“Godwins don’t divorce,” I parrot the words of my father. “But we’re both tired of living this lie. We don’t love each other, and I don’t think we ever did. I married her so I’d have arm candy at events, and it felt like what society wanted. She married for money. It was essentially an arranged marriage. But we now want to sever the agreement but can’t.”
He points to my hand. “Taking the ring off makes you feel better?”
“It felt like it was scorching my finger,” I admit. “But we aren’t here to discuss my lame issues. A shitty marriage is nothing compared to what we need to face today.”
“Still… I’m sorry, man. I thought Daphne was one of the good ones.”
“She is,” I confess, not wanting to bash someone who truly has a good heart. “I don’t hate her. I just don’t love her. And she feels the same.”
“That sucks. I hope you can figure it out. Because as you said, Godwins don’t get divorced.”
Hating how the helpless feeling of our fucked up lives threatens to suffocate me, I take a step back and examine my brother’s appearance and the fact that he’s only wearing casual slacks and a black T-shirt. “Tell me you aren’t wearing that to court.”
Ares looks down at his clothing. “Who cares what I wear. I’ll be in an orange jumpsuit soon enough.”
“Unless Father somehow works his magic.” I loosen my tie and pull it over my head. “In which case, you need to look good. Here, we’re going to switch outfits.”
Ares and I, though twins, couldn’t be more different. He’s the ruthless hitman in the family. The rebel, the dark and mysterious. I, on the other hand, am the Chief Financial Officer of Medusa. Strait-laced, always in a suit, and never a hair out of place. Numbers are my life, and money makes my dick hard. Ares is the brother who cleans up the messes, even though he’s dirtier than all of us combined. We were both born and groomed for these roles. Our father had a master plan for this family, and we are merely soldiers in his war of domination.
The one time I stepped out of our roles and killed someone before Ares had a chance, our empire fell to the ground. I’m the reason for the demise. I should have kept to the numbers.
“I’m not wearing your clothes,” Ares says, shaking his head, but smiling at the idea.
“Yes, you are. Because we’re going to take that chopper back to Seattle, and the minute we land, the press is going to be surrounding us and focused on you. You need to look like a Godwin. Power. Prestige. You are not a broken man. We rise above.” I hand him my tie and then take off my suit jacket. “Strip.”
When he takes my coat from me, he notices the extra weight and reaches into the pocket. Pulling out my passport, wallet with my I.D, and a large wad of cash, he shakes his head and says, “I’m not leaving the country. I’m not going to run. It will destroy our family and Medusa, and you know it.”
I continue undressing, ignoring his words.
“I’m not leaving,” he repeats. “Medusa is powerful, but it won’t survive the shitstorm me being on the run will cause. As it is, you guys are going to have your hands full trying to pick up the pieces by having a serial killer in the family. I don’t need to keep the wound open by being on the run. Plus,” he adds, “none of you need the Feds breathing down your throats. We don’t want Athena sharing a cell with me, and you and I both know that she’s damn close to being there.”
When I’m standing in nothing but my underwear, I finally say, “I had a feeling you’d say that. But I had to try.” I point to him. “Get undressed, fucker. I’m cold.”
“Fine,” he says. “But we’re going back to Seattle. I’m going to face this head on.”
I sigh deeply and give a clipped nod. “I still have faith we’ll figure a way out of this.”
“I love you, brother,” Ares says to me. It’s uncharacteristic for him to be so…sensitive, but then again, his life’s about to end.
“I love you.” I point to the tie that he’s ignoring. “You’re a Godwin.”
“What does that mean? Have you ever asked yourself that?” he asks as he does what I say and places my tie around his neck.
“I think you’re about to show us.”
“We need to head back to Seattle,” Ares says, inhaling deeply. He’s taking in the last of Heathens Hollow into his lungs.
I look to Olympus Manor as we slog through the mud to the chopper. “Do you want to go in and say goodbye?”
“I already did. Frankly, that house may be more of a prison than the one I’m going to.”
ChapterTwo
Daphne Godwin
I wish the red lipstick I wear, and the red nail polish of my manicure were laced with my enemies’ blood. Maybe then I’d have the courage and self-confidence needed to face her. Warriors of tribes used to do that, and they’d come out victorious, but I doubt my outcome will be the same. I don’t know how to intimidate. I don’t know how to scare. I’m not a true Godwin, and it’s clearer to me right now as I breathe deeply to calm my shaking hands.
Blood with menace does not run through my veins.