Rush (Gods #2)(40)

"Okay … but why are you telling me this?"

"I just thought … all things considering, this might be something you'd want to know."

I finally hear the inflection in her voice, and I smile.

"Well, I appreciate you calling to tell me."

"No problem. I'm just sorry there wasn't anything more I could do regarding your case."

"That's okay," I tell her. "I understand."

"Well, that was all I called to say. You have a good night now."                       
       
           



       

"I will. You, too."

I hang up my cell, placing it back down on the table.

"Who was that?" Ares asks.

"The cop who dealt with my complaint. She called to tell me that Leo was  assaulted last night. Broke his nose and a couple of ribs. Beat him up  pretty bad."

Neither of them says a word.

And, suddenly, the silence at the table is deafening.

My eyes move from Ares to my dad and down to my dad's cut-up hand.

Then, they fly up to his eyes, and everything I need to know is written there.

A lump appears in my throat.

I don't condone violence, but … he did that for me. He went there and  kicked the shit out of the guy who had drugged me and hurt me because … my  dad loves me.

It might not be the ideal way to show your love to someone. But it's my dad's way.

"Dad … did you … beat up Leo Parsons?"

His eyes slide to Ares and then back to me. Then, he shrugs. "Yes. And  I'd do it again in a heartbeat. After what he did to you, the little  bastard is lucky that I didn't kill him. And you know what I found in  his pocket? A bag of those fucking pills that he probably planned on  using on someone else."

I gape at him in disbelief, emotion swimming inside me. "You could've gotten in trouble, Dad."

"He needed to be taught a lesson."

"Hang on. She said it was a couple of guys." My eyes swing to Ares. "Ares?"

"Arianna."

"Did you go with my dad and beat up Leo Parsons?"

He glances at my dad before looking back at me. "You want the truth?"

"Always."

"Of course I did."

"But … we weren't even together then."

"So?" He shrugs. "That fucker hurt you. So, I hurt him. Multiple times."

I stare at them both, filled with so much love for them that I could  burst. They risked so much for me. My dad would've been fired without a  doubt and quite likely prosecuted. Same for Ares. He would have probably  lost his contract and been prosecuted.

My lip starts to tremble.

"I-I … thank you. Both. So much." I know I'm thanking them for kicking Leo's ass, but I don't know what else to say.

"Don't thank me," my dad says roughly. I can hear emotion thick in his  voice. "I'm your dad. That's what dads do." He shoves his chair out. "I  need to use the bathroom."

He strides out of the room, and I stare after him.

"You do know that Coach is going in there to bawl his eyes out." Ares chuckles softly.

"My dad doesn't cry."

Ares grabs me and pulls me from my chair and onto his lap, his big hand  cupping the nape of my neck. "News flash: men cry, babe."

"Did you cry over me?" I ask teasingly.

"A fucking river." He stares at me, and I gulp at the seriousness in his eyes.

I look at the door my dad just went through. "Do you think I should go check on him?"

"No." He laughs. "Give him a minute. Let him keep his man card."

"Okay. I just … I can't believe you both did that. Kicked Leo's ass like that … for me."

"Full disclosure?" he says, still staring into my eyes.

"Always."

"Believe it. Because there isn't a single thing that I wouldn't do for you, Ari. I fucking love you."

I press my lips to his, kissing him. "I love you, too."





Today is Zeus and Cam's wedding day. We're in Port Washington to  celebrate with them. The wedding is being held in the back garden of  their home.

It's a small and intimate wedding, close friends and family only.

The garden is private and secluded. It's also huge with woodlands at the  back. There's a tent set up over to the right, where the reception will  take place. And the section where the wedding will actually take place  is adorned with flowers, hanging lanterns, and fairy lights.

It all looks beautiful.

There are seats on either side of the makeshift aisle leading up to the  altar where Zeus is standing in a traditional tuxedo, waiting for his  bride. Ares and Lo are at his side, both in tuxes.

Ares looks incredibly handsome. I rarely see him in a suit, but when I do, it makes my hormones go all kinds of crazy.

I'm wearing an off-the-shoulder dusky-pink satin dress with an organza  skirt with leaf and flower details on it, teamed with pale pink heeled  sandals on my feet.

I'm seated up front on the right, going with traditional etiquette, with  the groom's side being seated here. Cam's friends and family are over  on the left. There aren't tons of people here. But that's how they  wanted it. Only the people who matter are here, and I'm proud to be one  of those people. Kaden is sitting next to me, smart and handsome in a  navy-blue suit. Next to him is Ares's dad Brett. He's a big guy. I can  see where they all get their size. But they don't look like him. I've  seen pictures of their mom, Grace, and they all look like her. She was  incredibly beautiful.                       
       
           



       

I've gotten to know Brett a little better in the time Ares and I have  been together. He's a good man who made a lot of mistakes, but he  doesn't know how to make up for them. He reminds me a lot of my dad in  that respect.

And, in some ways, Brett reminds me of myself-in the difficulty he has  with alcohol. I understand that about him, which is something Ares never  will. Only someone who has to deal with the addiction on a daily basis  will understand.

I don't understand how he could've chosen alcohol over his children. I know for sure that is one thing I would never do.

Brett is still sober, and this is the longest stretch. I think he's in  it for the long haul, like me. And, even though he's sober and trying,  his relationship with Ares is still difficult. But I think it always  will be. Because Ares can't find it in him to forgive him for failing  them when they all needed him, and I do understand that.

Although I do forgive my dad for letting me down. My relationship with  him is getting stronger each day. We've talked a lot. Mostly me about  how I felt about his failings when I was younger. He's listened. And  he's working on making up for it. Being a better father to me. There's  no magic fix, but we're a hell of a lot closer than we once were.

I guess, in a not-so-nice way, what happened with Leo, was the catalyst to finally make my dad start talking to me, opening up.

Speaking of Leo, the police never did catch the people who beat his ass that night.

I heard he left New York and moved to San Francisco for a job there.

He didn't have much of a career left here. My dad froze him out of the  press for the Giants, and my dad knows all of the other teams' coaches.  After a few words in people's ears, Leo was blocked out of their press  access, too.

I can't say I was sorry to see the lying, deceptive scumbag leave New York.

And I'm still sober, if you were wondering. I got my one-year chip a  while back. I'm hoping to be a sponsor one day. Luke continues to be my  sponsor, and I see him on the regular and go to weekly AA meetings. I  still need Luke's support as my sponsor and friend. He and Ares get  along really well, too, which is great.

I still have moments from time to time where I think I need a drink, although not as often as they once used to be.

And Ares is there for every single one.

He's my rock. My strength.

I look at him and remember all the reasons I don't want to drink. All the reasons I need to stay sober.

I had my gallery showing, and it was a huge success. Ares insisted that  we display our painting. So, I did. Of course, it wasn't for sale, as it  already had an owner. But it was right to see it there among my other  paintings.

Moira was thrilled to see it hanging with my other art.

Everyone came that night to support me. Ares and my dad were there along  with Missy, Lo, Zeus, Cam, and Kaden. Every member of the Giants team,  including players and staff. Mary, my dad's PA, came along with her  husband, Ted.

Dec was there. It was because of him I had a place in the gallery. And  there were all the industry insiders that Moira had invited.

I sold out of every painting that night.

Ares and I celebrated afterward in bed.

It was a really, really good night.

I've had two more gallery showings since then. Both equally as  successful. I'm more and more in demand, meaning I've had to reduce my  time on the shop floor at the gallery to spend more time painting.