Page 96 of The Arrogant's Surrender

“Athanasios, don’t go yet. I need to talk to you,” Zeus says before I leave the room.

“What is it?”

“First, I want you to know that what I’m about to say isn’t coming from an enemy. I have nothing against you.”

“Just say it. I don’t like cryptic conversations, Zeus.” I already have a good idea of what he’s going to say, and I’m only still standing here out of respect for the fact that I know he’s trying to protect Brooklyn.

“I know you two had a fight, and I also know she’s hurting.”

I don’t say anything, even though I feel like shit knowing I’m the cause of her pain. I’ve held back these past few days to giveher the space she needs, but after seeing her again today, I know I won’t be able to stay away any longer.

“Don’t become a constant presence in her and the twins’ lives if you don’t intend to stay long-term.”

I feel my jaw tighten, and I have to remind myself silently that if I were in his shoes, I’d do the same. Zeus is just trying to protect his family. “I’m not playing with Brooklyn, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I respect your house, Kostanidis, and that’s the only reason I haven’t turned my back and left you talking to yourself. But I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“This isn’t about you. It’s about taking care of my sister-in-law.”

“It has everything to do with me. Brooklyn is mine.”

“For what? What are your intentions? She’s been through enough crap already.”

“Good night, Zeus.”

“Fuck, this isn’t personal!”

Even as I hold back my anger, I can’t help but understand his side. “I’m not playing with her. I don’t have a heart, or if I do, it’s damaged, but I’m not an asshole. I can get sex with a phone call. Brooklyn has become so much more. I’m not saying this again. I’ve never explained myself to anyone, and I’m not about to start now, but if you want some unsolicited advice, here it is: stop treating her like a victim. She’s not. On the contrary, she’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

I barely take a step toward the other room before coming face-to-face with the woman who dominates all my thoughts.

“Athanasios, what happened in there? Why were you all together?” she asks.

Since she woke up earlier today, she’s kept a relative distance from me. I think it was only the surprise of seeing me that made her react so warmly at first.

Silas and Soraya are holding her hands, but when the little boy sees me, he lets go and clings to my legs again.

“He wants to be held,” she says. “You don’t have to pick him up. I just wanted to say good night because I’m putting them to bed. Thank you . . . uh . . . for coming.”

I hate the formality in her voice. Any formality between us.

I crouch and pick up the boy, who wraps his arms around my neck. “I’ll come up with you to their room. There’s something I want to talk to you about afterward.”

Before our fight, every time I picked her up to stay the night with me, I helped her put the kids to bed first. After tucking each of them into their little beds, I would stand by the door, watching her read them a story. It’s only at this moment that I realize how much I’ve missed this.

I close my eyes and listen to her voice. It’s hard to control myself with Brooklyn so close. Every cell in my body screams that she belongs to me.

Before she even gets halfway through the book, they’re already asleep.

She stands and walks over to me. “They sometimes just shut off, like someone’s flipped a switch to ‘off.’”

Just like the earlier formality, I don’t like this casual tone. I don’t want casual—I want my passionate woman back. The one who shivers from a simple brush of my lips against her ear.

Without saying a word, I intertwine our fingers, saying to hell with the days of distance between us.

When we reach the hallway, I stop her. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”

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