Athena's Pov

“I saw it all with my own eyes. I'm sure if you search the mansion, you’ll find his body laying around somewhere.”

The cops didn't have the nervous anticipation that I did. They stood so still which I took as their confidence. But they were too quiet, almost like they had no feelings or like they weren't allowed to move from their place.

None of them were asking any follow up questions as I dumped every detail of the whole scene on them.

They just keep looking at me with pity. I know what I experienced wasn't the best for my mental health but I'd prefer them to take me to safety over the looks they're giving me.

“To what do we owe the pleasure, officer?” I heard Ares speak somewhere behind me.

A shiver ran down my spine and I instantly moved towards my saviors, standing so close that if one of the brothers decided to attack me then they'd have to go through all the four officers here.

I see the criminal confidently standing in front of us with his brothers at a good fifteen feet distance. They look so calm like they think I won't snitch on them but they’re so wrong. I would never prioritize them over my own safety.

My gaze locks with grandpa and I silently sign him to come stand with me. But he sighs like I've done something wrong and shakes his head staying by his sons.

It was a betrayal. He chose to be on their side.

“We’re extremely sorry to disturb you on a Saturday, Sir but it was our duty to inform you that…” The head officer's eyes flicked to me and he took a deep breath. “Miss Athena here has testified about witnessing a murder in your mansion.”

“That's correct.” I spoke before anyone else had the chance to. “The guy over there in a leather jacket,” I pointed straight to the criminal. “Zephyr, he killed Eric and-”

Zephyr chuckles all of a sudden and I fall silent. His eyes remain calmer than I've ever seen him as he addresses the cops speaking nonchalantly like this whole inquiry doesn't scare him.

“I appreciate you taking out time to inform us we have a snitch in our home,” His eyes slid to me and I instinctively moved further behind an officer. “But you may leave now. It's our personal matter and we'll sort it out ourselves.”

My eyebrows furrowed and I barely held myself back from scoffing. He really thinks that's how laws work. He didn't just make a mistake, he killed someone. That's not our personal matter. And he’s definitely going behind bars for years.

“Sure, Sir. Have a good eve-” My eyes widened and I looked at the officer in disbelief.

“What are you saying? He killed Eric.” I told him, panicking at how dismissive he’s acting. “Please believe me. It all happened in front of me. Why don't you just search the house? I'm sure you'll find some evidence to convict him.” I pleaded, holding his hand in desperation.

I was so focused on stopping the cops —two of whom have already started walking towards the exit— that I didn't realize Ares was now standing next to me until he grabbed my arm.

My breathing picked up and I tried pushing myself further into the officer but Ares didn't let me. He circled his other arm on my waist and pulled me back while the officer removed my grip from himself and rushed out.

“No, officer!” I shouted with tears in my eyes. “Please listen to me! Don't go!” None of them cared and left like everyone always does. “They're gonna kill me next!”

My pleas fell on their deaf ears and after the last one was out of sight, I finally stopped shouting after them, losing all the hope I had left in me.

I had been so foolish. I should’ve known that the police don't go against rich people. They don't care if a girl is being caged by three men who hate her with all their might and would probably kill her after what she has done.

“Shhhh. Calm down.” Ares whispered in my ear.

I started breaking out in sweat and more tears rolled down my face because I was still in the arms of the man who must be just as capable of killing me as Zephyr.

I had my back pressed to his chest while his arms were restricting all my movements. I felt his hand gently caressing my side as a gesture of console but I could only feel myself being more scared with each passing second.

It must've been less than ten seconds but it felt like an eternity when my grandpa finally came to our side and removed his hold from me. I didn't wait a second before running into his arms and hugging him.

“Grandpa, he-” I hiccuped and looked up at him with eyes seeking help. “You trust me right? Zephyr really killed Eric. I'm not lying.”

He kissed my head and gave me a sad smile. “I know, sweetheart. Just relax, it all happened for good. It's over now.”

My heart stopped trying to understand what he meant. These can't be my grandpa's words. He’s definitely influenced by the wrong people. He might hate the men I hook up with but he won't wish death on them.

I stepped back from his arms and gave him a weird look. “How can you say that, grandpa? He had a family.”

“What he did was wrong and he paid for it. I pity his family who will have to suffer the loss of him but such men don't deserve families and they're better off without him.”

His words shock me to the core. I hadn't thought of ever hearing my grandpa say that. He said it so emotionlessly that I wondered if he's turned into the very people I hate —the Konstantinos brothers.

