Page 66 of Betraying Family Vows
"I'm sorry, the woman who helped kidnap you? And you brought her to Piraeus? She's there now?"
I sigh. "Yes."
Theo curses under his breath. "Are you out of your fucking mind? You brought the daughter of the man who helped kill our father into our family home?"
"It's complicated," I say.
"Complicated like you're using her and then going to kill her, or complicated like you're sleeping with her?"
I don't answer, which is answer enough.
Theo exhales slowly. "Tell me this isn't just about your dick, Dimitri. It's our fucking father's life here."
"It's not. Shit. Bro." The response comes automatically, and I realize it's true. "She didn't know about her father's involvement. Someone's been manipulating her, feeding her information to get to us. And now they're trying to kill her too."
"So she's a liability."
"She's an asset," I correct him. "She worked for her father's company. Knows things that might help us find out who 'S' is. She's up looking over his laptop now."
"You gave her the laptop? Fuck. She drugged you and you just left her alone with the one thing we have? She's probably up there right now deleting everything. How can you trust her?"
I consider the question. Can Athena be trusted? She drugged me, kidnapped me, held a knife to my throat. But she also saved my life, stayed when she could have run, and she wants to help.
"She saved my life," I say.
"So did I. Twice. Doesn't mean you trust me."
I smile. "You're a different kind of asshole."
He exhales, but it's not a laugh.
"Fine. Bring her and everything with you," Theo says decisively. "We need to meet. Family meeting. Tonight."
I stand up, pacing the office. "Not tonight. I need time to follow up on something first. Then I can bring it to you and Ares. Just a few days."
"Dimitri—"
"Trust me on this, Theo." My voice hardens slightly. "I'll explain everything soon. To you and Ares."
"Do I have a choice?" he asks.
"No. This is my realm. Handling things. Dirty work. Let me do my thing."
There's a long pause.
"Fair enough. But keep me updated. Also, I'm calling Ares and Calli when we get off. Ares is furious, and Calli hasn't slept."
"Tell them not to worry. I've got this, and I'm okay."
"Whatever this is about, whatever you're not telling me, just fucking be careful."
I almost laugh. Too late for that warning. "Always am. See you soon, brother."
I hang up and set the phone down on the desk, staring at it. That went better than expected. Theo didn't push too hard, which means he's saving his questions, and his true judgment, for when we meet face to face.
I don't blame him. A typical Theo thing to do.
But still, I now have a few doubts circling my mind that weren’t there before the call. Or maybe they were always there, hiding, and Theo’s words brought them out.
