Page 28 of Caged Heart
Carmen looked at me first, and I couldn't vocalize anything.
Don't touch him, Carmen. Please don't.
My mind conjured up thoughts of me crying in the closet as I hid from him. Holding on tight to it so that he couldn't open it. I didn't feel safe anywhere else but that particular closet… Mars's closet. Dad never found me there because Mars would pretend not to know where I was, but that last time, the one time I needed him the most, he ratted me out, and dad beat me so badly I thought I died.
I didn't know that I didn't wake up for days, which sent Artemis to do what she did. She defended me, and dad locked her in a cage because he said she behaved like an animal. He didn't do anything to Mars because Mars was his favorite, and he was molding him to be just like him.
The ringing of the diner doorbell sounded and got my attention. My eyes moved to the door, and I raced Mars. Why was he out of breath?
He walked up to us and stepped in between my dad and me.
"You're causing a scene. You need to leave. People are starting to wonder what our Prime Minister is doing here." Mars reminded our dad about his position and a position that he's had because of us and Artemis. "He doesn't have to do what you want him to."
I didn't ask for his fucking protection. Gaining momentum, I stand, pulling the cash and more out of my wallet. I dropped it on the table and moved around to Carmen. I'm careful not to be touched by him, and he would set me off if even a slight bump occurred between us.
I reached out for Carmen's hand. She didn't hesitate as she slipped her hand into mine.
"Don't fucking look for me again," I growled at my father and walked out.
"Ares! Wait!"
Mars yelled out. I turned to face him, and I shoved him when he was close enough.
"Don't pretend to be this fucking person who cares. You should've told me he was in town."
"I didn't know," Mars said. I didn't believe him. He liked to fuck with me, and this was one way to do it.
I gave him a pointed look.
"Okay, I knew, but I didn't know he knew where you were. I would have never put you and him in the same room. I'm sorry."
I glared at him, and my eyes went to the diner door as my father stepped out. His security detail stood near him, but he didn't move an inch as he stared at me. He was trying to be intimidating, and it was working. Mars stepped into my line of vision to cut off the start of a blackout.
"Go. Whatever he asks you to do, don't do it."
Mars looked at Carmen quickly and then back to me as if warning me about something.
"Tell him if he tries to do what I think he will do, I'll put him down myself. I'm serious this time. No more games."
Mars nodded, agreeing with me.
My father may be the nightmare in my dreams, but I'd kill him before he transferred it to Carmen.
Chapter18
Carmen
Something went down in the diner, and I didn't know what it was. The look of mortification that was plastered all over Ares's face made me want to jump into action, but I didn't because there was a look in Ares's eyes that told me not to.
I knew what a predator was like. What their eyes conveyed, the fear they put into someone. I'd never seen fear in Ares's eyes until the second he lifted his head and saw his father standing there.
Some of me wanted to text Mars to know what was happening, but another knew it wouldn't go over so well with Ares. I wanted to ask Ares, but I didn't want to trigger him in any way. I understood what it meant to want to be away from the parent that hurt you. How Ares was hurt may not be clear, but I saw it as clear as day.
Ares's chest rose and fell in rapid breaths as he drove us to wherever. I knew he wasn't thinking about me being in the car, and I would have forgotten him too if my mother had appeared in my face. It's not personal; it never is.
I pulled out my phone and texted Monica and Lily in the group chat.
Me: Hey, girlies, something happened with Ares. Cover for me in class?
