Page 77 of God of War

“Ares, what is this?” I ask.

“This is retribution,” he replies, holding Dad’s gaze. Dad looks at him like a caged wolf — bloodthirsty, desperate, but ultimately toothless.

“This…” He seems to look up and over Dad’s head. It signals Reaper, who steps around and hands Ares the gun. “This is me finally doing what I should have done a long time ago.”

I slam back into my body, adrenaline pumping. Lurching forward, I pull Ares to his feet and force him back alongside me.

“No, no, you can’t do this. This is… Fuck, we’re in your house, Ares. Your Gran’s house. There is a zero percent chance you’ll get away with this. I need to be the one to do it. That way, you’ll be protected.”

My hand slides along his arm, but he knows what I’m doing and jerks away before I can grab the gun. All the while, Dad seems to have sprung to life, making high screaming noises against his gag.

Ares laughs bitterly. “Delaney, you came to me seven years ago, asking me — begging me — to protect you. I wasn’t ready to understand then, and I’m so fucking sorry, but I promise…” He thumbs away the tears I didn’t feel cascading down my face. “I promise I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

I take a shaky breath. “How can you do that from prison?”

Ares kisses me. Sweet, gentle. When he stops, he rests his forehead against mine. His eyes are everything. I’m captured in icy gray, the rest of the world dropping away. I feel my guilt slipping away with it, finally accepting that this is the gift Ares is giving me. My God of War, coming to my rescue.

“Time to say goodbye to your father, Delaney.”

I nod and Ares steps back, the space yawning coldly between us. Ares spins and tears the duct tape off Dad’s mouth. Dad yowls in pain, spittle flying with every ragged breath.

“You son of a bitch,” he croaks. “The Wastelanders are finished. There is nowhere on this earth you won’t be hunted, do you hear me? Do you fucking hear me, Warner?”

But Ares isn’t looking at him. He’s staring right at me, a softness across his features that is so stunningly rare that he almost looks like a different person. I tear my eyes away from him and look at Dad, who finally seems to realize that Ares isn’t the one in control here.

I am.

Everything about him changes, like a chameleon finding the right color to hide in. His eyes go soft, his head tilted in a pathetic, pleading gesture. He takes a breath. Licks his papery lips.

“Del, honey… Daddy’s sorry, okay. You know that I love you — you know that.”

“Do I?”

Dad beams, like he’s finally broken through to me. He tries to shuffle the chair closer; it scrapes just a little on the floor.

“Yes. Yes, you do. And I love you too. That’s how I know you’re not gonna let your own Daddy die. So, just… Just untie me and you and I can walk outta here together, okay?”

I stare at him for so long that I wonder if time itself has stopped. Nobody moves, nobody breathes. This man, once so big and terrifying, is coughing up snot and, let’s face it, has probably already pissed his pants. He doesn’t scare me anymore. Dad’s hopeful smile falters. Fades.

“You gonna say anything to your old man?”

My eyes move easily away from him, as if they’ve already forgotten he’s there, and instead I look at Ares.

“Thank you.”

He nods. From the corner of my eye, I see Reaper lunge for Dad’s back, whipping a thin wire around his neck. I don’t care enough to watch. I just leave the room to the sound of a pathetic, quiet struggle and I finally feel free.

Epilogue

Six Months Later

“Airy, hurry up!” Lilly shrieks as she runs for the car, twin braids bouncing with every step. Ares is a couple of strides behind her and lunges forward when she steps off the curb.

“Not on the road, Jesus fucking Christ!” He grabs her under the arms and swings her back onto the pavement. “What is it with you and your goddamn sister always trying to get yourselves killed?”

Lilly lands on her feet with a thump. She spins to face him, her peals of laughter a delightful song in my ears.

“That’s two! Two cokes!”

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