Chapter 18

Cat: Can you pick up a carton of my ice cream on your way home?

Ismile as I read the text message I received thirty minutes ago. I should have expected to receive this message today, since she ate the last of the butter pecan ice cream last night. Cat always keeps it in the freezer. The woman is obsessed with the stuff.

I shoot off a quick reply.

Me: You got it, baby.

After exiting the text app, I get up from my chair, having already shut down my computer. Paperwork is one of the things I hate most about owning a business. The majority of the work can be delegated, but there are some financial things Silas and I need to handle ourselves.

I leave my office and head to Silas's to tell him I'm leaving. It's rare for me to be here at night when the place is packed. As Silas prefers the nightlife, he tends to be here during the late hours more often than not. However, sometimes, like today, he's here when I arrive in the morning.

Katie is sitting in Silas's chair when I enter the office. He's standing behind her, one hand resting on the desk and the other on the back of her chair as she shows him something on her computer.

"What do you think?" she asks as I walk into the room. Neither of them notice me. "It's perfect, right? "

"Anywhere you pick will be perfect, so long as it has a bed, and I get to spend the majority of my time in it with you."

She snorts and rolls her eyes. "Sex. It's all you think about."

Fisting a handful of her hair, he pulls her head back, leaving only a couple of inches between their faces. "Not my fault you've ensnared me with your tight-as-fuck pussy. It's damn near all I can think about."

She sneers, though it's hard to miss the shiver that shakes her body in response to the dominant action. "Don't be so crass, Silas. It's not an attractive look."

Silas laughs before dropping a hard kiss against her lips and letting her hair go. "You like my crassness. Admit it. It makes you wet."

"I'll admit to no such thing." She pats her hair, fixing the mess Silas made of it, while giving him a disgruntled look. "I have no idea why I put up with you."

"Because you're addicted to my big cock just as much as I'm addicted to your tight little pussy."

She gets up from the chair. "Whatever," she mutters. "If you hate the place I pick, don't blame me."

I walk further into the room, interrupting their playful spat. "Haven't even tied the knot yet and you're already bickering like an old married couple," I say with a chuckle.

It came as no surprise when Silas told me Katie had accepted his proposal.

"Shut your mouth," Katie says, a fake scowl forming on her face. "We'll never act like a typical married couple."

"If you say so," I reply, then turn to Silas. "I'm heading out. You good here?"

"Yes."

"How are the new girls doing?"

It's Katie who answers. "They're both good. Learning the ropes. I like them, especially Trixie. She's got moves that even turn me on."

Her statement earns a grunt from Silas and she glares at him. "Get that shit out of your head because it's not happening."

While she says it like she means it, we know if Silas really wanted Trixie to join them for a bit of fun, Katie would be on her back with her legs spread wide as Trixie went to town on her. Silas and Katie may be devoted to each other, but they also like to play, and that includes adding a third. And they don't discriminate. Men and women are welcome.

After leaving the pair, I stroll down the hallway and take the stairs to the first floor, the soft beat of music getting louder. As I pass by one of the rooms the girls use to get ready for the night, one of them steps out into the hallway. She's wearing a skimpy red bikini that exposes more than it conceals. I keep my eyes on her face.

"Oh, hey, Hunter," she says, a cheerful smile curving her lips.

Annika has worked at Slate for four years as an exotic dancer. When she came to us, she had just graduated high school and had just left home, where she had been abused for years by her father. The desperate look in her eyes and the fresh bruises on her neck spurred Silas and I to offer her a job. The next night, Silas and I visited her father. Our night ended with the sounds of grunting pigs devouring the bastard.

Annika's currently in college, working her way toward a master's degree in social services. She's a good girl and a hard worker. She brings in a lot of regular clients due to her sweet and innocent girl-next-door looks.

"Hey, Anni," I greet with a smile as I slip my keys from my pocket. "How's school going?"

She tucks a long strand of her red hair behind her ear. "Good. I've got finals coming up, so I've been spending a lot of time studying."

"Grades still good?"

"Yep. A 3.7 GPA."

Slate offers to pay college tuition for any girl who works for us. The only requirement is that they keep a GPA of at least 3.0 and remain clean.

I tip my chin up. "That's good."

"Tell Cat I said hi."

"Will do."

Cat doesn't come to Slate as much as she used to, but she knows most of the girls. Annika has always been her favorite.

I go out to the alley and get into my SUV. My phone rings just as I start the engine. Tension tightens the lines around my eyes when I see the number.

"Hunter speaking."

"Hey, Hunter, it's Katherine at The Grove," the woman answers, like she hasn't called me a hundred times before, and I wouldn't know the number. "You're needed."

Nothing further needs to be said. Athena is the only reason Katherine would call.

