Page 16 of London Has Fallen
“You planned to beat a fucking woman?” he roars.
“I liked you better when you just brooded silently in the corner,” Ares quips. When Cronos takes a step toward him, I rush around the desk and block his path knowing that if he gets his hands on the mouthy little shit he is going to be in a world of pain.
“Calm the fuck down,” I say. Cronos presses into me seething.
“You want her out, do it right and not gang up on her. She is a fucking female!” he shouts in my face.
“She isn’t her, Cronos!” The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them instantly, Cronos shuts down and the angry look in his eyes fades to nothing. He steps back and drops his gaze to the floor.
“How could she be her?” he whispers as he slowly lifts his guilt ridden gaze to mine. That look flays me open and I hate myself a little bit more for not being able to help her. “She’s dead, but you already know that.” I hide the flinch from showing at his words and watch him storm out of my office, slamming the door so hard it rattles the pictures on the walls.
“Fuck,” I grit out as I run a hand through my hair and tug on the strands.
“What the hell was that?” Adonis asks, I ignore him as I head back to my new desk and drop down into the seat.
“Artemis, what did he mean?” Ares pushes but I wave him off.
“The three of you are to stay away from the girl. I’ll handle her from now on–”
Apollo cuts me off. “We can make her quit!” he defends.
“No, you can’t. You idiots proved that today. Stay the fuck away from London Murdoch. That’s an order.” Their jaws lock at my order. “Stay the fuck out of trouble, I mean it. Her family is coming for a meeting with Costa and we are all to be present.”
“When is the meeting?” Ares asks.
“Next week when school starts back, we’ll meet with them and discuss the trials and what is to become of her.”
“Art, he won’t let her bow out of the trials, he wants her dead so her family will start a war,” Apollo voices.
“I know, which is why I need to come up with a new plan,” I answer.
“What happens if we don’t… Win the trials?” Ares asks, the lilt in his voice gives way to the fact he is worried.
“Even with London in the trials, Costa has pit the three of you against Cronos, one Argyros will be the victor.”
“But what about the other three Argyros, what happens to them?” Adonis asks.
“Nothing will happen to them, I won’t let it. I have a plan. I just need the three of you to trust me to get us out of this mess.”
“Why aren’t you doing the trials?” Ares queries.
“Don’t worry about that, just stay out of trouble,” I say dismissing them. The moment the door closes behind them I slouch into my chair and run a hand down my face.
I sit across from Costa in the empty club, the only people here are the staff out back prepping for the opening tonight. I made sure they weren’t out front to witness what is about to happen. I chose this location because I knew it would be empty and it beat meeting him at his house where he would have the upper hand. Costa has no idea that my brothers and I have investments and own more clubs around the world. It’s the easiest way to clean money without having the feds on our asses. I’ve been able to dummy the books so he wouldn’t notice small amounts of money disappearing each quarter.
“What happened, boy?” he snaps as he spins his glass of whiskey on the top of the table. I dart my gaze around and force myself to remain calm at the sight of six guards scattered around us. I know without a doubt I’m not making it out of here unscathed.
“She escaped. I fucked up the amount of the dosage and she woke up taking us all by surprise.” I keep the blame on myself so he can focus all his rage on me and not my brothers.
“From what I hear, she stole your car and parked it in the fountain of the school?” I flinch, the glint in his eye has me tensing.
“Yes,” I clip out.
“You failed.” I take a deep breath and nod preparing myself for what comes next. “I told you not to let me down.” Without having to be told, I slip from the booth keeping my gaze on his as I grip my shirt and yank it over my head, tossing it onto the top of the table. I undo my belt and wrap it around my fist. Cracking my neck side to side, I give him a curt nod. He smirks and nods his head indicating for his men to get this show on the road. The six of them rush me. I crack the first one across the jaw, knocking him to the ground. The next one comes in swinging, I duck and land two jabs to his stomach before darting back only to have an arm wrap around my neck, I elbow the fucker in the stomach, loosening his hold enough for me to escape only for two more cocksuckers to rush me from either side.
I know fighting back only makes it worse but I’m no fucking pussy and I’ll never take a beating willingly. I will always fight back until the day my heart stops beating. I feel elbows slamming into my back and roar out in pain as I lurch forward only to be met with a knee to face. I drop to the ground but I don’t stop fighting. I throw out punch after punch and kick out, trying to take as many of them down as I can. When the pain becomes too much, I’m forced to tuck into a fetal position on the floor and weather their blows.
It makes me sick to my stomach knowing that my own father ordered this. I retreat inside my mind to escape the pain radiating inside me. By the time they finish beating the shit out of me, I’m on the verge of passing the fuck out. Two of the fuckers grab my arms and haul me to my feet. I’m too weak to hold my own head up but I can see the tops of Costa’s loafers, his hollow laughter has me cringing. He grips my hair and yanks my head up so I can meet his gaze. I can barely see the hatred that shines in the depths of his gaze, from all the blood flowing into my eyes from the numerous gashes on my head and face.