I dry off, put the towel into a bag that Ares gave to me—he’s like a regular CSI right now—and throw on some clean clothes they left out for me.
When I step into the living room, they’re all staring at me, poised, like animals ready to pounce.
“You’re not turning yourself in.”
I look at their shoes by the door since mine are in a bag only God knows where. I could run for it, but my body aches, it’s heavy and tired.
Their faces are firm, resolved, and Ares looks like he’s going to punch me if I try to push back.
“I don’t deserve this.”
Ares holds his hand up. “Para. Just don’t bother. You’re part of the family. You have been since you met the twins. Now you’re with Athena, that only solidifies something that already existed.”
He rakes his hair with speared fingers. “You took the hit for the family. Now it’s the family’s turn to protect you.”
My shoulders sag. “I should be sitting in a jail cell.”
“So should he.” It’s Artemis’s low growl who speaks next. “You’re a million times better than they are, Scott. And don’t forget that.”
Except I’m not. I’m a thug now too.
“We’re handling it, okay?” Apollo’s voice of reason cuts through the tension.
“None of this matters if it’s crossed a line with her.”
Ares shakes his head. “We’ll keep it from her.”
I can’t believe he’s offering to lie to his sister for me. It makes me want to cry and slap him.
“No. I’m telling her what I did, and if she doesn’t want to be with me because of it, then that’s it. But I’m not lying to her. And if the cops come calling at my door, I’ll tell them the tru… What the fuck?”
The more I stare at Apollo’s face the more I realize he’s got bruising on his jaw and a small cut above his eye.
“Pollo, what the hell happened to your face.”
He gestures at my knuckles. “You did, hermano. We got a little carried away with some bare-knuckle fighting.” He shrugs like he’s a fucking genius, but there’s no way it’s this easy.
“You’ve lost your mind.”
He smirks. “Haven’t we all? Trust us, hermano. You don’t deserve to rot in prison for doing something any red-blooded human with half a brain cell would have done too.”
Their words bring little comfort, because the only person I need to know is okay with what I’ve done is in the room down the hall. And until I hear from her, well, it feels like I’m a dead man walking.
CHAPTER 45
Athena
I’d love to say I’m not still skittish, but from the second my bedroom doorknob turns, I’m both awake and alert. And a dash beyond terrified.
“It’s just me.” Scott’s quiet voice breaks the silence, making me breathe easier. “Sorry for waking you up.”
“It’s okay.” I don’t move to sit up. Everything’s still sore, and I’m between doses of meds. If he wants me to sit up, he’s going to have to help me.
He sits on the edge of my bed, shifting his weight. Is something wrong? Has something happened?
I press my elbow into the bed to help push me up, but I groan, and he holds an arm out to steady me.
“What’s wrong?” His face is a mix of fear and anguish, and even though it’s not hugely bright in here, there’s a shadow on his cheek.