Author’s Pov

“You've lost your mind!” Morpheus sighs slumping down on the chair.

Zephyr exhales a breath and kneels in front of his father grabbing his hand. “Trust me dad, my head’s finally in the right place.”

Morpheus shook his head. “This is not how you show love to her. You can't force her to stay-”

“I don't know any other way.”

“You made it worse by killing a human in front of her, Zephyr. No sane person would appreciate such authoritative psychopathic behavior.”

Zephyr got back up to his feet and grabbed the bottle of wine from the mini bar in his office. “It was necessary. And please don't tell me I shouldn't have killed that bastard.”

“I’m not saying you shouldn't have killed him —it’s not like it was your first murder.”

Morpheus didn't support his sons’ Mafia career. From their teen years he was worried they’ll get involved in illegal activities but he hoped his parenting would be a reminder to opt for the opposite.

He first caught them selling drugs when they were just fifteen. It wasn't entirely a shock to him as his sons weren't the typical good kids from a very young age. He tried getting the situation under control but his sons were born rebels.

When he got to know that the three men had gotten into contractual killings right after highschool, there were thousands of arguments every day and each time it was concluded that none of them would stop trying to acquire the wealth and power they desired.

When Angela’s delivery was due in just a month, the brothers knew they’ll have to move out if they don't want to live with a kid and that’s what they did. Morpheus also wanted to distance Athena from them because at that time, they were just local criminals who could invite trouble to the ones around them.

But that wasn't the case anymore. They'd established a name for themselves and became the Mafia leaders. No one could touch them now which means bringing Athena back didn't seem like a bad idea.

He couldn't stop them so he eventually accepted his power hungry and sadistic sons.

“But you could’ve done it in private. She would’ve thought you just fired him.” Morpheus added.

If he had a chance, he would’ve opted to kill Eric himself. But the two times he found out about a pedophile in his granddaughter’s life, he had to remind himself that Athena needed him and he couldn't go to jail.

He was positive his sons won't let him rot in a cell but he still couldn't go through with a murder. Like any normal human being, it was hard for him to take a life.

He considered asking the Konstantinos brothers to carry out a murder or two for him but he felt disgusted thinking of encouraging his sons for such a filthy act.

“Now it's already happened so why argue about it?” Hades interfered before Zephyr gets more frustrated with the conversation.

“Because he’s traumatized her. I haven't even met her yet but I know she's gonna be so out of sorts.” Morpheus spat the words at them.

“None of this would've been necessary if you weren't so lenient with her.”

Zephyr knew it was wrong to blame his father when he's done way more than anyone in this room. But he was the one who's seen Eric on top of her and the image was haunting him to the core. He needs to sort out everything as soon as possible, no matter how low he’ll have to stoop for it —whether it's forcing Athena to stay or arguing with his father.

“I’ve been lenient with her?” Morpheus questioned, getting to his feet. “I was more strict with her than I'd been with any of you. I set rules for her, I gave her more time, more attention, more love so I could mold her into a law-abiding and emotionally strong independent girl. How would I know that… it won't work.”

“I'm sorry.” Zephyr sighed. “I know you did your best but…” He down the liquid he’d poured in his glass. “We have to tell her that what she's doing is wrong. We can't let her ruin her life. If being soft with her isn't working then we have to force her until she understands herself.”

Morpheus sighs and rubs his forehead as a throbbing pain sets in. “I don't know how to change her mind. She thinks she's smart, she thinks she does everything on her own will, she thinks she can make those men truly care for her-” Ares cuts him off.

“She also thinks she's a slut.”

A silence followed his words. No one said anything as the thought of a victim considering herself a slut —for sleeping with men that shouldn't put their hand on her in the first place— disgusted them.

“She told you that?” Hades questioned, shocked.

“She didn't intend to.”

Morpheus swallowed thickly. “Was it when you were in the backyard with her?”

Morpheus had a habit of checking up on Athena during the night when she's on her periods as she's usually up from the pain. But that night when he found her talking with Ares, he didn't want to disturb their conversation which he hoped was them bonding and quietly left.

Later around dawn, he saw Ares carrying her in his arms and putting her to bed. Morpheus was happy beyond imagination. His hope was lit aflame, he was positive that one of them would stop her from leaving. But he didn't expect such horrible circumstances to be the reason for it.

Ares nodded and spoke, breathing heavily because of the conclusion he drew. “Those sick fucks —who want to get into the pants of a minor— have convinced her that she's the wrong one here. She thinks she's not worthy of getting with a supposed good guy like Tristan because she's given herself to multiple men. But she doesn't realize she was being manipulated and it’s not her fault.”

“Not just those pedophiles but also her useless mother. They've all ruined her.” Zephyr smashed the glass on the floor with all his force but it did nothing to calm him.

“Her mother?” Morpheus asked, confused.

The brothers knew Athena wanted to hide the fact she was still in contact with her mother. That gave them an upper hand against her so they collectively decided to keep it a secret from Morpheus for the time being. They wanted to use the information wisely, possibly some day when they wanted Athena to shut up about something or do as told.

But the moment called for the secret to be revealed. Morpheus needed to know that Athena was in a mess from all sides and they all needed to fix her together.

