Hades' Pov

Dad's relaxed expressions drop and he looks around like he's trying to recall what exactly happened. We wait for him to speak but obviously the girl couldn't stay quiet for long.

“Don't stress yourself. If you can't remember, it's okay. You should probably rest.” Nobody asked for her opinion but she gave it anyway.

“Actually dad, it would be better if we know sooner than later.” Ares adds.

“Um… I was getting a bottle of gin from the store. The parking was isolated and it was late. I didn't see anything.” Something seems off. The way he said it-

“So it happened in the parking lot?”

“Yes.”

“How did you escape?”

“I got in my pickup truck and dashed from there at full speed.”

“They didn't follow you?” I asked.

“I don't know. I wasn't looking who's behind me. I was too busy trying to stay alive.” He sounds annoyed now.

“Oliver wasn't with you?” The girl is doing an investigation of her own. It's probably a fun topic for her.

“No, he left earlier. I was coming back home as well.”

“But why did you stop to buy alcohol then?” Zyphre asks raising an eyebrow.

Dad's mouth parted slightly like he wasn't expecting a follow up question. “I thought I should buy some for later.”

“How many people were there?” Ares questions.

“Two, uh no wait, maybe five. I'm not sure, I passed out right after.”

“But she said you drove back home.”

He looks anywhere but us as he answers. “That's correct. I just don't really remember how many there were or how it happened. I wasn't even wearing my glasses-”

“But then how did you drive without-”

“Gosh! Stop stressing him out. If he's saying he doesn't remember than don't force him to overwork his brain. He's just woken up.”

Although I'm incredibly pissed at how that girl decided to cut me off but this is the first time she's said something right.

Dad needs to rest. The fuckers who are responsible for his state will pay. But right now our main priority is to make sure our father is alright.

“You can rest here. We can all wait outside.” Zyphre offers.

“No. I want to go home.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“I think it would be a better idea if you rest for a few hours before you travel again.” I suggest.

“I'm perfectly fine, boys.” He said dismissively.

“But we need time to figure out what to do next.”

“I don't care, I’m getting homesick.”

I raise an eyebrow in question. Even if our dad is emotional, he’s equally practical. He would never behave so childishly and not grasp the seriousness of the moment.

“But dad-”

“Enough, I'm going home and that's final. Either you drive me or I'll drive by myself.” He said sternly.

That's the dad we grew up with. He's sweet but strict when we don't listen. Even now that we're older and mature, he still thinks only he knows the best and would reject most of the ideas we come up with.

“You know you can't really go home because they might know where you live.” Ares said factually.

Dad look the least bothered by the information. He's relaxed unlike how he was when we asked about the attack.

“Well… I guess I'll just have to deal with it since I don't have anywhere else to go.” He shrugged.

I search his face. It's strange he said that. We understand that things are different now —as he doesn't live with us— but he knows we've got his back whenever he needs us.

Him saying this doesn't make any sense. It's like he wants us to suggest a place for him.

“What're you saying?” Zyphre frowned. “You can come live with us.”

“I can't leave my granddaughter alone.” He says simply.

So this is all of this is about.

He knows we won't leave him when he's hurt and in danger. And he also knows we can't live with that girl.

“We could go to that cottage we rented for summers?” She suggested. “I love the beach there and the fried fish… ah we should go there.” She claps her hands together in excitement.

“That sounds like a good plan.” He immediately agrees.

Both of them are least bothered by our presence or even the deadly attack. They're talking as if they're planning a holiday.

All of this was enough for Ares' patience. “For fuck’s sake, you were just shot dad. There's a high chance that the bastards would know where you were last summer and they would-”

“Don't curse in front of her.” Dad shouts at him and he snaps his lips shut with a clenched jaw.

“He won't now.” I decide to take charge. If I don't, my brothers might make it worse. “But you need to be somewhere safe.”

Dad looks directly into my eyes. “I told you I won't go anywhere without her.”

“We can arrange a safehouse for her.” Ares comes up with a great idea.

“Do you all eat leeches for breakfast?” She asks us seriously. “Because it seems like they've sucked your brains out. Grandpa clearly said he won't leave me alone and I'm not going anywhere without him either.”

“Mind your bloody tongue.” Zyphre shouts and steps towards her.

