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“Yes.”
He nods. “We’re leaving for Miami in the morning, but I thought that was with dad, not you. You’re to wait here with Melissa until she’s required. At least that’s the plan.”
“Not anymore.”
I hate the disappointment in his eyes as I say roughly, “I’m going with you. If Melissa wants to put herself in danger, I’m not putting my heart on the line. It ends now, whatever this is.”
“You’re walking away when she needs you.”
Apollo shakes his head in disappointment.
“What?”
He growls, “I hoped you were better than that, Adonis. Obviously not.”
“You did the same, if I remember rightly.”
He sighs. “That was different. I did it because I’m in fucking love with someone else.”
“You think I’m in love with her?”
I laugh softly. “I wouldn’t understand the meaning of the word. No. I don’t love, I lust, and that’s all this is. I am in lust with Melissa, and I thought fucking her into oblivion would cure that. I was wrong, so I’m removing myself from the situation for both our sakes.”
Apollo says nothing and just stands. Leaving with a derisory look in my direction. As he hovers by the door, he growls, “One day, Adonis, you will have to face up to your actions. You will look back and realize you missed out and the only thing left in your life is your arrogant, misguided fear.”
He slams the door and I consider what he said.
Fear. He got that right.
I am fearful of letting anyone in because I still haven’t recovered from the pain of losing my mom. Apollo is in hell because he opened his heart, and my father has never been the same. I will not be one of them and if it means turning my back on the only woman I have ever considered mine, I will do it in a heartbeat to protect myself.
We leave before the dawn breaks and my heart is heavy knowing Melissa is sleeping, blissfully unaware that I’m walking out on her. I’m leaving her probably angry and confused and yet it’s kinder this way.
My father is thoughtful. Then again, he’s been doing that a lot lately and as Apollo jumps into the truck, he pulls me back and says softly, “It takes a real man to face up to his emotions. It makes you stronger.”
“Is that what you think?” I shrug. “I don’t know what you are talking about. All I want is to bring Phoebe home.”
“Are you sure about that?” He cocks his brow. “I’ve watched you since Melissa came to stay. You deny yourself something that only comes along once, sometimes never in a lifetime. Don’t be blind to a situation that will make a great man greater. Trust your emotions to guide you down the right path.”
“I am.” I turn away and say over my shoulder, “I’ll see you in Miami.”
As I jump in after my brother, I actually hate myself. I’m cold as a defense mechanism that I set in place after mom died. I may have been tempted by the woman sleeping upstairs, but I will turn my mind to what I do best and bring my brother’s heart back to him, at the expense of my own.
CHAPTER 49
MELISSA
It’s been a week since Adonis left, and I am still getting over it.
Dimitri has been a good companion. He is kind, considerate, and I can see where his sons get their charm and he even attempted to reassure me that Adonis is merely working things out. That he must attend to business before pleasure, and it will work out in the end.
I nodded in all the right places, but deep down I realize why he left. He doesn’t want anything that involves his heart. He told me; he warned me and left me under no illusions, and I can only blame myself.
I’ve thought a lot about my family, my life and the choices I’ve made since I’ve been here. It’s that kind of place; sort of a retreat for the mind.
My days were spent sunbathing and swimming, the odd walk on the beach and a ride out with Dimitri on occasions.
We dine together and he tells me stories of Apollo and Adonis and his wife Sylvana. I encouraged him to talk about her. To build up a picture in my mind of what happens when a loving family is torn apart.
