Page 2 of Unconditional

I let out a humourless laugh. “I dare you to fucking try. I understand that you care about her, butIlove her Greg. I just want to see her.”

He opens his mouth to say something else when I hear footsteps approaching. I glance over my shoulder to find Christian and Elena Maxwell, worry etched in their features.

“Where is my daughter?” Christian snaps at Greg. He straightens as he steps back from me.

“Follow me, sir.”

And then they disappear, leaving me alone to stew in my thoughts.

* * *

A few more hours of pure torture pass, and I don’t see the Maxwells or Greg. I ask the nurses, but they won’t give me anything. I’m about to lose my shit when a shadow hovers over me. I glance up to find Elena Maxwell and her security. She smiles softly down at me, but I don’t miss the pity in her eyes.

I push out of my chair. “I want to see her,” I state

She looks up at me, so much like Thalia it makes my chest tighten almost painfully. “Christian just left out of a back door to go and collect some clothes from her condo. Come with me.” She jerks her head before spinning. I follow her, my chest easing a little at the thought of seeing my piccola. We walk through some doors, enter an elevator, and eventually come to a private room. Elena turns to face me. “You don’t have long. I’ll give you some privacy and wait out here.” She smiles then sits in a chair opposite the room. I return her smile, wondering how the hell she can be so understanding about me and her daughter, but I’m grateful for it all the same.

Taking a breath, I push open the door and step inside only to stop. She looks so small and fragile in that bed all hooked up to machines and IV drips. It makes my heart lurch. She glances over at me, the tears in her eyes nearly make me die on the spot. I rush over to her.

“Piccola.” I drop kisses all over her forehead then look into her beautiful grey eyes, frowning when I see the look on her face. “What’s wrong? Well, apart from the obvious.”

Her lip wobbles. “How is Zeus?”

Fuck. I was hoping she wouldn’t bring him up right now. I can’t lie to her; it would be wrong. “Baby,” at the tone of my voice she begins to shake her head. I know she knows it’s bad. Her next words confirm it.

“He’s gone,” she states. I nod. Thalia bursts into tears and I feel my own eyes water. I climb on the bed beside her and wrap my arms around her.

“When he hit the fence, his leg got caught up in the pole. He landed awkwardly, baby, and broke his leg. There was nothing they could do; I’m so sorry.” I tell her what happened without going into detail. She doesn’t need to be told he was euthanized; she already knows. That would be the only outcome for that type of injury. Her head hits my chest, and she cries. She cries until she can’t cry anymore and then gasps as if remembering something. She pushes me away and I frown at the change in her attitude.

Her wet eyes narrow but her face looks heartbroken. My stomach dips. “Is it true?”

“Is what true, baby?” I ask softly as I reach out to run a finger down her cheek. She bats my hand away and I grit my teeth. I hate not being able to touch her.

“What Melody told me? Before I went into the arena, she said you slept together the night of the darling awards.”

My heart stops beating, vision blurs. I freeze. No. No way. I know I should have told Thalia. I should have said something before Mel got her claws in. I grab her hand, but she pulls it away. I’m not going to lie. It hurts. Really fucking bad.

I run a hand through my hair with a harsh sigh. She watches me. Waiting for my response. At this point, I just need to tell her.

Everything.

“I have no recollection of that night,” I cut off when she rolls her eyes with a humorless laugh.

“So, cliché. Do you think I’m stupid? A pushover?”

I grab her hand again gripping it harder so she can’t pull away. “Listen to me piccola and listen good.” I suck in a breath, preparing to tell her the thing that has haunted me all these months. “I would never willingly sleep with her. Meldruggedme,” I enunciate the word, so she understands. “I was so angry about seeing you with Parker, I made the mistake of drinking. She handed me a bottle of whiskey, but I only managed a few sips before I was completely out of it. The last thing I remember is Mel helping me to bed, touching me,” I swallow. “Down there.” I drop my eyes to the bed, not wanting to see the pity in my piccola’s eyes. “And then I blacked out. When I woke up the next morning, naked with her next to me, I freaked out. I was disgusted. With her. With myself. I was going to tell you, but I was embarrassed. If what she said happened, happened, it was...” I trail off, suddenly overcome with emotion.

Thalia gasps, her hand flying up to her mouth. My eyes snap to her tear-filled ones. “Rape.” She chokes out the word, as tears stream down her soft cheeks. Tears for me and for what happened. “You need to tell someone, Theo.” she reaches out, taking my hand and squeezing in support, comfort.

“I can’t. I should but I can’t.” I shake my head.

“Theo, please,” she cries.

I lean down, peppering kisses all over her face. “It’s okay, piccola. Don’t cry for me. And don’t push this. I made up my mind and I just want to forget it.”

“But, but, but...” she sobs harder. I hold her until her tears subside, until she calms. After all that has happened today, finding out Zeus is dead and about my assault, it would be too much for anyone.

I kiss her lips, brushing them softly, wishing I could devour her. “How do you feel?” I ask.

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