Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

ATHENA

“Right, so the assets are to be divided as follows.” The lawyer removes papers from his briefcase and settles back into his chair to read. “I, Freya Godwin, being of sound mind and body, have divided my assets between two, and only two, of my children. To my son, Perseus?—”

Perseus sneers at me as the lawyer continues to read.

“—I leave the sum of fifteen million dollars.”

His face drops.

“And what else?” Perseus demands.

“That’s it. Please let me continue.” The lawyer clears his throat. “To my daughter, Athena, I leave this house, my worldly possessions, and what is left in my bank account after settling whatever end-of-life costs I have accrued.”

“No. She doesn’t get my home.” Perseus stands and paces the room. “That spoiled bitch doesn’t get a single fucking cent, let alone my home.”

“That bitch is Freya’s daughter, and we will honor my mother’s will,” I bite out.

Seriously, this is a grown-ass man throwing a temper tantrum that he only got fifteen million dollars. Only. He could live his entire life in the lap of luxury, but he is mad. It’s only a fucking fortune, and I am the spoiled one? Not to mention that my mother failed to acknowledge her other sons.

The lawyer raises his hand and says, “Let me finish, please.” He glares at Perseus before adding, “To Apollo, Ares, and Phoenix, I leave you my well wishes and love because I know you don’t need my money. I know that your father will have your best interest at heart, and Medusa Enterprises will be left to you. You three will be wealthy men if you aren’t already. I can’t say the same about Athena, since she is not a male Godwin, hence why she is in my will. And to my other boys: Heph, Paris, and Eros. Though you are not my sons by blood or legally, you will always be in my heart. I have a trust set up for each of you for a million dollars if you are willing to follow the terms.”

Perseus spits on the floor in front of my shoes and storms out of the room, leaving us all stunned.

“Really?” I ask no one in particular.

“I’m afraid there are stipulations Freya left with the will that I need everyone to hear,” Mr. Carion says. “As I said, it’s a rather odd case. And if you don’t meet the requirements, I’m afraid none of you will get anything.”

I roll my eyes. Of course she attached strings.

We all sit in silence for a moment.

“Will one of you please go get your friend?” I finally break the silence.

“Heph, go get him and bring him down here. You’re the only one he will listen to,” Paris says without looking up from his computer.

Heph gets up, glaring at me like it is all my fault, and leaves.

Eros moves to sit on the edge of the couch closest to me and leans over the arm. His tongue must be flicking the inside of his lip ring because it keeps rocking back and forth, pulling my attention to his lips.

“Tell me why you’re here,” he demands.

“Well, apparently this is my house,” I deadpan.

“No, you showed up before. I want to know why.”

“Does it matter?” I counter.

“I don’t know yet. That’s why I want to know.”

“Get used to disappointment.”

He sits back, his lips tilt in a sexy half grin. “It’s such a shame, so pretty, and I bet you’re a wildcat in the sack, but you’re empty inside, aren’t you? All fight to cover up the pain of how fucking empty and alone you really are.”

I hate how he can see through me. I’m so overwhelmed by everything going on, that I’m clearly letting down my guard. I’m readable. I hate being readable .

The telltale prickle of tears starts in my nose. I hold them back through sheer will and glare at the man sitting in front of me, covered in ink and piercings. “I bet it’s like looking in a mirror, isn’t it?”

“No, see, unlike you. I’m not alone. Perseus isn’t alone. You should just leave now, princess. Leave, don’t come back, and we won’t come for you. But you try to take what is his, and we will make your life hell.”

The threat in his eyes make me laugh. I couldn’t hold it back if I wanted to.

“What the fuck is so funny?” he bites out.

“You.” I laugh harder, then imitate his voice. “Leave now, and we won’t make your life hell.” I laugh harder. “It’s just so adorable. You think I am some little girl on the playground who will cry and run away just because you pulled my pigtails? Oh, sweetheart, you don’t know a damn thing about me. You have no idea who you are threatening.”

