“Of course, we can’t prove it was Volos,” Jackson goes on. “That was always the problem, wasn’t it? That’s why you were sent in there in the first place. But I think you know it was him. Right? I mean, you know exactly who I’m talking about.”
“Wait, how do you… You know, don’t you? You had someone watching me and they did nothing when that guy was going to…” I think back to that night. How afraid I was. And Jackson knew and did nothing? We’re supposed to be the good guys, and the only person who bothered to come to my aid was one of the bad guys? “You fucking—”
“Oh, fuck you, Cassandra. Our guy couldn’t see anything, not properly, and if I’d sent him in it would have blown your cover. I made a decision for the good of the operation, a lesson you could learn. Anyway, that’s number one. Number two is, your new best friend has a dossier on you. He knows exactly who you are, Cassandra. That’s why I needed to speak to you urgently. Looking out for my number one agent, though you don’t seem too pleased about it. You need to grab the evidence and get out of there, right now. You bring it to me, we’ll see how generous I’m feeling. Otherwise, you’re on your—”
I end the call, a shiver running down my spine. Very carefully, I turn on the stair toward the sound I just heard. The tiniest creak. My heart is thundering as I look up to the landing.
And right into the eyes of Apollo Volos.
* * *
“How long?” I ask him, wondering how quickly I could get to the door right now.
But even if I did, he has guards on the gate. Would they just let me through? Not if he called and told them not to.
Fuck. Think, Cassandra. There has to be a way out of this.
“Long enough to hear that motherfucker hung you out to dry—”
“Not how long have you been standing there, how long have you known who I am?”
“Oh. That.”
Apollo is dressed in boxers and nothing else. His wide, heavy torso is fully on display, the way it was when we…
Such power. Such strength. He could have killed me then if he wanted to but he didn’t. That means something, right? He must have already known who I was but he did nothing I didn’t ask for, nothing I didn’t want just as much as he did.
“Two weeks,” he says. “My son, Camilo, he brought me a file. What did Jackson say to you?”
I consider for a moment, then decide to go with the truth. “He told me what happened, with your sister. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. He’s a scumbag of the worst order.” Apollo nods. I need him to know that I would never do something like that, even if we were enemies. “Is that why you took Camilo in? Because he reminded you of your sister?”
Apollo shakes his head. “He’s my cousin’s kid, he doesn’t look like Artemis. No more than anyone else in the family.”
“No, I mean, because he’s gay. The same as your…” I trail off, seeing the expression on his face. “You didn’t know she was…whatever? Lesbian. Bi. Experimenting. Queer. I don’t know, but she had a girlfriend. You really didn’t—”
“Fuck. Jesus. I’m sorry.” Apollo puts his hand to his face, leaning over the railing as he turns away from me, his body shaking.
Seeing such a big, strong man cry shocks me to my core. I don’t know if I didn’t think he had it in him, or if it’s just so sudden, but for a moment I just stare. Then I move.
I don’t care what he’s done. I don’t even care what he’s going to do. Right now, all I see is a man in pain.
In two strides I’m at the top of the stairs, rushing over to him and wrapping myself around him. He leans his face on my shoulder, and I breathe a sigh of relief when he finally pulls me in close with his strong arms.
“Hey, it’s OK,” I tell him. “It’s OK, I’m here.”
“Why didn’t she tell me? Did she think…?” He takes a deep breath. “I never would have judged her, Rose. I didn’t know. I would have…I don’t know. I was her twin brother! And she died thinking I would have rejected her because of who she loved? Fuck. I can’t even…”
“It wasn’t you,” I tell him. “You didn’t do anything. You’re not to blame. Your parents have to take some of that blame, sure. And Andrew fucking Jackson too. But not you, OK? You couldn’t have known.”
“You should get away from me. Everything I touch—”
“Is that what you want?”
He pulls his face away from my shoulder, his eyes red and sore, but if anything, he holds me tighter. And shakes his head. “Fuck, no. If you tried to run, I’d probably chain you to that cross in the basement.”
I breathe a laugh, and finally see a small smile cross his face. “You believe in heaven? Hell?”
“Sure,” he says. “I was raised with all that. I’ve seen too much to believe there’s no higher power out there somewhere.”