This is so fucking nice. Getting together with all of his siblings at once is not something we do often, but I’m hoping that will change. There’s a coziness here. Apollo has relaxed enough that his shoulders have stopped hugging his ears. His family is so important to him, but it’s clear from how they are settling into my space right now that they know I am important to him, too.
As his best friend they knew I was significant, but as his girlfriend... I don’t know. It feels like I might be becoming important to them, too.
Athena hands me the first card of the deal. “You should probably know that our dad is a cheating fucker, and we’ve recently discovered that we have half-siblings.”
No one breathes, no one moves, the air grows so thick and stifling I can’t breathe. Apollo’s hand stops moving on my hairy leg, and his face falls like he might break at her words.
My beautiful prince of darkness has been here for me for months. And from the pain etched on his face, it’s he who needs me now.
CHAPTER23
Apollo
My siblings won’t go the fuck away and leave me the fuck alone. They’ve decided to crash for the night at my place across the hall. They seem to think news of my father’s indiscretions might drive me to, I dunno, drive over and punch him or something.
I can’t deny that it’s tempting.
Ironically, I’m not even the hot-head of the group, nor the enforcer. When I get into fights on the ice people think it’s hilarious. I generally leave life’s throw-downs to my brothers. How Ares can even move with those big pads strapped to his legs, let alone fight… anyway, it’s not my jam. As much as I can be a petty fucker, I’m a lover, not a fighter.
There’s a nagging tug in my chest to confront Papá, though. But that would mean actually talking to him. For all his bullshit aboutfamily first... my stomach lurches. Just how big is his fucking family, anyway?
The wheels in my head spin so fast I can barely keep up. His betrayal of Mamá sours in my gut. Does she know? Has she met the other women? The other children?
Fuck. Raking my hands through my hair, I shudder. What am I supposed to do with this information? How am I supposed to reconcile the father we know, with this... this...pendejo?
A feather-light touch glides up my jaw, bringing me back to sitting on the couch with my girl. Her face is scrunched up as she regards me, head tilted, lips downturned, grey eyes swimming with concern.
Golden strands from her ponytail have fallen loose, framing her face, in the light, the smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks are more pronounced. They’re one of my favorite things about her.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Her voice is soft, like she’s been watching me in silence for a while.
I can’t let her into my head right now. No matter what she says about sharing my burden, she has enough on her plate. And if turnabout is fair play, then she’s kept some things of her own to protect me lately. What would I even say? My father is acabrón? From working with him, I knew he was an asshole in business. And even growing up, he wasn’t the warmest of fathers to any of us—except Athena—but he’s dickish to her in other ways.
I had no idea how good an actor he was, until my siblings told me the truth about his secret life of getting multiple women knocked up. He looks at Mamá like she hung the fucking moon. Does he look at those other women the same way?
My brothers and I are no saints, but we’ve never cheated. If Ares had ever been in a committed relationship before Eloise, he’d have cheated, but monogamy has always been important to us. It doesn’t take a therapist to deduce that was because of the strong marriage between our parents.
Except it wasn’t strong, was it? How can anything be strong if the foundations are rotten?
“Pollo?”
I’m back in my thoughts. Lost in the cycle of cheating and betrayal. “I’m sorry,princesa.” I cup her face, drawing a sigh from her as her eyes flicker closed for a beat.
“What can I do?” Her voice is so pained it almost shatters my heart. “Tell me how I can help.”
“Nothing,mi amor.You can’t. I need to process it all and figure out a way through.” I just hope that I can.
CHAPTER24
Edith
Idon’t accept that.
When Apollo tells me there’s nothing I can do, sure, my stomach swoops like it’s going to hit the deck, but I. Don’t. Accept. That. There’s always something that can be done. Always.
He’s been my rock, not only for the past few months since the crash, but since forever. I refuse to let his asshole father shit on everything Apollo is working so hard to build. I refuse to let him be torn down by some douche nozzle who doesn’t deserve his time.
If I wasn’t all casted up, I’d throw my leg over him and grind on him until he forgot not only his family woes, but damn near everything else, too. It’s tempting, but that vase on the coffee table in front of us would absolutely be a victim if I tried to swing my leg anywhere. This sucker is heavier than it looks, even though they claimed at the hospital that it was lightweight. I can’t fucking wait to get my boot in a few weeks.