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

After ending the call, I drop the phone in the console and speed out of the alley. Eight minutes later, I pull to a stop in a parking spot and hop out of my SUV. Katherine is waiting for me when I walk inside, her expression grim. Without a word, she spins on her heels, and I follow.

"Is it bad?" I ask in a low, deep voice filled with dread.

Instead of leading me toward the community room where I usually sit with Athena, she heads up the stairs to the second floor where the patient rooms are.

As she ascends the stairs, she glances over her shoulder at me. "It's been worse, but she's not having a good day."

My jaw clenches with my tight nod.

At the top of the stairs, we turn left and stop at the third door on the right. With the curtains open, the room is bright and sunny. The walls are a soft yellow and the ceiling is white, both adding to the brightness. A single bed with a nightstand is against one wall and a rocking chair sits by the window. Opposite the bed is a simple dresser. On top of it is a bouquet of flowers I had delivered a few days ago. The flowers are a constant. Every week, a fresh bouquet is delivered to replace the old one. It's to give Athena something pretty to look at when she's in her room.

I walk past Katherine and enter the room. On the bed, Athena sits with her legs drawn up to her chest, her chin resting on her knees. She appears to be thinking about something unpleasant, judging by her somber expression.

I partially close the door behind me, giving us some privacy. Athena's head slowly turns toward me as I approach the bed. The haunted look in her eyes sends chills down my spine.

"Athena." I keep my voice light. Taking her cold hand into mine, I sit next to her on the bed. Some of the darkness that coats my world lightens when relief flashes in her eyes at my touch. "How are you feeling today?"

As she gazes at our hands, her lips curve down slightly. "Lonely," she whispers, the single word carrying a note of immense sadness.

"You know you aren't alone, right?" I ask gently. "You've got me. And there are other people who care about you."

Her head lifts again and her eyes meet mine. "I miss them."

My heart thumps heavily in my chest. "Who, Athena?"

"My family."

If I were standing, my legs would fucking buckle at her reply. The words come out with utter despair.

The tragic loss of her family years ago left Athena broken. The pain that shadows her is the reason I'm here whenever she needs me. She reminds me of Cat on the rare occasions she allows herself to remember.

What Athena doesn't realize, what she won't admit to herself, is that she has me. I'm her family now. She'll have me for as long as she exists.

My eyes are drawn to the white bandages on her wrist. Athena came to The Grove after she threatened to cut her veins to stop the pain of her loss. My first encounter with her was the day she was admitted. She followed through with her threat two days later, sawing through her wrists with a plastic butter knife she had stolen from the kitchen. It left behind jagged scars. Since then, her wrists are always covered with gauze. Seeing the evidence of her helplessness in dealing with her pain always manages to hit me in the chest like a sledgehammer.

Rather than respond to her whispered words, I move an inch closer to her, afraid of setting her off. Apart from my hand, I don't let any other part of me touch her.

"Your family loved you, and I know they miss you just as much. I bet right now, they're looking down at you, wishing they could be here."

Her eyes hold hope. "You really think so?"

A smile forms on my lips, even though contentment is the last thing I feel right now. "I do."

"You don't think they hate me?"

My molars grind, and it takes almost more effort than I have to keep from yanking the woman into my arms.

"No, Athena." My voice comes out hoarse, forcing me to clear my throat. "They don't hate you."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

When she smiles, it seems like the sun peeks out from behind a dark cloud, bathing the room in brilliant light. It's amazing to witness the transformation from a broken woman to one who is looking at me with sparkles in her eyes. I don't get to see many of Athena's smiles, but on the rare occasion that I do, all I can do is stare. The woman is utterly gorgeous.

Before I freak her out by my stupefied expression, I drop my eyes from her. "Want to go for a walk outside?"

"Okay."

I get up from the bed, letting her hand go for a moment. The instant our connection is broken, a frown appears between her eyes.

"Hey," I murmur and her eyes lift. "I'm right here."

Her tongue slips out to run along the edge of her lips, and her head dips into a nod.

I'm not sure why Athena has attached herself to me. Perhaps she feels the same deep connection with me as I do with her. Maybe she senses that, in a way, I'm broken too. Regardless of the reason, I'm glad she chose me. There is no one else I trust to treat her with the same care I do. Athena is special in so many ways, and no one but me will ever see that.

When she's out of bed and her shoes are on, I take hold of her hand and we walk down the stairs together. After telling Katherine we're going for a walk, I lead Athena out the front door. We take the stairs on the side of the porch that lead to the backyard. There are numerous flower beds filled with colorful flowers that are just starting to droop because of the cooler weather. Throughout the area, there are large trees with low-hanging branches. Here and there, benches and picnic tables offer patients a place to sit and relax in the open air. The area is picturesque and relaxing. A few patients are currently enjoying the freedom of the outdoors with some nurses and orderlies watching over them.

I tug Athena behind me over to one of the benches by a flower bed filled with daisies. The moment she sits down, she tips her head back, her expression serene, as if luxuriating in the heat of the sun. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I stare at her unabashedly.

