ATHENA

"I''m so sorry about my stupid brother. His obsession with Alex got out of hand. He shouldn''t have done that. If you want to kill him, you have my blessing,"n says, and I smile.

I do want to kill Arnold. But I''ve had enough blood on my name, and knowing Alex, he will just cause chaos.

He''s just like his father. I mean, we haven''t heard from John or know where his wereabout are since we got the form. But knowing Eli paid him a visit, I''m pretty sure he is on the other side.

And by otherside, I mean the world of flowers where no living soul exists.

"Your mother will be so upset when she hears that," I say.

"My mother loves me. She''ll understand." He passes me a cup of coffee, then sighs.

He looks like he''s deep in thought, pretty much his signature look. Alex once told men is different from us. I didn''t understand it then, but now... I''m starting to see it.

He processes feelings differently. Where we feel something at a ten, he feels it at a thousand.

It exins the way he loves his patients, how fiercely he protects his friends... and howpletely devoted he is to Sloane. He barely leaves her side.

But Alex''s words echo in my head like a warning,

"If he can feel that deeply with love, what happens when it''s hate?"

"What has you so gone?"n''s voice snaps me back.

I smile faintly at him.

"I just have so much to think about, you know. Unlike me, your life is per"

I stop myself.

Stupid and Insensitive.

Well done, Athena. Ten points for idiocy.

Butn just shakes his head with a soft smile.

"My life isn''t perfect yet. But once Sloane wakes up, it will be. She and Mum... they''re everything to me. Losing one would cripple me. Losing both... would end me."

He says it so calmly, like it''s a fact, not a fear.

Then he takes another sip, his eyes still distant.

"Why do you look spooked?" he asks, finally ncing at me. "They''re strong women. Nothing will happen to them. My God, Athena, since when did you be so sensitive?"

I roll my eyes, forcing a smile to my lips. "Sensitive? Me? Never."

"I''m just tired."

"You''re full of shit," he says casually, sipping his coffee. "You''re spiraling, and it''s obvious. You get this weird twitch in your eyebrow when you''re overthinking. You look like you''re decoding an aliennguage."

I chuckle despite myself, reaching for a croissant from the te between us.

"I hate that you notice everything."

"Hazards of being a gorgeous and talented Doctor. Of course, I notice, how else would my patients be saved?"

"The ego keeps growing in size, I see. Is that a must-have to join your gang gang?" Iugh.

"I don''t think I like another man making my Queenugh." A deep voice speaks behind me.

He ces a kiss on the top of my head before joining us on the table. "Should I prepare for World War three?"n leans back in his chair. "You better. Because you won''t know what hit you."

I roll my eyes, fighting the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Alex doesn''t sit like a normal person. No, of course not. He sprawls like a king, iming his throne, stretching one arm along the back of my chair, the other resting on the table like it owns the space.  s

His green eyes are fixed onn, narrowed... and territorial.

just provoke the most dangerous man I know.

Maybe that''s why they''re best friends.

"You flirting with my girl? Is death calling your name, Quinn?" Alex askszily.

"She wasughing at my joke, so technically, that makes me funnier. You can''t me the natural sense of humour, can you?"

Alex tilts his head, slow and calcting. "You know how many people I''ve buried for less?"

I choke on my coffee.

"Alex," I warn, swatting his chest with the back of my hand. "Stop threatening everyone you see."

He catches my hand mid-swat andfn6c6b Readplete version only at find{n}ovel/fn6c6b

kisses my knuckles. "Then stop being so cozy with my friends. I''ll be

a part in your ass if Kend up killing them all. I have to follow you everywhere."  s

therapy from thest time you two got touchy in public."

"You weren''t even there," I mutter.

"I heard things," he deadpans. "Walls are thin. And so is my will to live."

I snort, trying to hold in myugh,

but it escapes anyway, light and loud. Alex watches me with a crooked smile like I''m the only thing in the room worth noticing  s

My phone buzzes on the table, the screen lighting up with a message from

Isabelle.

I grab it quickly, still smiling... until I read the words.

"Athena, where are you? It''s Sloane."

My heart stops.

I sit up straighter, and the grin wiped clean off my face. The warmth drains from

my limbs as I read the message again.

"What is it?" Alex asks, instantly alert.