ALEX

"What the hell happened to you?" Luca asks as I walk through the hospital car park.

I''m really not in the mood to talk. So I re at him and grab my car keys. Athena looked stressed so I''m hoping bringing Rayen will calm her mind as we wait for Sloane to wake up.

He will be heartbroken once he finds out his favorite aunt is in hospital. I don''t even know how to break the news to him. Hell, I don''t know how to tell him Athena is his mother. I''m still trying to find a way to exin that.

"I just saw Zayan and the whole n walk into Athena''s room. Aren''t you missing out on the party?" Luca asks, and I halt my steps, turning to face him.

"What?"

Heughs, "She must have told you shit that bled your heart for you not to notice."

I lock my jaw.

"Pick up Rayen from his daycare and bring him here. Also-" I pause, stepping closer. "I want you to keep an eye on Athena. I don''t trust anyone else to protect her."

Luca raises a brow, the yfulness fading,

"Do you have someone you suspect may be after her?"

"I do. But I''m not sure. I''ll look into it once Athena is okay and Sloane stabilizes. Right now, they''re my priority. Have Ryan organize a few of your men to stand guard on Sloane''s door, too."

He nods. "Understood."

Luca Alessandro Russo might look like he was born in a suit and tailored charm, but underneath that easy grin and yfulness is a man carved by war and violence.

He trained in multiple countries, fluent in fivenguages, and capable of killing with anything as innocent as a leaf. He''s more than just my best friend.

He was once known in military circles as II Generale Fantasma "The Ghost General".

A myth whispered in elite units across Europe.

Because when Luca goes silent, bodies drop.

But more than his skill, it''s his loyalty that makes him dangerous.

He''s the only man I trust to stand beside my family without turning the de the second I turn my back. I also know that with him protecting Athena, nothing can hurt her. That''s why evenst time, I assigned him to watch over her.

"I''ll make the calls." He says, and I nod in appreciation.

“Luca,” I pause, " Not just her," I mutter. “Keep an eye on Zayan and Noah, too. I don''t trust those bastards."

I don''t wait for a reply as I turn and rush back inside. I''m just reaching the door when I hear Noah''s voice,

"I hope you''re not going to let him back in just because he brought you tea."

I grind my teeth in irritation. Already thement he made about marrying her made me fucking furious but I let him off because of Sloane.

I''ve always known the bastard had an eye for my wife. At first I thought he was just being close with no harm but the moment we divorced he stopped hiding it.

"Who brought you tea?" Isabelle asks as I slide the door.

"I did. Is that a problem?" all heads turn to me. But my gaze Is Fixed on Athena.

She looks tired. Fragile. But her spine is still straight like a fucking de. That''s my girl.

Even half-broken, she holds her own.

Her eyes meet mine and harden like

"Alex." Noah''s voice is like sandpaper, scraping the edge of my already-fraying control." Did you forget something?"

I ignore him my gaze fixed on the beauty staring angrily at me,

"I just came to check in," I say, keeping my tone level as I set ce my hands in

my pockets,"And to bring Rayen."

Athena''s eyes widen, her lips parting slightly.

"You brought Rayen?" she breathes.

I shake my head. "Luca has gone to pick him up. Should be here soon. He doesn''t know anything yet. But I thought maybe... seeing him might calm you down."

Noah scoffs. "You want to bring a child to a hospital room where everyone''s holding knives behind their backs?"

I turn, slowly, facing him fully now. "You better keep the knife where I can''t see it. Trust me, you don''t want to mess with me. Especially today."

"Okay that''s it. Everyone out!" Mum says, amanding tone in her voice.

"I think that was loud enough. Or are you all dense mother fuckers?" Dad''s voice booms in the room when no one moves. Everyone sighs in defeat as they begin to walk out.

Mum and dad follow when I pause,

“I didn''t tell him anything yet. I thought maybe it would be better for him to hear it from his mother." I say gently, my voice so low I''m not even sure she hears me. "What did you tell him?"

"I told Luca to tell him you weren''t feeling well. He thinks he''s here to draw you a get-well card."

She''s quiet. Biting her bottom lip. Something she does when she''s in deep thoughts.

And then she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Leave him with me."

I smile. "Okay"

She looks taken aback, as if she''s shocked. But I don''t me her, I''ve been a piece of shit the past years.

"I''ll be visiting Leah this evening. Is there anything you want to find out?"

Her eyes watch me and the distrust in them goes straight to my heart. Surely she doesn''t think I have some sort of weakness for Leah does she?

"No. I don''t. I just want her out of my life and for her to pay for what she did. Also finalize the payments for all her properties, I n on visiting the family of the child she killed. I want them to take all her money. It won''t bring the baby back, but-" She pauses her voice breaking.

"I understand. Call me if anything happens. But Luca will keep you safe."

I walk towards her, shocking her and myself when I ce a kiss on the top of her head.fn6e65 Read full story at find?novel/fn6e65

She pushes me away with a p on the chest. Her eyes are zing with fury as she res at me.

"Don''t fucking do that ever again!" She seethes.