Her long dark hair flows down her back in a tangled mess, as if it hasn't been brushed in weeks. Her cheeks are sun kissed, and her nose and cheeks are sprinkled with freckles. With her eyes closed, her long, thick lashes rest against her cheeks. A smile tips up her full, peach-colored lips.

I'm not sure if I've ever seen her more beautiful and at peace. As free as she is at the moment from her dark thoughts, I know it won't last. These precious moments never do. They're so special, which is why I try so hard to see them when I'm with her.

Her head drops after a few moments, and she looks down at our hands. Her gaze lingers for a few seconds before lifting. I shift in my seat as she looks at me, her brows pinched together, as if she's searching for something specific on my face.

"Why do you visit me?" she asks quietly.

"Do you not want me here?"

Her tangled hair swishes when she shakes her head. "Seeing you is the best part of being here. I just wonder why. You didn't know me before and have no ties to me now. Why would you spend time with a stranger?"

I look across the back yard, trying to come up with a way to explain why I'm compelled to come here. I can't quite put into words how I feel about Athena. Even in my own mind, the emotions I feel when I think about her are complicated and complex.

I turn my eyes back to her. "I… care about you." I use the word care because what I really want to say might unnerve her. "I don't like the thought of you being here alone."

She ponders my answer for a moment before she pierces my heart with her next words. "I hope you never stop coming." She looks down at her bandaged wrists. "You keep the voices quiet when they scream at me to end the pain forever."

Fucking. Hell.

Never have I struggled so hard to keep my hands to myself. My muscles literally tense with the need to reach out and gather her against my chest.

What she just revealed is one of the main reasons I come to The Grove. My head can't handle the thought of Athena taking her own life. If that were to happen, it would be me who took up residence in her room here, because it would drive me insane. Or worse yet, I may follow her into the afterlife.

My fingers tighten around her hand as I turn on the bench, wanting her to hear me loud and clear. Having her full attention, I look into her eyes imploringly, letting her see how much pain her words have caused.

"You listen to me, Athena," I say, my voice hard and not giving a fuck. "You tell those voices to fuck off. When they plague you, you think of me. You think of what would happen to me if you no longer existed. Because I'm telling you, God as my witness, I swear on everything I hold dear, if something happened to you, it would destroy every fucking part of me."

My shoulders rise and fall with my heavy breathing and my chest aches like I was punched in the solar plexus, stealing every ounce of breath in my body. That's what it does to me when I envision Athena being gone. There's no way in hell I'll be able to cope with that reality.

It's evident from her shocked expression that I surprised her. Hopefully it'll be enough to knock out any thoughts of ending her life.

I huff out a breath and turn so I'm not facing her anymore. Using my free hand, I run it roughly through my hair, gripping the strands hard as they pass through. Blood flows hot and cold through my veins.

I need to calm my shit down before I look at her again, because I'm sure my eyes look crazed at the moment. Breathing deeply, I wait for my heartbeat to slow down and for my thoughts of losing her to fade.

Looking back at her, she has her bottom lip wedged between her teeth, and it seems like she is worried about me now.

I give her hand a soft tug. "I'm okay." I don't know if I'm saying it for her benefit or mine. Maybe both.

She bobs her head slowly, but her eyes remain filled with concern. I force my lips to form a semblance of a smile. "Tell me something good that happened today."

Thankfully, her eyes clear and her lip bounces free of her teeth. She holds out her free hand and wiggles her fingers. "I had my nails painted."

I look at her newly painted nails. Hunter green. My lips quirk at the color, and a part of me wonders if she chose it because of its name.

"They look beautiful."

She looks at me shyly. "Thank you. I had my toenails done too." She lifts a leg out in front of us, stretching her foot. "But you can't see those."

"I bet they look just as good as your nails."

The next thirty minutes are spent talking about nonsensical topics. Athena has never been one to talk about her personal life, and I've never pushed, since I don't talk about mine. Some of my visits are spent in silence. Sometimes we talk about mundane things. The harder visits are when I spend my time talking Athena off a cliff only she can see.

When she releases a yawn, I know it's time for me to leave. I stand and gently pull her up with me.

"You look like you could use a nap."

Her chin dips to her chest before rising again. "I am kinda tired."

"Come on. Let's get you back inside."

We head inside, straight to her room. She falls to the bed like her legs are unable to handle her weight. Her eyes drift closed seconds later, and a moment after that, her breathing evens out. It gives me comfort to see the peacefulness relaxing her features. I often wonder if dreams plague her like the nightmares that cripple Cat, and pray that they don't.

Bending at the waist, I carefully whisper my lips over her temple, closing my eyes as her sweet, subtle scent drifts through my senses.

"Sweet dreams, Athena," I say softly. "Until next time."