Page 41 of Gilded Gods

We stare at each other for a moment and sigh. At least he’s confirming what I already thought. My dad is either losing his mind or Athena somehow possesses him.

“I can’t talk to him. Dad isn’t in the right headspace. But, on the plus side, I got him to agree to sign over a quarter of Olympus to me at the end of the month.”

“Oh, yeah?” Alexander leans closer, his musky cologne filling my nostrils. “How did you get him to do that?”

“By pretending I’m happy for him and Athena. I have to be her maid of honor and go through the motions of this wedding.” I give a light shrug. “Whatever it takes to get what’s owed to me.”

“You shouldn’t have to go along with this circus.” He shakes his head, annoyed with my father. “Belen sent me away to work at the warehouse. He’s making you work for what’s already yours. It’s ridiculous. An insult.”

“You own half of Olympus. Why didn’t you tell him no?”

“Because,” he says with a sad look in his eyes. “I sold it to your father last year when I needed cash.”

“What?” My mouth drops open in shock. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was embarrassed,” he admits. “I had to ask your dad for money and didn’t want you looking at me with the same disappointment.”

“I would never.” I put my hand over the top of his on the counter. “You’re my favorite uncle.”

He smirks. “I’m your only uncle.”

A door slams from a distance, and shoes tap on the tiled floor, so I know it’s not Ares or Atlas. They were both wearing sneakers.

Apollo walks into the kitchen, dressed impeccably in a black suit with a red tie. He looks good and smells even better as he approaches us.

“Sorry, I’m late. I got stuck in traffic.”

He extends his hand to Alexander. “Apollo Demetriou.”

“Alexander Drakos.” My uncle shakes his hand, a wicked look in his eyes. After he releases Apollo’s hand, he wipes his palm down the side of his pants with a sneer. “Well, I should be going.”

“We have to get over to Olympus. I’ll see you soon, right?”

“Of course.” Alexander hops up from the stool, staring at Apollo like he wants to murder him. He doesn’t trust Athena and her sons. “Call me if you have any issues. I’m here whenever you need me, sweet girl.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

OPHELIA

Apollo removesthe keys from his pocket and follows me to the front door. “I’ll drive.”

“No, that’s okay.” I step outside. “Constantine is here.”

“You don’t need a driver,” Apollo insists, shutting the door behind him.

“Constantine is more than my driver,” I say in a hushed tone as we walk toward the car, where Constantine waits for me. “He’s my bodyguard. So unless you’re prepared to take a bullet for me, he’s driving us to Olympus.”

He raises his hands in surrender. “Fine.”

“Good evening, Miss Drakos,” Constantine says as we approach the door he holds open for me.

He’s only this formal in front of other people. When it’s just us, he calls me O.

Constantine is built like a refrigerator and is a former Navy SEAL. He’s trained to kill and always protects me. There have been several attempts on my life in the past few years. If not for Constantine, I probably wouldn’t be alive. I trust him more than anyone.

“Hey, Connie.” I stop in front of the door, and before slipping inside the limo, I say, “Mr. Demetriou is joining us this evening.”

“And every evening after tonight,” Apollo adds, smirking.

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