Athena’s face pinches with concern. Few people in this world can make her features look like that. She’s the walking embodiment of family first. Blood family and found family. When Hen brings you in, you’re in.
Eloise, for example. Now that Athena has accepted her into our ranks, that’s it. Even if the worst should happen between mytesoroand me, Athena will always and forever have a place for Eloise in her life. It’s who she is.
Her circle is small by design, but those in it have the protection of a mother dragon. She also idolizes Papá. I really don’t want to bring this shit to her door. It was bad enough when we had to tell her Santa Claus isn’t real.
“I can’t help you if I don’t know what you’re facing.” There is no censure in her eyes, no accusation lacing her voice. My parents generally assume I’m up to no good. I get it—there were a few years where I absolutely was a shit, but theyalwaysbelieve I’ve done something, or am doing something, or need bailing out from something.
Athena gives me the benefit of the doubt, and I appreciate that. She doesn’t assume it’s me who has fucked up. Because for once, it isn’t.
“Come on,hermanito.” She plonks herself on the edge of the perfectly made bed and pats the space beside her. “Tell me what has your panties in a bunch.”
I grin, pausing to stroke the soft fabric in my pocket before I sit beside her. Even that helps me feel somewhat better. “I don’t think I can, Hen.” I avoid looking at her. “I don’t want to hurt you."
She loops her arm through mine and rests her head on my shoulder. “What are big sisters for if not to help you when you need it?” She snorts. “And to kick your ass when you’re beingun culo.”
I don’t fight the smile that breaks out on my face, but it’s short lived. “It’s about Papá.”
She stiffens beside me. I can’t look at her, but she stays quiet.
“I think we have a half-brother, Athena.” As soon as the words are out, a knot that’s been sitting heavily on my chest for weeks untangles a little bit.
She doesn’t gasp, doesn’t rear back, she doesn’t react at all. My heart trips inside my body, pulse racing too fast. Is she in shock?
I give her a beat to process, but her face doesn’t change. Wait… She knew? She knew about Thiago, and she didn’t tell us?
I know. Rationally, I can’t be upset with her because I’ve known for a while too. And her MO is to run interference and protect us, usually from ourselves, sometimes our parents. But this… She’s protecting Papá. And I’m less okay with that.
She sighs against me. “I was wondering if Mathias would reach out to you since he’s not too much younger than you are.”
Mathias? Who the fuck is Mathias?
My stomach sinks. This… this can’t be. Surely Papá wasn’t stupid enough to wet his dick intwowomen who weren’t Mamá and get thembothpregnant.
What the fuck? Maybe he didn’t care about Mamá and whether she found out about his dalliances or not.
No amount of deep breathing could calm me down in this moment. “Hen, it wasn’t someone called Mathias. It was a boy called Thiago.”
That makes her rear back as a kaleidoscope of emotion rolls across her face: confusion, betrayal, soul-deep pain, anger; the gang’s all there.
“No. H-he said that was the only one. He said Mathias was the only one, Ares.” Her world literally falls apart in front of my face. Turning to my sister about this was supposed to make me feel better, but instead, I’ve destroyed everything for her. I should have stayed the fuck quiet.
Her face falls, her jaw trembles, and her eyes well with tears she doesn’t seem to fight as they course down her cheeks. I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen Athena cry. She’s theGoddess of Warfor fuck’s sake. But right here, right now, as I snake my arms around her, pulling her close, I’m not sure if she’s ever going to stop.
After a few long and heart aching moments, she lengthens her spine and meets my eyes. I’m still shirtless, so her cold tears are trickling off her face and down my chest. She wipes her cheeks with the heels of both hands and sniffs. Shaking her head, she sniffs again.
The transformation back to cool, calm, and collected Athena happens right in front of me, which makes me wonder how often this happens. I’ve never seen anyone recover from crying like that so quickly.
“You confronted him?”
She nods. “Damn straight I did. I might idolize the man, but I won’t have him tell me to keep my knees together and not embarrass the family since I was thirteen fucking years old, while he’s out whoring around knocking people up.” Her voice has a hard, bitter edge to it.
I can’t really blame her. That’s pretty fucked up.
“We need to find them, Ares. We need to figure out the extent of his… conquests. We need to protect Mamá.”
I’m surprised the last one makes it onto her list. Athena has always been a daddy’s girl, and her relationship with Mamá is probably best described as tumultuous. Mamá is always criticizing and picking on the smallest of things when it comes to Hen, and Athena almost always takes Papá’s side.
“We should tell the twins.”
