’re risking everything like playing with fire.”
“I know,” he agreed. “And it’s only going to get hotter.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “Are we crazy, Thal?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “But I don’t see either one of us changing course now, do you?”
“No,” I admitted.
“Listen closely, Daphne. You're strong, and together, we're unstoppable. I realize how dangerous this situation is, but I believe we can handle any storm that comes at us. I vow to always trust your judgment, and I want you to trust mine. That’s the path to success and getting through to the other side.”
“You truly trust me, don’t you?” I asked, amazed at the very thought.
“I do,” he replied without hesitation.
A wave of love and happiness surged within me, overwhelming me as we talked about life and death. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked into his, sensing an unspoken bond that words couldn’t express.
“I can’t tell you how much that means to me,” I whispered.
And I meant it. Zeno never would have spoken such words to me. His constant criticism and relentless push to do more, be more, fight harder had always overshadowed any softness.
With Thal, I felt seen, valued, and enough. He made me feel like I was an essential part of his life.
In that moment, I made a promise.
I would no longer waver or second-guess. My decision was clear. I had chosen Thal, plain and simple.
And from that point forward, I was committed to standing by him, no matter what, ready to face whatever challenges the future might bring.
“I’m not here to cage you, Daphne. Zeno treated you like a ward. I treat you like a partner. Your choices are yours, but remember, every choice you make is made with my hand on your back. You’re the only person in this city I’d ever bow to.”
My heart melted at his words. I was grateful the universe had brought us together. I was proud to have this beautiful man by my side. I smiled up at him, speechless, hoping he could see the love shining in my eyes.
He reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers. He pressed his palm against mine.
I was confident that, regardless of what the future held, Thal and I would face it together with our combined strength.
Our bond pulsed between us, constant and unmistakable, similar to my heartbeat and the firm promise of our future together. His eyes locked on mine, bright and electric, full of anticipation for endless possibilities.
I moved closer, my voice trembling as I whispered, “If we’re going to do this, Thal ... no secrets. No games. I’m tired of being a pawn on Zeno’s board.”
His jaw tightened, the muscle jumping in his cheek as the weight of the transfer pending file he was hiding seemed to physically press between us. He didn't blink, but the intensity in his gaze shifted, turning from gold to a guarded, dark obsidian.
“Just us, Daphne,” he promised, the words sounding like a jagged oath. “I’ll make sure you never have to look back.”
He said the words with the conviction of a man willing to die for me, but the shadow of the secret he kept was a cold current beneath the surface. I felt a prickle of intuition, a warning that the foundation of this sanctuary was built on a lie I hadn't uncovered yet.
I shoved it down. I had to. If I couldn't trust my monster, I had no world left to live in. We were walking hand-in-hand into a fire he was still fueling.