I know he might mess this up so I step forward too in case I need to remind him who she is to our father. She looks at him with eyes bulging out seeing the rage on his face. She instantly moves towards dad and he grabs her hand to tell her she's fine.

“Don’t you dare take another step, Zyphre.” Dad looks like he would kill him if needed.

Zyphre curse under his breath and looks away. Dad moves his eyes to Ares and I like it's equally our fault if our brother lost his shit because of that girl.

“I don't need any of you. I'm going back home and you three go back to yours.” He says fuming with anger.

I know there's no way we could convince him to live with us unless we bend to his will. Unless we do what he always wanted. And unless we go against the one unspoken rule between us brothers.

“She can live with us.” I'm as shocked at my words as my brothers.

But the overacting comes from the dear granddaughter of my father. She turns around and looks at me like I'm a ghost.

Dad doesn't look a single bit surprised and easily agrees. “Alright-”

“What?” She gasps. “No, no, no, no, no. We can't live with them.” She grabs hold of his hand. “You promised I won't ever have to live with them or even see them. They can't be a part of our life. These guys are not good people, grandpa. We can't-”

I can't see her face as she's turned to him but I can hear how overwhelmed she is. Just the thought of living with us is so horrible to her.

She's angry with an underlying panic in her voice. Her movements are rushed and we can tell just how much she hates us even if she acts like our existence doesn't bother her.

“Athena,” He cuts her off by calling her name.

Athena.

Goddess of wisdom.

It doesn't surprise me that she was named after a goddess. My father named us all after Gods as his father did the same to him. People say personality is affected by the name. In our case I can agree it's true.

The oldest among us; Ares is named after the God of War which suits him as he’s the most strategic one among us.

Zyphre is the most unpredictable and ruthless so God of wind is perfect for him as a name.

While I'm as poised as the God of Underworld should be. I'm calmer and never show my cards until it's the right time.

Even dad’s name —Morpheus— which means God of dream reflects his personality. He made us believe we were able to do whatever we set our minds to. And we conquered a whole country with that mindset.

“It's just for a few days. We'll be back home as soon as it's safe.” He tells her so softly.

It reminds me of the days when we messed up and got scared of how to handle the situation. He was always there for us, cooing and consoling us.

Even as we grew up into sharp-minded teenagers and started sorting out our mishaps on our own, dad still stayed by our side until he left us for her.

I guess his new found granddaughter was more precious than us.

“But… How many days?” She asked quietly.

Dad looked at me for an answer. He knows I can't give him an exact date because there isn't any.

We don't know who attacked him, we don't know how much they know about him. And worst of all, dad has to move to another city with a new identity if he wants to live a normal life again.

“A month.” I reply.

It would be enough to decide what to do and possibly make a new identity for dad and Athena. But I don't know if we’d want to let him go after what happened tonight.

“See? Just a month.” He told her like she's a toddler and not a sixteen year old.

“What about school?” She still had that sad touch to her voice.

“You can go to school. That won't be a problem.” He promised without asking us if it's safe. Which it wouldn't be.

“My job? I just got it.” Why does she even work?

We send over enough money for them to not work their entire lifetime. Dad wanted an activity and an upfront for the money so he opened a restaurant but she doesn't have to do anything. Even if she likes it, she shouldn't work so young.

“We'll try to make it happen, ok? It's just about a month, sweetheart.” He squeezed her hand.

I don't know when school and a petty job became more important than her life but that's all she cares about. I doubt her name defines her.

We wouldn't allow either of them to go out unless we're sure the place is safe.

She nods her head and stays silent for a few moments before turning around. Her emotions are more sorted now.

“Can I make a call from my phone?” I looked at her confused about her sudden manners to ask us for permission, so she added. “I was using the satellite phone to call you. I switched off ours in case someone tracked them.” Oh.

“Yes, you can.” Ares allows.

“I'll go update Triston on everything then we can leave. He must be getting worried, he thinks I'm still out.” She tells dad.

I file up the name to look up later. Whoever this guy is, he’s already on my radar. He knew she was sneaking out and he supported her in it. I'm sure he's a bad influence on her.

“Tell him to also inform his parents of what happened and that we’ll be back as soon as possible.” I don't think dad understands the complexity of the situation.

“Nobody needs to know about it, especially when we're not sure who's involved.” Zyphre suggests.

“We trust them.” Was all dad said.

