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Ani grins and surveys the rest of the room. She admires the furniture and the art pieces, noting the details and craftsmanship.
“It’s like a little palace,” she says.
I smile at her remark, but I feel a twinge of sadness. It is a place where I can hide from the world and shield myself from all the ugly realities that come with living life on the outside.
Ani crosses over to one of my favorite paintings, an abstract landscape Athena picked up in Paris a few years ago. Its vibrant colors and unique style never fail to captivate me. My sister understands art, and she understands me. She knew it would be the perfect fit. I find it fascinating that it’s the first piece Ani goes to observe.
“It’s beautiful.” Her voice is filled with admiration.
“It is.” My eyes never leaving the painting. “My sister chose it, and it’s always been one of my favorites.”
Ani turns away from the artwork and looks at me, a gentle smile playing on her lips. I think she’s sensing how much this place means to me.
“It’s like your safe haven,” she says softly.
I nod, my throat suddenly tight.
“It is,” I whisper. “It’s where I come when I need to escape the chaos and find peace from Olympus. It’s a break from… memories.”
Ani returns to my side, takes my hand in hers, and squeezes it gently. Her touch is warm and comforting, and the approaching darkness takes a huge step back.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I know who it is without even having to see. “The bedroom is down that hallway.” I point as I pull out the phone. “Why don’t you go and settle in. Make yourself at home. I need to take this call.”
I wait until Ani is halfway down the hall and getting out of earshot to answer. When I hear the bedroom door close, I say into the phone, “Hello, Athena. Couldn’t give me ten minutes before checking in?”
“Who’s the woman?” she asks.
Leave it to my sister and her intensive intel. I don’t say anything to mostly tease her. It’s just a matter of time until she’d find out the answer on her own.
“I know you flew in the helicopter. I know you are at the penthouse. And I know you arrived with some mysterious woman. Who the fuck is she?”
I still don’t answer.
“Phoenix! This is serious. Have you run a background check on her? Had her sign an NDA? Who the fuck is this chick?”
“Ani Parker,” I answer.
“Daphne’s sister?” I hear her deep inhale. “Are you fucking her?”
I don’t answer, but I think my silence is answer enough.
“Holy shit. I figured you to be a eunuch or something. Damn.” She pauses. “So is it just fucking or something more?”
I’m not ready for this talk. I’m not ready to share Ani yet. I’ve liked keeping her all to myself.
Not waiting for an answer, Athena asks, “Does she know what that means? The Godwin family is like a thorny vine that is not going to ever let her go.”
“Ani and I will be staying here for a bit,” I say.
“Can you trust her?” Athena asks.
“As much as you can trust anyone.” I struggle not to say what I really want to. Yes. Yes, I can trust her.
“Okay… Phoenix?”
“Yes?”
“Are you happy? Right this second, are you happy?”
“I don’t know what happy feels like to say yes. But I’m feeling something,” I confess. “Something different than I’ve ever felt before.”
Chapter
Thirty
Ani
I shouldn’t have brought them—the journals—but I couldn’t leave them behind when Phoenix told me to pack my bags for Seattle. I have been reading them almost every night. I have developed a sort of kinship with Freya. I understand her, and through her words, I now truly understand Phoenix. He comes from the same level, if not more, of darkness I do. So much childhood pain. So much pressure from his father to be perfect. So much yelling, shouting, threats of everyone’s lives. Poor Freya was miserable. And from all the passages I read in the journals, it sounds like every member of the family is just the same.
Medusa Enterprises and Poseidon Industries are empires built on shattered souls. Skulls of their enemies are the bricks to the buildings.
The Godwins ranging from Troy’s branch of the tree to his two other brothers are toxic. The family tree is full of poison. And the island they own—Heathens Hollow—is the belly of hell. I have always thought the Eastside is the worst part of the island, but in fact the Eastside is simply poor. Hades truly rained down fire on the wealthy who reside here. So many secrets. So many torrid tales. And Freya knew them all.
When I met every Godwin at Daphne’s wedding, I felt so much less. I felt like a stain in their pool of pure white. But after everything I’ve read, I realize Phoenix is like me. He’s so much like me.