“Athena Godwin, daughter of Troy Godwin and Freya Godwin, sister to Phoenix, Ares and Apollo Godwin. Although your family just suffered a devastating loss with the death of your brother, Ares. Despite your brothers’ size and fondness of violence, you are the heir apparent to your father’s company and the one to be feared. You have never been arrested or even implicated in a crime officially. But unofficially, you are suspected to be behind a few missing people, several acts of felony-level vandalism and arson, some of which you just gave the order for, others you handled personally. It is also believed you have several politicians and police chiefs on your payroll and a few others you are blackmailing,” Paris says, not looking up from his computer. “Some people think you are a vile shrew. Others just think you are a strong business woman having to work twice as hard to be thought of as half as good. Personally, I think you are just a thug in a skirt and fuck-me pumps.”

“Oh, you like my shoes?” I taunt as I extend my leg to show them off. “Thanks, they’re my favorite. Is that all you found?”

“No. Some think you’re a lesbian because you have never had a steady boyfriend, but I can’t find any evidence of a steady girlfriend either. But I didn’t see how your sexual orientation is relevant.”

“Personally, I find that very relevant,” Eros says as his eyes travel down my body again.

“My sexual orientation is picky. And sorry, sweetie, you don’t make the cut.”

“We’ll see about that,” he says with a wink.

Paris continues to read from his computer, “Your family owns a manor on an island called Heathens Hollow, which apparently the Godwins also own.” He glances up from his computer to look at Eros. “Who the fuck owns an island?” Paris shrugs and returns to reading off his computer. “But you rarely go there and prefer the buzz of Seattle. Not that I blame you, since Heathens Hollow is cold, foggy, and filled with a lot of mysterious stories and secrets. Frankly, the island appears as if it belongs in a horror movie rather than in a billionaire family’s portfolio. It looks like you enjoy a fine wine and expensive parties, even though you never have a plus one.”

“Someone clearly has been doing his research,” I say. “Do you know my blood type as well? My first-grade teacher?”

I’m about to say more when Perseus returns and sits down, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He really does look like a pissed-off toddler. Heph stands behind him, like his bodyguard or something. Weird.

“Great, so Mrs. Godwin has a list of conditions that must be met before either of you receives your inheritance.” Mr. Carion reads my mother’s words again, like nothing happened. I’ve honestly been so caught up in taunting Eros that I forgot he was still in the room.

“First, dear Athena, you must take a six-month sabbatical from Medusa Enterprises. I believe you must take time to find yourself outside of your father’s influence.”

I don’t like the idea of taking time off work but will make it happen if it means fucking with these pricks in the room. My father is going to lose his mind over this idea, which fills me with some giddy excitement. I give a curt nod, and the lawyer continues reading my mother’s words.

“You must host lavish parties in this mansion. At least one a month. Part of the deal your father and I struck was that I would spend the remainder of my days as a recluse and never be seen outside this house. You are to use this home to live the life that I was denied. Be social, make friends, have fun. Life is about more than work. But that does not mean you can turn this home into a bacchanal. Any media scandal with merit will mean an immediate forfeiture of the inheritance.”

Really, Mom? Have fun, but not too much fun. If she only knew. I may technically be a virgin, but that doesn’t make me a fucking prude. But fine. No media scandals.

“My boys—Perseus, Heph, Eros, and Paris, if he chooses—are all to remain in this home, and you are to live here full time until you reach the age of thirty.” The lawyer stops to take a sip of water. “The boys have been my protectors in my darkest days, and I want the same for my only daughter.”

The lawyer pauses and studies each one of us. I think we all must be too stunned to speak.

“So, I have to live with them?” I ask. “One big family under this roof? Is that what I’m hearing?”

“That’s it. She gets my home, but she has to allow us to stay,” Perseus says.

“No,” the lawyer continues, “the six-month sabbatical is the only thing limited to Athena. If you want your money, you and the others must continue to live here with Athena. You are to protect her. No harm is to come to her while she is living in this house, by your hand or any other. Failure to do so, will mean you all forfeit the entire fortune.”

No harm to be done to me?

Who the fuck are these guys if that stipulation even has to be made?