Page 24 of London Has Fallen
“Love you too.” She ends the call and now I’m forced to wallow in the silence with only my thoughts to keep me company. I don’t hate being alone when I have something to do but in moments like this with nothing to do, my mind always drifts back to that day. I try to prepare myself for the memories to flash through my mind of all the blood except it’s not those memories that play on a reel, this time when I close my eyes all I see is memories of me and Artemis in the shower. A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth at the state of his chest from my nails, I can still feel the ghost of him inside me, it’s like a dull ache but fuck it feels delicious. A groan tumbles free when a knock sounds at the door. I roll over and glare at the door before getting up and yanking the door open, ready to tell whoever it is to fuck off.
“Cronos?” I mutter at the sight of him standing there with his hands in his pockets looking uncomfortable as fuck.
“Hey, I just wanted to… I just thought that maybe…” He clamps his mouth closed and shakes his head. I smile at the big fucker.
“Awww, did you come to check up on me?” He purses his lips and narrows his eyes, then turns ready to flee, but I dart my hand out and grip his forearm stopping him. I can feel the eyes of the other students on us so I turn and look both ways before saying, “Next one to look this way is going to get their fucking eyes burnt the fuck out. Try me, I dare ya.” The sounds of hurried footfalls brings a smile to my face as I pull Cronos inside my room and close the door behind him. He stands before me tense and looking awkward as hell. Honestly I’m not mad about him being here, he is my bestie and best friends hang out, right?
“I just wanted to see if you were okay,” he says barely above a whisper. I move to stand before him, searching his gaze, trying to figure out what his story is and why he is so unlike his siblings.
“You’re genuinely worried about me, aren’t you?” He nods. “Why?” He turns his head away from me, his face is contorted in pain and for the first time ever I don’t push. I leave him to decide if he wants to share his secrets with me. Normally I would pester someone until they spilled the beans but there is something about Cronos that just… soothes something inside me.
“There was a time I wouldn’t have given a shit and high fived my brother for bagging the heir to the US mafia.” I clench my fists at my side and bite the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping at him or worse, breaking his fucking nose. “Things changed and now…” he slowly turns his head to face me, the sorrowful look in his brown eyes has pain radiating inside my chest for my bestie, “I care more about keeping you safe.”
“I can look after myself, Cronos,” I say adamantly.
“I know you can, darlin’, but you shouldn’t have to protect yourself from life and living. This world we are born into isn’t for the faint of heart. I see through the macho bitch act you put on.”
I scoff. “This isn’t an act, it’s who I am.”
His features soften, “I know you wish that were true but it isn’t. Be careful, darlin’, everyone here is out for themselves and that is my brother included.”
“What are you trying to tell me?” I push in a firm tone.
“Artemis never does something without a plan in place. He has the most to lose out of all of us when these trials begin. If you ever find yourself in the presence of my father alone, run. I know you think you are strong but he is evil, London, and will not think twice about hurting you.”
“I’ll kill him before he can touch me,” I snarl.
His eyes soften as he reaches out and cups my cheek. I jolt in surprise but he doesn’t drop his hold. “She thought the same thing, now she is six feet deep with worms and maggots eating her corpse.”
Artemis
After getting my ass chewed out by my brother before he stormed out of the locker room, to no doubt go chase after his new bestie, I retreated to my room to change before heading back to my office to bury myself in work to keep my mind from drifting back to London and how fucking amazing she felt wrapped around me. I tore at least four stitches so I just place a patch over each of them for now, Cronos can stitch them after he calms the fuck down.
My phone ringing pulls me from my thoughts. I plan to ignore it until I see it’s Blake calling. I hit answer and place it on speaker. “Blake,” I say in lieu of greeting.
“Artemis, did you forget how to use your phone?” I smirk.
“A phone works two ways, Blake,” I counter.
“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy sue me! So, what’s been happening with this girl and the trials?” Blake is the only person in the world outside of my brothers that I give a fuck about and trust. Blake and I have been friends since senior year in high school and went to college together.
“The girl is a fucking nightmare and crazy as hell. The trials won’t begin until this week after we meet with her family to discuss what is going to happen.”
“Why is her family getting involved?”
“Did I forget to mention she isn’t just the first female to enter the trials but she is American?” Blake whistles.
“Fucking hell, this is going to hinder your plans to get your brothers out from under that bastard.” I sigh and lean back in my chair.
“She isn’t a problem. After this meet the trials will begin and I’ll make sure she doesn’t pass the first one.”
“What if she does?”
“She won’t,” I grit out.
“But, what if she does, Art?”
I scrub a hand down my face and close my eyes. “Then I have no choice but to do what needs to be done.”