Page 8 of Gilded Gods

Duh, silly.

That’s the point.

“Don’t worry about us, Belen,” Ares says as if speaking for the entire family. “We canhandleOphelia.”

I’m sure you can, you arrogant dick.

I snort at his comment. “I’d like to see you try, Greek god.”

He doesn’t respond, but I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s accepted my challenge.

Game on.

ChapterFive

APOLLO

I liketo watch and take in everything around me. That’s my gift. I’m the calm and logical Demetriou brother.

Ares is a hothead, the muscle of our family, and rarely passes up a good fight. He will go toe-toe with anyone, but unlike our new stepsister, he’s not fearless.

My older brother is reckless.

Atlas is softer around the edges, like our mom. He’s introverted and prefers to huddle in the corner with his sketchbook. My twin is pretending to join the conversation with our parents while sketching in the book on his lap.

And I observe.

I’m collecting bits of information from everyone at the table and listening to every word, noticing the subtle shift in their tones and how they move their bodies.

Body language is everything.

I know Ophelia is angry about more than her mother’s death. And I wonder if she feels like she always has to prove herself being the daughter of Belen Drakos. That can’t be easy. Not when he’s one of the most notorious men in the city and has a constant target on his back.

Our new stepdad thinks he’s getting a sweet deal marrying a beauty like our mother. But she’s the one conning him. When we’re done with Belen, we will have everything owed to us.

His money.

His empire.

This city.

I can tell by the looks Ares shoots at Ophelia that he wants her. But she won’t come easily. That girl has fire in her veins and a mouth like a sailor. She would have shot the ball sack clean off Ares’s body if her dad hadn’t come home.

I like her energy.

She’s unpredictable and flies off the handle too quickly, but she could be an asset to us. A woman like Ophelia commands respect and doesn’t let men walk over her. I bet she’s always the first person people notice when she enters a room.

I can also see she’s insecure about her weight. She tugs at her tank top, and Ares’s mouth grows wider as her shirt gets lower. At first, I thought she was teasing him until I realized what she was doing.

Ophelia doesn’t want to hide her tits. And why would she? They’re spectacular. She’s yanking on the fabric to hide her stomach.

It’s her one insecurity.

She’s a badass bitch with a sharp tongue and only fears being seen. Whenever Ares looks at her body, she tosses back more insults—using her words to hurt him.

Ares likes it, though.

Mouthy women turn him on.

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