Page 66 of London Has Fallen

“What?”

“You are the better choice, brother, I know it, she knows it and so do you.” I shake my head denying what he says without words. “You offer her safety, comfort and will bend to her will. I can’t offer her those things because as long as Costa breathes, she will never be safe with me. I can’t offer her the comfort you can because I have demons of my own that haunt me. I can never bend to her will because she doesn’t need someone who will submit to her every whim, she needs a challenge and I do that for her. I’m the wrong choice but she still chose me. I have given my all to doing everything for you, Adonis, Ares and Apollo. I’ve never taken something for myself or had anything of my own?—”

“You have Blake,” Cronos says smugly. Artemis lazily rolls his head to the side to look at the triplets who suddenly find the ceiling and floor more interesting.

“Oh my God, you three ran a train on the blonde whore!” I say gleefully, they all cringe and shoot their brother a sheepish look. Fuck yes, that blonde bitch is gone, no coming back from that one, you dirty little rat.

“Blake was never something I wanted. She was just a constant and someone outside of the four of you to speak to. But she is different, I want her more than anything and I won’t let her go without a fight. I have given the four of you everything you have ever wanted but I’m keeping this one thing for myself.”

“You’ve never done anything for us!” Cronos roars. I’ve had enough of this whole being talked about while I stand here and not say anything, so I push between the twins ignoring the protests of my family as I stare up at my best friend. I can see the hurt in his eyes and I hate that I didn’t realize sooner that our friendship meant something different to him and I was too dense to see that. I tentatively reach out and place my hand on his chest, he instantly softens at my touch, I feel Artemis tense behind me.

“Nos.” A shuddering breath leaves him and I feel like an utter bitch but I’ve never had to deal with anything like this before. “I love you.” I feel Artemis deflate behind me but I can’t worry about him right now. I can feel everyone’s gaze on us, the most noticeable being my dad’s because I can feel his trigger finger itching to shoot both guys just to make sure I don’t have a chance of being nailed by one of them. “I meant everything I said to you when I said I wanted us to be besties. You are the only friend I have ever had outside of my family. Shit, I’ve never wanted a friend until I met you.”

“Just a friend?” he says quietly. I suck in a deep breath and force myself to carry on. I don’t know how people can deal with this shit all the time, it’s fucking exhausting and awkward and I don’t like it.

“You think because he’s your twin that I will see him through you but the truth is, you two look nothing alike to me. Neither do the triplets. I can tell the difference between the five of you with ease. To the outside world they may confuse the both of you but not me. I see you as my best friend but I see him as…” I bite my lip unsure how to continue.

“See me as what?” Artemis huskily whispers behind me. I close my eyes for a second before slowly opening them again and doing what Aunt Meelz and Artemis have told me, I won’t hide my feelings anymore.

“My friend.” I hear him scoff behind me in annoyance. “My partner, someone who will push me to never change to fit the world. He sees me as me, not as Royal Murdoch’s daughter or Bishop’s granddaughter, he’s always just seen me. Can you say the same?” I see he wants to lie so I pin him with a look begging him to be straight with me.

“I knew who you were the moment you walked into the club.” I nod.

“I know, I saw it in your eyes when you served me.”

“What if I didn’t see you as that anymore and I saw you?” Fuck, this shit sucks!

“You do see me now but you see the side of me no one else gets to see. You saw me break, no one has ever seen that, Nos, I mean that honestly.” His brows raise at my declaration. “My own father and mother have never seen what you did in that hotel room.”

“You thought I was Artemis,” he says bitterly.

I shake my head. “I saw you. Did I wish it was him? Yes. But at that moment, it wasn’t my family or your brother I needed, it was you, my best friend. I’ve never had someone I could rely on and call to talk about shit except for my aunts but I know there is only so much I can tell them. With you, I never have to hide anything. I love you, I really do, but not in the way you want me to.”

“This whole her being sweet thing is fucking weird.” I peer around Nos and glare at Uncle Chaos.

“Just so you know, he isn’t a saint.” I roll my eyes and turn my back to Cronos to face Artemis, his gaze bores into mine, the lustful look in his eyes has me fighting back a groan and forcing myself not to clench my thighs to ease the ache beginning to form between my legs. I push all thoughts of him pinning me against the wall and slamming inside me from my head.

“Take your shirt off.”

“London!” Dad shouts. I turn to him.

“It’s not what you think, Dad, just trust me.” I turn back to Artemis who looks torn. “Show them, let them see what you sacrificed.” He shakes his head.

“I can’t,” he mutters.

“What is she talking about, Art?” Ares asks as he and the other two creep in closer to us.

“Nothing,” he clips out.

“Pretty boy, either you take it off willingly or I jab you in the gut and rip it off you.”

“You need therapy,” he grits out.

“I’ve said that for years,” Dad mutters. I shoot him a glare but notice even he has crept in closer to us.

“I’m telling Mom.” He screws his face up.

“Snitch.” I ignore my dad and focus back on Artemis.

---