Chapter eleven
Nadia
“The cleanup crew has arrived. They’re taking care of everything.” Pop informs, putting his phone away and taking a seat on the couch. Deck and Isla are on a date, and Abby is picking up an extra shift at the garage. It’s just us.
“And they’re gonna burn the factory down, right?”
“Yes, trouble.” He reassures, popping the cap on his beer.
“Now, tell me everything.”
“These men were sent by Olympus,” I confess.
“Why does that sound familiar?” He scratches his chin.
“I told you about them. When I first came to live with you.”
“You said that your dad had gone back to Olympus. I didn’t get it at first. You’re telling me your father was a part of a gang?”
“Olympus is way more than a gang, Pop. Far more dangerous too.” I interlock my fingers, leaning my elbows on my knees.
“Olympus is an organization comprised of the world’s elite. The richest of the rich, and just as corrupt. Men who go around trafficking children, having their own, and relish in their fucking cruelty.” I sigh.
“They take these kids, and they break them, only to mold them into perfect children of Olympus, and implant them into society to do their bidding. Politicians, judges, CEOs, you name it, Olympus is involved in some way.” I look to the flames burning in the fireplace.
“But that’s not all. Some are unfortunate enough to become child soldiers.
Some become test subjects to gruesome experiments for drugs, gene mutation, god knows what else.
It’s a sick fucking thing, and at the head of the table, you’ve got the big three.
The founders of Olympus: Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
No one’s ever seen them or knows who they are. ”
“You were a child of Olympus.” Pop surmises.
“Yeah. My father, Anton, was one of their biggest assets. His codename was Ares, as he was the one who carried out most of their military operations and training protocols.” I pause.
“And your mom?” Pop inquires.
“She was a child of Olympus. Kidnapped from her family in the dead of night. She was a Romani woman whose only sin was being born to a community who lived on land Olympus wanted. She was trained as a soldier, probably would’ve been sold as a wife to one of their politicians, but my father saw her and wanted her, so they gave her to him. Her name was Sena.” I smile.
“Sena Slade. Olympus sent them to a secret U.S. military base in Northern California. Anton was supposed to join their ranks and gather intel. Then, my mother had me, and she died of some mysterious disease three years later. My father was never the same after that and turned all his attention to his job and training me to be an asset to Olympus.” I sigh.
“Only, he was discovered by the FBI and convicted of espionage and domestic terrorism. But Olympus saved him. Rescued as they were transferring him to federal prison. And he never came back for me. After everything he put me through, after crafting me into this… this weapon. Turns out I was easily disposable.”
I look at some faded scars on my hand. I can’t even remember whether he gave them to me or I earned them by doing some mission for him. After all, child soldiers were great for a lot of things.
“I was abandoned, so I stole some money. Got on a bus and never even looked back. Survived on the streets for months before-”
“Before I found you. Knees to your chest, lying on the bus bench, shivering as the rain soaked through your clothes. Fucking hell, Nadia.” He palms his forehead.
“It’s all good, Pop. I don’t give a fuck. We just need to focus on why they’re here.”
“Why they came back, you mean.” He corrects.
“Yeah. I was doing some digging, and I found a connection to the Scorpions.” I lean forward.
“The Scorpions were working with Olympus?”
“More like they’re a subdivision of Olympus itself. Give me the go-ahead, and I’ll do some more digging. Chase these fucking Scorpions to Briarwood if I have to.”
“Then do it. But be very fucking careful, Nadia. No one finds out about this. Everything that was said here tonight stays between the two of us for now. The last thing I want is for Olympus to find out we’re sniffing around in their business.
And I don’t want them coming back for you either.
The second something goes wrong, or even fucking feels off, you stop. I fucking mean it, Nadia.” He orders.
“I hear you, Pop,” I promise.
“Loud and clear.”