“Um there's something I didn't tell you guys…” Hades knew his brothers wouldn't like the confession. “She was gonna sneak out to meet her mother. I only found out about it because she had a panic attack —from her height phobia as she was on the rooftop— so she called me for help.”

“What?” Ares raised his voice in disbelief. “And you hid it from us?”

None of the brothers had a right to be mad because all of them were doing the same thing as the other. Ares hid Athena's self image, Hades hid that she snuck out and Zephyr was ready to hide the reason behind Eric's death.

All of them were unknowingly protecting Athena's privacy because sharing such personal information about her felt wrong to them. They didn't want even their own brother to have a horrible image of the girl.

“Why couldn't she wait just a few more days to meet her mother? Are they… are they so close?” The possibility horrified Morpheus.

He's tried his best to keep the two apart so Angela won't be a bad influence on Athena. She wasn't the mother anyone deserved. Not only did she sleep with three seventeen year old minors when she was twenty six, she also threatened to sell her own daughter off to a brothel if she wasn't paid the full amount —promised by Morpheus— before delivery.

“She needed money.” Zephyr told him what he knew from eavesdropping on Athena's phone call.

Morpheus dropped his head in his hands and whispered ever so slowly, “That woman's using her.”

“She needs therapy.” Ares declared.

“She won't agree to it.”

“Then we'll make her.” Zephyr said with dedication.

“You won't force her. You've already done your part, let me handle this.” Morpheus said seriously but the brothers weren't in the mood to listen.

“You can't handle this dad so let us tell her why she needs professional help because her choice of company have fucked up her mind.” Hades put down his point rather authoritatively.

“Don't teach me parenting, I've done more than any of you collectively. If you three didn't abandon her, maybe she wouldn't be like this today.” Morpheus shouts at them.

“How about rather than lecturing us about the past, you go to her and explain why it was necessary to eliminate that filth.” Ares grumbled.

“She’s not gonna understand it, she's just a child. In her eyes it's a murder and it's illegal.”

“Then tell her we are the law. Tell her we're the Greek Mafia.” Hades shrugged.

“No, no, no.” Zephyr said panicking and placed his bottle back down, turning towards his father. “You can't do that. She's probably already scared of me, any chance I have of getting her to like me would go down the drain if you tell her I'm in a Mafia. Just say Ares and Hades are running it and I… I own a flower shop or some shit.”

Hades’ head snapped to his direction in anger. “You're gonna ruin it for us so you can have her all to yourself?”

“Didn’t think you'd be so selfish, Zephyr.” Ares scowled.

“You two don't even want her. So let me-” Morpheus cuts off Zephyr.

“Don't talk about her like she's a piece of cheese you want to divide among yourself. Your aim should be to win her over, don't try to put a claim on her because she's nobody's property.”

“I totally agree. These two are the dumb ones.” Zephyr grumbled.

Morpheus didn't continue the debate further and spoke ever so seriously. “I think it's time I tell her. She's seen you kill someone, she's gonna ask questions. As you told me, she's worried about the police and stuff so it's better I explain to her that she's safe. And if I don't tell her the truth now then she'll consider it another betrayal.”

Before Zephyr could argue, a knock sounds at the door and the room falls silent. Each of them didn't know who to expect on the other side. Athena wouldn't just come out of her room so soon and the staff knew better than to disturb them when they're in such an important discussion.

Ares opens the door and a guard greets him. “Sorry to disturb you, Sir. But there's police at the door.”

The rest of the men closely listened to the conversation as Ares asked, “Why?”

“They received a call from an underage girl named Athena Kostas who claims to have witnessed a guard getting murder in the Konstantinos mansion. She also said she'll cooperate with the authorities in identifying the murderer. All she wants is to be rescued because she’s being kept here against her will.”

Zephyr closed his eyes hearing the words. He had to convince himself that such a reaction was normal from a regular human. But he still wanted to go and yell at her for the audacity to call the cops on him.

He exhaled to calm down and repeated the words ‘I’m her father now’ in his mind so he wouldn't do anything he’ll regret later. He wanted to do better, he couldn't afford to mess up.

Morpheus was shocked that Athena would call the police without waiting for him to talk to her first. But then again, it was her first time seeing a man die in front of her eyes, no one could’ve predicted her reaction.

Ares couldn't help but shake his head as a smirk graced his lips. He hated that Athena went against Zephyr for a bloody guard but he was excited to see the scene unfold. He wanted to know how far she can go and more than anything else, he wanted to tame her rebellious self.

Hades sighed from disappointment. But he didn't let any other emotion get in the way of his anger. He wanted to go out and show her just how much oversmartness pays a person but he reminded himself that she's just a child, she didn't know the difference between crime and necessity or who to choose in which situation.

The Greek Mafia doesn't work this way. The authorities coordinate with the Konstantinos brothers to establish rule. No one can touch them in their area and Athena will learn this lesson the hard way.

The police were only here to report a snitch. They didn't care if a minor was stuck between such dangerous men, she wasn't their responsibility. They all had families and they prioritized their lives over hers.

Athena thought the police could save her but she was in for a shock.

“Invite them in.” Ares dismissed the guard and turned back to the room. “Let's have a show.”