ALEX

"I didn''t know traitors had birthdays." I click my tongue as we step into the ridiculously decorated room.

Gold balloons, silk table runners, champagne, and a cake so tall it probably has structural support.

My sister either does a great job or a shitty job at hosting events there''s never an in-between. And judging by the way the glitter is already sticking to my shoes, this one''s screaming "Emotional breakdown wrapped in sparkle."

Athena loops her arm through mine and leans in. "Be nice."

"I am being nice," I mutter, my eyes narrowing on the guests. "I showed up."

"Like you wouldn''t." My wife rolls her beautiful eyes in that dramatic way she does and I''m already turned on.

Scratch that, her existence alone turns me on.

Peeling my eyes away from her because I''d hate to move around with a boner, my eyes find Katelyn''s.

She smiles as she walks over to me.

"Look at you all grown up! Why don''t you call and visit me anymore?" She pulls me in a tight hug.

"I''m sorry. The past months have been crazy."

"No worries! I''m d I can now see you. Athena! How are you sweetheart?"

"I''m fine Mrs Quinn how are you?" My wife smiles.

"Nonsense! We are family, you can call me mum" She winks.

"She loves to collect us like trophies!" I tease, cing my hands in my pockets to keep from touching Athena.

"You can''t me me! I''m a sucker for more kids. Butn''s father wasn''t for the idea so here we are. Collecting bonus babies!" She sighs.

"Mrs. Quinn" Sloane''s voice seems different.

She''s nervous?

"I told you to call me mum, pretty girl!" She reprimands her.fnb553 Th?s chapter is updated by fι?dnοvel/fnb553

I shake my head,

"If you''ll excuse me for a bit. Great party princess."

She rolls her eyes so hard I''m shocked they''re not stuck on the back of her head.

"You''re probably mocking me."

"You know me so well." I hold back augh.

I kiss my wife''s lips and her forehead before walking away to join Luca as we wait for the birthday boy to arrive.

"I wonder how they''ll get that stubborn ass over here." Luca says the moment I reach him.

I scoff. "Doesn''t take much to lure in a traitor."

Luca chuckles.

"Still mad?"

I give him a look. “Does my face look mad?"

The fucker looks up thenughs.

"You''re one petty little bitch."

I grab a bottle of water, "At Least I''m not ying push and pull with my fuck buddy."

"I should getn to grovel at your feet before this bitterness spreads around the world."

"I''m not bitter," I say again, my voice like granite.

Luca raises a brow. "You say that the way alcoholics say they''re just social drinkers."

"More like people who pretend they''re not a thing." I spit as I spot Isabelle walking towards him.

Luca shrugs, casual as ever. "I''m not exclusive with anyone. You know me."

I smirk. "That sounds really sad."

Isabelle halts her steps. A look of hurt in her eyes.

I raise my ss to her. "Hey, Isabelle."

She nods, but her eyes linger on Luca a moment longer, unspoken words hanging

in the air.

Luca nces her way, then back at me.

"Fuck."

I grin. "Sorry? I didn''t catch that."

"Nothing. Ian is walking in. Let''s step closer."

I don''t say anything else.

Because I don''t need to.

His silence and sudden foul mood says enough.

Our heads turn as the double doors swing open.

Sloane, who went to get him walks in, her hand in his as she guides him since he

has covered his eyes with a ck cloth.

He''s smiling too like he''s got no idea what''sing,

"Silver, what''s going on?"

She moves her hands slowly, then stands on her tip toes even though she''s in

heels then echoes and cheers shout,

"SURPRISE!!"

A tidal wave of cheers erupt.

I sip my water while Luca just raises a brow.

There is no way in hell I''ll cheer and p like I''m crazy.

making me finally start to slowlye to terms with the situation.

He turns to Sloane.

And kisses her.

Slow and tender. Like they''re alone in this ridiculous glitter-drenched room.

The guests eat it up.

"Aw!" I hear women behind us swooning.

Athena makes her way toward me again, sliding her arm through mine.

"Don''t say it."

"I didn''t say anything."

"You''re thinking it very loudly."

She''s not wrong.

just walked through the gates of heaven.

People flock to him like moths.

Athena squeezes my hand. "Please behave."

I kiss her temple. "I''m always on my best behavior."

That earns me a look and Iugh.

God, I love this woman!

We walk towards four eyes and I pull him into a shoulder hug,

"Break her heart and I''ll fucking slice you up. Happy birthday, brother!"

"And if she breaks mine?"

"Then you probably deserve it.

She''s an angel wink at my little

a double

menace who gives me a

thumbs up with a full smile

stered on her face.

belongs to s

“I''ll take that as my birthday gift!”n says when Athena walks forward and hugs

him, making me grind my teeth.

"I don''t think there needs to be contact for you to wish him a happy birthday." I

grind out.

She pulls away and gives him a huge box she worked on for weeks.

"Thank you Dr. Dawson!"n teases, making everyoneugh except me.

He really has death calling him.

My wife pulls away from them and hooks her arm in mine and kisses my cheek.

Just like that, the anger goes like it was never there.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

I check the ID and it''s Noah.

I step away from the crowd, ncing at Athena first, she''sughing at something

Katelyn said, the light catching her features just right.

God, she''s beautiful.

I swipe to answer.

"I hope there is a very good reason why you''re calling me."

"I found them."

I frown. "Found who?"

"The ones responsible for manipting the flood. The one who killed Athena''s

parents."

My blood goes still.

The music. Theughter. The party.

All of it fades to nothing.

“Noah,” I say carefully, "if this is some kind of sick joke-"

"It''s not," he cuts in. His voice is hoarse, and low, like he hasn''t slept in days. "You don''t have to believe

me dust hear me out, it''s already

hard for me to tell you this  s

I stare out the window, clenching my jaw. "Why would I believe anything from

you?"

There''s a pause.

"Because I owe her. And you. And this... this is the only way I know how to atone

for what I did."

I don''t answer.

My fingers tighten around the phone. My other hand balls into a fist at my side.

"I''m sending you everything," he says quietly. "I don''t expect forgiveness. Just

give her the truth. She deserves that much."

He hangs up.

I stare at the screen, my pulse hammering.

Behind me, the party is still going.

sipping champagne looking

carefree.

s

For a second I contemte burryng the truth so that I don''t put her through pain

again.

Because if Noah''s right...

Then someone out there is still breathing when they shouldn''t be.

And I won''t let them take another breath for long.

So I unlock my phone and take a look.