I gulped and waited for him to take his statement back. My grandpa can't be so heartless. He can support Zephyr for a murder. But he was doing the exact thing.

Despite not recognizing the man in front of me, I still stepped forward and held his hands. “He didn't deserve to die just because he liked me.”

“He didn't like you. He lusted on you —a child.” He corrected.

“You're not getting this. Even if his act was frowned upon, it wasn't so serious to kill him for it.” I tried talking some sense into him.

He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. “You really don't see the problem?”

I opened my mouth to speak but stayed silent because somewhere in me I knew I shouldn't have done it but at the same time, I didn't want to stop just because I was being told to. And despite how filthy my actions may be, it provided me the comfort I desperately seeked. But no one understands that, not even grandpa.

Everyone just blames me.

“I don't understand why you can't see me happy? Even if I am hurting myself, I don't mind it. I want it. If I find joy in something then how is it wrong?” I said rather furiously being so done putting up with everyone forcing their views on me.

“Go to your room and take a nap. We'll talk when you're ready.”

For a moment I just stood there not knowing if I should keep on arguing with him or sneak out so he starts loving me again. But then I remembered the situation I was in. I couldn't fight with grandpa right now, he was the only one who could save me right now.

“I want to go back, grandpa.” I pleaded with my eyes.

“You're not going anywhere for now.” Hades stated with utmost determination.

“Forever.” Zephyr corrected. “You don't understand it right now, Athena. But what I did was necessary.” He spoke authoritatively but his voice didn't have the same rage as before. “You can't have any sort of relationship with men more than twice your age.”

I wanted to tell him it's my life but now I knew what he was capable of. And the mere thought of pissing him off was freaking me out.

“Say something.” I whispered to grandpa, hoping he would get me out of this mess.

“I can't let you ruin your life more, Athena. You must understand what you did was wrong.” Grandpa said looking at me like he sympathized with me but something was holding him back.

“I just liked him, grandpa. We weren't hurting anyone.” I protested with my throat closing up on me.

He shook his head and placed a hand on my head. “You might think it was your choice but-” He always says the same thing.

“Because it was. Why don't you understand me?” I choked on my words.

“I’m just trying to protect you. You’re just a child and the world is full of predators.”

“That I know how to deal with.”

“I wish you did.”

That hit me hard.

I wanted to argue. I wanted to fight with him and tell him I was smart. I wanted to tell him killing a man for just sleeping with a girl he liked was wrong. I wanted to tell him how hurt I was because he chose his son over me. I wanted to tell him he can't choose who I sleep with. I wanted to tell him I won't let anyone dictate my life.

More than anything, I wanted to tell him I needed him right now.

“I'm such a disappointment, right? You must really hate me.” I don't know why I said that but I had no control over my emotions.

“Thena-”

I didn't give him time to explain anything and turned around holding back tears. But before I could leave Hades stepped in my way. I didn't trust either of the brothers so my heart started beating faster in fear.

“Your phone.” He ordered bringing his hand forward. I instantly stepped back and shook my head. “Don't make me forcefully take it from you because I will.”

Seeing no option left, I slid a hand in my pocket and handed him my phone. I didn't want to cause more trouble for myself. And since I didn't even have my grandpa on my side anymore, fighting was useless.

“If being a grown man attracted to teenagers wasn't bad enough…” Zephyr brought my attention to himself. “Did you know he had a wife and kids?”

He was clearly trying to blame it all on me for making Eric cheat his wife but Zephyr didn't know the whole truth. “He’d been separated from his wife for months.”

“Oh, darling.” Zephyr sighed in what looked to be disappointment. “They celebrated their anniversary three days ago.”

My mouth parted in disbelief as I refused to believe him. But what if he was telling the truth? What if I was being cheated on? Or rather I was helping a guy cheat on his wife.

“You don't know for sure. They were filing for divorce soon, maybe they celebrated for their kids.” I tried reasoning with him.

“Doesn’t seem like their date in a hotel was for the sake of their children.” If Zephyr wasn't lying then how can I be so dumb?

He didn't let me process the information. “Dad’s right. You should go to your room and rest.” I slowly took a step still baffled by all the information thrown on me. “Your new room is next to mine.”

I hope this will make them all happy. Locking me up in the mansion, taking my phone away and forcing me to stay close to them so they can keep an eye on me.

What's worse is that now I don't even have my grandpa to help me out of this.

I've lost him to the three men who must be laughing at my misery right now.