I nod against his skin. “Better now.”
A pause.
“Still scared.” If he can admit he needs help, I can admit I’m still scared.
“You’re not alone with it.” He cleans us up before easing us into a more comfortable sprawl, my good side tucked into him, his arm wrapped around me.
My eyes drift shut. His breathing evens out beneath my ear, deep and heavy, exhaustion finally winning. I stay awake a little longer, listening to his heart, counting the beats like proof that we’re still here. That today didn’t break us.
Whatever tomorrow brings, I’ll face it. Not because I’m brave or unbroken. But because I’m not alone. Neither of us are. And for the first time since my injury, sleep doesn’t feel like hiding.
CHAPTER 50
Artemis
Ibarely slept, my hands are sweaty, and the breakfast Xavier essentially forced down my throat—with backup threats from my siblings—is threatening to come back up.
But I’m not alone. I’m sitting in the boardroom of the new company,ournew company. Mathias, Thiago, and Alejandro may be a little young for the roles they’ve been hired for, but I have full confidence they’ll excel in their areas of expertise if they’re given half a chance.
They’re eager, excited, and grateful to be given the opportunity to show their mettle. They know exactly why they’re here—and exactly how hard they’ll have to work to stay.
Thiago has been hired as our chief technical officer, Alejandro is our chief financial officer, and Matthias is chief human resources officer.
Big titles, big personalities, big expectations. And they’re right here next to me in the board room with the rest of our siblings.
The twins, Isabela and Lucía, are finishing out high school, and I’ve already told their mom that when they decidewhat to do next, to give me a call. They may not be my responsibility, but they are my family, and they deserve a seat at the table, too.
Alonso expects lawyers, maybe even just me alone, or maybe he thinks he’ll find Apollo posturing outside as a silent support. He does not expect a firing squad. Or maybe he does. Who knows? He seems to have been a step ahead on every aspect of this takeover from the get-go.
Apollo sits back, arms crossed, expression pleasantly lethal. Athena scrolls through a tablet like this is just another Tuesday. Ares lounges in his chair, his long legs stretched out, heels crossed on the edge of the table, ice cold violence coiled not too far under the surface. Mathias and Alejandro flank the far side, unreadable, perfectly still. And Thiago stands near the windows, arms folded.
It's funny, they haven’t been among us for long, but they fit in like they have always been here. It’s clear they were always meant to be. Alonso robbed us from having a relationship with our siblings for far too long, but he also robbed them of the chance to shine, to excel, to surpass their mothers’ needs for his money.
They all went to college—Thiago our little genius, ahead of his time. Talk about gifted and talented—they got good degrees, but the opportunities aren’t a dime a dozen anymore, and they’ve struggled to get off the ground in their respective industries. I can’t fucking wait to see how high they can soar.
We’ve also hired Thiago’s two older sisters into senior management, keeping the business well and truly in the family. And once this morning’s over, I’ll be proposing Alejandro’s mother for the position of CEO.
This company was created to be a family business, and somewhere along the way my father lost sight of that. I’m bringing it back.
And then there’s me, at the head of the table. Scramblingfor calm. Waiting. Feeling more supported than ever before… because I finally let them.
Alonso barges through the door and freezes—just for half a second. It’s long enough to tell me my plan worked. He’s off balance.
“Well.” He scoffs, recovering fast. “What’s this supposed to be? A coup?”
“No,” I say blandly. “An intervention.”
His gaze snaps to me, sharp and mean. He smiles like he’s about to enjoy this. “You don’t belong at that end of the table, Arte. That’s where the grownups sit.”
He doesn’t deviate from his script. He calls me a nickname to reduce me in size, mock me, sneer down his nose at me. But he’s underestimated me my whole life, and I have too. This time, however, it’s different. I might not fully believe in myself, but I’m surrounded by people who do, and I’m not letting him win.
Alonso de la Peña winning comes at too high a cost to my whole family. Over my dead fucking body.
Apollo chuckles. Ares cracks his knuckles. Athena doesn’t even look up. Alonso ignores them all. “This is still my company,” he continues, stepping forward. “You think you can sit there because you threw your money around like a dumb?—”
“I wouldn’t.” I interrupt quietly, though there’s still a razor-sharp edge to my words.
The room stills. Our father laughs, it’s hollow, fragile. “Wouldn’t what?”
