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"No." I shake my head.
There is so much more I want to say, but not enough to croak it out through a strained throat. He and the Hades Brotherhood cost me my home.
Laundering money for the Greek mafia is a losing proposition for me. The risks outweigh the rewards big time. If the authorities come knocking, it won't be Atlas and his brothers that end up under indictment. It will be me, their associate with no actual affiliation to their syndicate.
I know how these things work and I am expendable to them. To Atlas. Especially to Atlas. How can I be anything else when he was willing to use me like he did?
Regardless of how I feel about it, the Hades Brotherhood isn't going to let me refuse to launder their money through Nuovi Inizi. That's not how it works. They targeted my club and I'm still in their crosshairs.
Looking around my small studio apartment, at the life I thought I was changing, an idea begins to form. A solution to my dilemma that has the side benefit of being something that will infuriate Atlas.
I'm pretty sure his brothers aren't going to be any happier. That only makes my plan more attractive to me.
I am a woman with agency and tomorrow they will all learn how powerful that agency is. Under the layers of pain and betrayal, an ember of joyful vindication burns deep in my chest.
Finishing my tea, I stand and leave the mug on the table. "I'm going to bed. Let yourself out like you let yourself in."
Not waiting for Atlas to answer, I head to my bedroom and shut the door once I am inside. There is no lock, but I'm too tired to care.
I want to sleep, but I force myself to take a shower. I need to wash the work and stress sweat off my body. Not wanting to go to bed with wet hair, I pile my long tresses into a messy bun on top of my head before I step into the shower.
After drying off, for the first time in weeks, I pull on my comfy pajama pants and a sleep tank top.
Climbing into my bed, I'm so tired, I ache with it. But my mind still spins with everything that happened today and what it means for my life.
The sound of movement filters in from the outer room and I realize Atlas hasn't left. It's then I notice that the pillow he usually sleeps with is missing from the bed and so is the throw that I keep at the end of it.
The stubborn, arrogant man plans to spend the night. On the couch. That is at least a foot too short for him.
A grim smile tilts my lips.
Neither of us is going to get much sleep tonight.
~ ~ ~
I wake feeling safe, warm and surprisingly rested. The source of the heat against my back does not register at first, but then the weight circling my waist does.
Swearing, I throw myself out of the bed.
Atlas came into my room last night. After tossing and turning between stress dreams, I didn't even wake up. My body has not gotten the memo that he cannot be trusted.
He sits up instantly, looking around for a threat. "What?"
"What are you doing in my bed?"
"Your sofa is too short." He finger combs his tousled hair away from his face.
"For you."
"I was the one trying to sleep on it." He looks and sounds disgruntled. "I finally came in here a couple of hours ago."
It's the first time I've seen him wake up grumpy like this. Poor baby really didn't sleep well on the too short sofa. Sucks to be him.
"You have a bed the right size for you at your house. You should have gone there, not come into my bedroom uninvited."
"I didn't touch you."
"You sound proud of that fact."
