Page 40 of Obsessed with Her

"I want to talk to you, sir. I'm sick," she says, without preamble, confirming what I already suspected. "But I don't want Serenity to know . . . yet. I would really like to go with you to New York tomorrow, but I can't."

"Do you need something?"

"No. The salary you pay me is more than generous, as is the health insurance—first-class. The only thing I want to ask of you, actually beg of you, is to take care of her."

"That is my intention."

She gives me another nod. "Yes, I believe you, but I'm not just talking about her safety. Serenity grew up alone at that school. She has an immense ability to withdraw into herself. All the discipline she maintains, like eating little, sleeping for as long as she decides, and the endless hours she spends practicing ballet...I worry that it's a kind of defense she’s created. She protects herself from living by pretending that she is living."

"What do you mean?"

"Ballet is her safe place. She doesn't risk going a step further. She's twenty years old, but she hasn't lived yet."

"And what about Otis?"

Instead of responding immediately, her lips form a thin line.

"Madam?"

"He's just a boy. Nice but spoiled. He isn’t good enough for her. Serenity doesn't love him, if you ask me. What I'm asking, and I don't even know if I have the right, is that you make sure she lives a little. That’s within your role as a guardian, right?"

I don't know what to say, so I change the subject. "Why don't you come to New York with us? If you are sick, I can make sure you have the best treatment possible."

"I am fine. Just tired. She is starting a new life. Fulfilling her biggest dream, which is to become the prima ballerina of that dance company. The time has come for her to walk alone

Ares

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The next day

In a few hours,we will board a flight back to New York. Our private plane is already on the tarmac waiting, but before we go, we have a meeting. In fact, I was surprised that he hadn’t gotten in touch before, since he’s a friend of Christos.

Hades and I get out of the car at what appears to be an old mansion. The property is immense, almost a small city, and guarded as well as a fortress.

We barely take a few steps and the main door opens. There’s a man standing there, and although I can’t see his face because it’s against the light, I know who he is: Beau Carmouche-LeBlanc, whom my brother Zeus calls the “King” of New Orleans.

According to Christos, a needle doesn’t fall on the ground in the city without his knowledge.

He finally starts walking towards us, but I’m surprised when Hades steps forward and greets him. That’s when I’m sure mysuspicions are correct. My little brother is keeping secrets from us, and they involve Serenity’s town.

“You must be Ares,” Beau says, giving me the confirmation I needed that he’s met Hades before.

“Yes,” I respond, accepting the hand he offers me. I don’t know what I expected. Some kind of mobster, perhaps? Those types romanticized by Hollywood?

The man in front of me looks like a businessman, like so many others I’ve met. Like us, he exudes wealth, but there is nothing in his features that shows he is dangerous, which, from what I know of his life so far, gives me the assurance that he is.

I’m not naïve.

Men like Beau and Odin fly under the radar. Father, husband, cousin, uncle. A respected family man and businessman. If you just look at the surface, that’s what you’ll find, but there are many layers beneath.

“How is your ward?” he asks, without any explanation of how he knows about Serenity.

“Out of danger. Flying with me to New York in a few hours.”

He nods. “Shall we go inside?”

We start walking alongside him and soon reach the hall. There is a woman kneeling on the floor, collecting toys—rubber ducks and balls—indicating that he has children.

---