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I hold her so damn close to me and press my lips to her head. So fucking relieved to have her here. To know she’s ready to start taking her life in her own hands. “You know, I told my dad aboutyou last week. Told him I was in love with you. And do you know what he said?”
She shakes her head and buries her face in my chest, completely clueless of the strength she’s giving me right now.
“He told me I was named after the goddamned god of war. And that love was the only thing in the world worth fighting for.”
She presses her lips to the center of my chest, then looks up at me with tears pooling in those big aqua eyes. “I’m sorry it took me so long to fight for us, god of war.”
“I’m sorry I left, baby.” I lift her chin with my finger and brush my lips over hers.
“Ares . . .” Everly’s voice carries from the door.
Shit. Guess she knows now.
GRACE
Ipress my lips to Ares’s one more time.
“She’s standing behind us, right?” Even knowing she’s there doesn’t scare me the way it would have weeks ago. Not when I’m in Ares’s arms, after being unsure I’d ever get to be here again.
“Yeah, baby.” He runs his big hand over my head and down my hair.
“I love you, god of war,” I whisper before I turn to face her. “Hey, sissy. How are the kids and Cross?”
My beautiful sister is standing at the top of the steps, confusion clearly written on her face. “Well, Gracie, they’re heartbroken. Everyone is. But not everyone is kissing my sister. Want to get your hands off her, god of war?”
Ares brushes his lips over my ear. “I’ll play nice if you need me to and go inside because I love you, baby. But don’t you dare leave, got it?”
I could cry with how happy his words make me. It’s like being bathed in the sun after standing in the dark for too long.
“I’m done playing nice.” I slide my hand into his and hold my ground. “I’m so sorry, Evie. I never wanted you to find out thisway. But now really isn’t the time to deal with everything. Can we fight about this later?”
Her eyes lock on our joined hands like a heat-seeking missile.
“I’m sorry,what? Wedon’targue. You and I never argue. What are you even talking about? What didn’t you want me to find out? And why the hell is he holding your hand?”
“Everly.” Cross steps out onto the porch, and my heart sinks. “What’s going on?”
I’m pretty sure this is what Callen would call a shit show.
“Your brother was just kissing my sister.”
Cross looks down at us, confused.
“Seriously. We don’t need to do this now. You guys just need to get through the week. I’ll go back to the hotel with Nixon,” I tell them, not wanting to make any of what Ares and his family are dealing with any harder than it already is.
“Nixon is here?” my sister asks.
At the same time, Ares squeezes my hand in his. “You’re not staying in a hotel.”
One day, I’ll tell him how those words helped heal my broken heart.
“She’s not?” Cross asks, then the screen door opens behind him, and Bellamy walks out.
“I’ve got warm banana bread, if anyone wants some.” She looks around, and where I’m expecting to see exhaustion or confusion, there’s a smile.
“Took you long enough, good twin. Try not to let him go this time.” She lifts the plate a little higher. “Banana bread?”
“No, thank you,” I tell her as my stomach rolls, and my sister’s head looks like it’s about to blow.
