Page 40 of Infinity Chronicles 2
“So, I see you are.”
“I needed something done, she’s my employee. I asked her to do it.” Ares crosses his arms over his chest looking down at me. I, however, don’t feel the slightest bit intimidated by him.
“You call all your employees doll?” I tilt my head to the side like it’s a real question. Ares opens his mouth like he might respond, but I cut him off. “You realize that’s sexual harassment, right?”
Ares's face darkens. “We’ve been working together for years, she wouldn’t claim sexual harassment,” he scoffs.
“Oh, is that how you always address her? Or is itjustwhen you’re using her for something you need?” I make quotations around the word need. “And what a list I’m sure she’s accumulated over the years.”
“Are youactuallypissed about this?”
“Oh, I’m more than pissed about it. You think it’s okay to treat people like that, especially someone you act like you care about? That’s a bunch of shit. If it’s something she’s paid to do, you ask her professionally. Not like that.” I wave my hand getting madder and madder.
He opens his mouth again, but I keep going. “You’re using her, it isn’t anything about that, that’s okay.” I stand up, pushing into his space. There’s no way I’m backing down. If he’s willing to talk to her like that with me standing right here, what else is he willing to do to get what he wants?
Ares throws his hands up in the air. “You’re right. I knew exactly what I was doing, and exactly what to say to get her to do what I wanted. I will not apologize forit, because it would be a lie. If using her helps me protect us, then I’d do it every time.”
“Where do you draw the line, and at what point would it be too much?” I’m yelling now, leaning closer to Ares.
“Never.” He tips his chin up. “Think about that Laura. I’m not some superhero, nor do I have any illusionI’m the white knight. I’m the one that does the dirty work. The one who will always put our family first. Ifit takes me hurting someone else to do it,” Ares shrugs, both his jaw and eyes hard, “then so be it.”
I take a step back. “At what cost Ares? We could have sat here all afternoon and got that information. She doesn’t havemagic powers that make her better with a computer, not that I’m aware of, anyway,” I scoff.
“Laura,” I look down at Dante, his eyes are still a little droopy. “He knows where to draw the line, Ares wouldnever do anything to risk you, and what you mean to us.” How could he know what I’m thinking? I thought I had every confidence in Ares after we bonded, but apparently that’s not true because hearing him talk to Mia like that brought back a wave of insecurities.
“Says the guy that kissed another girl a few days ago,” I snap. I’m being defensive and I know it. Dante lowers his head, my razor tonguesucceeded in shaming him into silence.
I spin on my heels heading over to the windows across the room, feeling horrible for lashing out at Dante, but too embarrassed to apologize like I should.
Peering through the gauzy curtains I see the busy street below. People coming and going from several hotels, and loading into waiting cars parked on the street. Some with wide smiles as they chat with friends. How many of them are actually happy, not just plastering on a smile because that’s what’s expected?
I’ve been pretending myself, pretending that not knowing what happened to my mom isn’t killing me a little bit every day. PretendingI don’t feel guilty when she isn’t my first and last thought.
The guys have been taking up a lot of my time and energy, which is both good and bad. Good, because I can’t dwell on the fact that my mom is missing, and bad because I feel guilty for going on with my life. Cradling my forehead in my hands I take a deep breath.I should be relieved, feeling a push of excitement, determination, anything with this new information. Instead, I’m too worried to get my hopes up, because I think it’s going to be another let down. Frankly, I’m scared it may lead to answersI’m not ready for.
Ares and Dante give me space, and neither of them tries to fill my head with false hope or promises that everything will be okay, which I’m at least grateful for. The quiet grows oppressive within minutes. I want to apologize to both Ares and Dante, but I don’t really know the protocol. Mom and I never really argued, and I’ve had little experience with friends. I glance over my shoulder and see Dante sprawled out on the couch, his large frame taking up the entire sofa. Ares isn’t in sight, but the door to the bedroom area is open so I’m assuming he’s in there.
Making up my mind I walk over to Dante and take a seat near his hip on the edge of the couch. His eyes open slowly and he gives me a half smile. That’s all the permission I need to tell him, “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
He doesn’t tell me it’s okay, instead he says, “It happens.”
“Are you feeling okay?” I run my hand through his hair and Dante sighs.
“Very okay.” He snuggles back into the sofa, his arms reaching out to pull me onto his chest. I lay there with him for several minutes, half on the couch and half off, until his breathing has evened out and his body has gone slack with sleep.
That was the easy one, Dante was probably a lot more forgiving considering wejustbonded. Areson the other handis going to require a lot more finesse. I’m still mad at him and think he should be the one to apologize,but I can be the bigger person and admit I was wrong too.
I tap on the open door lightly, not wanting to wake up Dante. I know Ares won’t be sleeping. He never sleeps during the day. “Youdon’t need to knock,” he rumbles.
Rounding the door, I close it so it’s just barely cracked. I spy Ares leaning against the headboard, his knee kicked out to the side as he looks at the laptop on the bed in front of him. He glances up at me, his eyes scanning my face.
“Sorry,” we both blurt at the same time.
I sag a bit, relieved that this won’t be some big fight or an awkward apology where I’m the only one who admits I did something wrong.
Ares stands up from the bed and walks closerto me andthere are still several feet between us when he stops. He places his palm behind his neck and squeezes. “I, uh…” He stammers, before admitting, “That probably wasn’t necessary.” Ares looks down at the ground then back up at me. “Asking Mia like that.” He winces like he hates admitting it.
“I could have tried talking to you about it, instead of being so sarcastic.” I study my striped socks against the carpet.
