AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The cop I don’t know, Officer Matthews, narrows his eyes at me. “Where were you tonight around eighty-thirty this evening, Miss Drakos?”
“I was at my uncle’s house,” I tell him. “Alexander Drakos. I was watching TV when I saw the fire at the club and rushed over here to check on my dad.”
“Alex is on his way,” Lawrence tells me. “He had much to say when I spoke to him on the ride over here.”
My heart beats faster, sweat sliding down my back as I look at the officers. Something is wrong. Their gazes keep moving between Athena and her sons.
Then back to me.
If Uncle Alexander is coming here, he’s already told the police what he thinks about Athena. He believes she only married my dad to trick him out of his money and my inheritance. All of that is true. But after reading my mother’s letter, I know there’s more to the story.
Fuck.
Until they find my dad’s body, he’s still alive. So, I won’t allow the grief to watch over me. I have to hold myself together and try to remain calm. The cops survey me with suspicious looks, even Lawrence, who was always a family friend.
Is he not on Dad’s payroll anymore?I’m discovering much I don’t know about my dad and his life. He has kept so many secrets from me.
Kicked me out.
Disowned me.
Why is it so hard to stop loving someone, even when their actions prove they don’t love you back?
ChapterFourteen
ATLAS
The front door slams,and seconds later, Alexander Drakos appears in the kitchen, dressed in a five-thousand-dollar suit.
He rushes straight to Ophelia. “My sweet girl,” he whispers, yanking her away from Ares with possession. “How are you?”
“Not good.” She wraps her arms around his neck and cries on his shoulder. “Uncle Ale, Dad is… dead. He’s…” Ophelia chokes on each word. “And we left things on a bad note. I didn’t get to tell him that I love him.”
“I’m here now.” He kisses her head. “It’s going to be okay. Your dad knew how much you loved him. And he loved you.” Alexander kisses her again. “Come home with me. I’ll handle the necessary arrangements for your father.”
We were planning to move Ophelia back into the house after she watched the video of her mom. And since she hasn’t done that yet, she doesn’t know the truth about Alexander. She doesn’t fully understand why we unintentionally hurt her.
It wasn’t just our revenge.
We did this for her, too.
Alexander offers his hand to Officer Matthews, and they shake hands like old friends, patting each other on the back. They exchange pleasantries and talk about the case. The remains found at the club and if they are possibly my father’s dead body. I block out their conversation, not ready to accept reality. Until the coroner pronounces him dead, my father is still alive.
And that gives me hope.
After the cops leave the kitchen, Alexander tugs on Ophelia’s hand and pulls her toward the exit. “We’re leaving. This disgusting relationship with your stepbrothers can’t continue.”
“We’re not her stepbrothers, are we Alexander?” Ares steps forward, hands on his waist, glaring at Alexander. “But you already knew that.” He reaches for her hand and misses by an inch because Alexander pulls her back. “Ophelia is staying with us. This is her home.”
Ares is so desperate to keep her. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone else. He’s in love with her. There’s no denying it. All of us have feelings for her. She makes it hard not to love her.
“Keep your filthy hands to yourself and get out of my way,” Alexander growls in Ares’s face, peeling his fingers off Ophelia’s arm. “You arenother family.”
Ares points a finger at his chest, then at me and Apollo. “We’re her family now.”
Alexander pushes out his palm to create distance between Ares and Ophelia. “Stay away from my niece. You will end up behind bars if you come anywhere near her.”
“Niece?” I say to break the silence once and for all. We agreed to tell Ophelia the truth when the time was right. “How about you stop lying to Ophelia?”