Athena stood up and rushed outside to call. She could’ve just walked like a normal person but it seems like she has unnecessary energy. And emotions.

“Send someone to get our stuff.” Dad ordered.

He's so calm like he was given a heads-up by God himself. Like he already knew this was gonna happen. He isn't reacting to any of the circumstances. He’s so collected.

“She snuck out.” Zyphre's snitched.

We don't care what she does in her personal life but dad should know about it. It's for her own safety.

“I know.” I don't understand why dad isn't providing us with any proper answers.

“Seeing how chill you are, it must be a habit for her?” I ask folding my arms over my chest.

This time he didn't even waste his energy on a reply and just hummed in agreement. My blood boils at how absolutely unbothered he is with what she's done.

“And you don't say anything to her?” Ares questions.

“Kids don't always listen to their guardians.” He shrugged.

“But she's sixteen, it's too young for her to come back how she did.” Zyphre's getting flared up again. “Lock her up in a room or chain her to bed but stop this bloody nonsense. She can't keep on sneaking out and coming back with fucking hickeys.”

Dad's gaze turned sharp. “Forcing rules only makes people rebel more.” He exhaled a breath and I saw his expressions turn calm again. “I’ve tried my best, she always agrees but later does the exact thing she's told not to. I can't do anything.”

My forehead creases in harsh lines as I make sense of my father's words. It clearly means he's given up on her but why? He never gave up on us. He's not the type of person to give up on his own granddaughter that he left us for.

“What do you mean by you ‘can't do anything’?” I ask clenching and unclenching my fists to stay calm.

“It means exactly what it sounds like.”

“So you're gonna let her do whatever she wants?”

“I'm trying to teach her the best I can. I've already had three failed cases, let's see how this one turns out.” He chuckles like all of this is not a big deal.

“We aren't your failed cases, dad.” He simply smiles at my words.

Ares sat on the bed near dad’s foot. “What if she gets pregnant?” Now we're on the right track. This will make him take us seriously.

“For that reason alone, I wish she was into girls.” He leaned further back making himself comfortable. “Or I guess I'll have to take care of another baby then.”

“She can't get fucking pregnant at sixteen!” Zyphre nearly yells.

“I hope she doesn't.”

With that even I lose my patience. He's not taking us seriously. I can't understand if he's blinded himself to reality or if he's purposely pissing us off.

“Someone might take advantage of her.” Ares makes a face like he's disgusted by his own words.

“That’s what I fear.”

“Then do something about it.” I urge.

“I told you I do my best. I don't need either of your advice.”

“But your best isn't working out, dad.”

“You said you will take care of her and it means you won't let her do shit like this.” I argue.

“Why do you even care? Didn't you entrust her to me? Refused to acknowledge any relationship with her? Abandoned her before she was even born?” He said it like this is relevant to the subject.

Why can't he understand that this is about her ruining her life with her own god-damn hands. How can he not see that?

“None of you have a say in her life.” Dad said harshly.

“We wanted to kill it, dad. You didn't let us.” Zyphre banged his fist on the table in rage. “All of us including that whore only agreed because you promised you'll take full responsibility of it.”

“If you wanted to kill her, then why are you so riled up if she's sleeping around. Why do you give a fuck?” He snapped back.

“Because now she isn't dead. She's very much alive and grown up and she's a girl!” Ares ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“All of you think you can do a better job at raising a child than me?” Dad raises a challenging brow.

“You know what? Yes. I think I can. She wouldn't ever be sneaking out under my guardianship.” Zyphre says confidently.

“Then do it.” Dad looked him directly in the eyes. “If you think you are more capable than me of raising a teenager then go ahead. Take charge. I don't mind.”

My mouth dries up as I keep staring at him in disbelief. Why the hell would he even say that? Everything has been going good, why would he want us to change it all of a sudden?

The room fell into a disturbing silence as our father stared at us blankly. But before any of us could recover from the shock and reply, we heard Athena laughing as her steps grew closer to the door.

“Gotta go now. Don't miss me too much, T-Rex.” She waits for the other person to say something as she enters the room without a knock. “Sure. Okay then love ya. Ba bye.” She kisses the microphone on her phone before cutting the call laughing to herself.

“He freaked out.” She tells dad giggling then her face falls into a scowl. “All good?”

“Yes, absolutely.” Dad reassures. “We'll leave now.”