Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
OPHELIA
My dad kicked all of us out of his house, but after some convincing from his new bride, my men could continue living under this roof.
It’s not fair.
I throw clothes into a bag, still crying uncontrollably. Atlas tries to hold me, but I push him away. When that doesn’t work, Ares wraps his arms around me from behind, squeezing me so tightly I can’t move.
“Baby, calm down. We’ll help you fix this.” His nose nuzzles my neck. “You don’t have to cry. It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not,” I snap, chucking the shirt in my hand onto the bed. “He disowned me. And can I blame him? He’s right.” I shake my head, angry with myself. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have walked into the den that night. I let this get out of control.”
I tug on his arms, and he releases me so I can spin around to look at the three of them. Apollo sits in the armchair by the window while Atlas lounges on the windowsill, staring at me.
“Chin up, goddess,” Atlas says with a cute smile. “This will all blow over. Give it time. Our mom will convince your dad to let you come home.”
“Yeah,” Apollo agrees. “This is only temporary. Stay with your uncle, and we’ll come for you when the time is right.”
I wipe the tears away and sniff. “He’s never going to forgive me. My dad wanted a family again. I fucked this up for him.”
Atlas gets up from the windowsill and crosses the room. “We will make this work.”
“Just give Belen time,” Apollo says, always the voice of reason. “You’re his only daughter. Once he calms down, he’ll let you come home.”
“I hope so,” I mutter.
They help me pack enough clothes and personal items for a month and follow me downstairs with my bags. My uncle will be here any minute, so I grab Ares by the shirt and press my lips to his.
He palms the back of my head and kisses me back, sucking the life from my body. Ares kisses me like he knows this is the last time we’ll ever see each other.
Nothing can fix us.
My dad will never allow us to be together, even if he forgives me.
As our lips separate, I lock eyes with him.
I want to kiss him again.
But I don’t.
My dad is probably watching us from the window overlooking the driveway.
I have to say goodbye.
It’s the middle of the night. A sliver of moonlight shines down on us through the trees.
I lean over and kiss Atlas seconds before my uncle Alexander pulls up beside me in a black Rolls-Royce Wraith.
As our lips separate, he glares at the Demetriou brothers.
I expect him to say something about their defiling his niece.
“Get in, my sweet girl.” He grins at me, but his gaze moves to Ares, silently declaring he’s won. “Uncle Alexander will take good care of you.”
What is with my uncle and the Demetriou brothers?
Ares grabs my arm when I reach for the door handle. He kisses me again, this time more passionately than before. “Call me in the morning, Little Dragon.”
He loads my bags into the car, and then I get inside.
My uncle peels away from the curb. “Your father thinks he can get rid of us so easily.” A crazed smirk tugs at his mouth. “We’ll see about that.”