Chapter 56

**Artemis**


I had not planned on discussing names for our children right now but seeing Blue's face light up made it worth it. She clearly wants a child and although at one time I only wanted one as an obligation I find myself having thoughts about what it will entail. I meant it when I said Blue would not give birth in the states with how often mothers die from not enough post birth care. She will not lose her life because of a negligent system. Also it would be best for her and the baby to stay in a calmer environment for the first few months. I will be sure to take leave for some time after the baby is born to help Blue.

“Artemis?” Her voice catches my attention and I look at her.

She becomes more beautiful to me everyday. I can’t help but look at her and take in each feature of her. Feeling her body against mine was as close to heaven as I’ll ever be. Her skin is soft and the hotel body wash makes her smell good enough to eat, which is why I couldn’t resist doing just that. She is also very responsive and a pushy thing.

“Yeah?” I finally say.

“Has your family contacted you at all? Maybe we should see what sort of damage our sudden departure caused.”

“I don’t care. You needed to be protected and that’s what I’m doing. This trip is to help you recover from all that you’ve been dealing with.” I remind her. “I wanted to ask…and don’t feel obligated to answer, but the man who attacked you…did he look familiar? Have you noticed him following you?”

Her eyes fall to her lap and I see her bite the corner of her lip. When she looks back up at me I see tears in her eyes.

“He was my foster father. He and his wife were suspected of killing the kids in their care recently. I don’t know how he found me but he did. I’m so sorry Artemis.” She starts to cry and I’m on my feet in an instant.

I crouch down next to her and grab her hands. “Why are you apologizing?”

She sniffles. “Because he broke into your house and it’s my fault. He was after me and now you might not be able to go back there. The press know about the house now and there is a chance my foster might come looking for me as well.”

Her foster father?

“Blue I don’t give a fuck who that man was to you, none of this was your fault.” She shakes her head to disagree but I place my hands on ether side of her face. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Her watery eyes look up at me with uncertainty but I won’t let her think about this any more, so I lean closer and kiss her. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the way she softens at my touch and sighs whenever I kiss her. She may not know it but she has the same effect on me.

When I pull back she slowly opens her eyes.

“Nothing matters more to me than you being safe. Understand?” I make sure she sees in my eyes I mean every word.

“Okay.” She says softly.

I move in to kiss her again when I get an alert on my phone. She pushes my chest slightly and tilts her head to look at the offending object on the table.

“Are you going to get that?” she asks but I shake my head and kiss the side of her neck instead.

Fuck I’m addicted to her.

My phone starts to ring making me groan in annoyance.

“Just answer it.”

I pull away from her but don’t move away from her yet. “I’ll get back to this in a minute.”

She smiles at me. “I expect nothing less Mr. Rhodes.”

Uh, the way she says that is making me hard.

I have to move away from her now or I won’t be coming up for air until tomorrow morning. Pulling up all my self-control and walk back over to my chair and pick up the phone.

“Rhea?”

“Hey Bro.” She sounds a little short of breath.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

“I’m sending you a link and you might want to watch it. Shit is hitting the fan big time…for all of us.” She ends the call and a second later I get her text.

I open the link like she told me to and it leads me to a gossip website…one not owned by my parents.

“What do you have to say about the rumors that your son eloped?”

It’s coverage of my mom coming out of the building we were meant to get married in. A crowd of people are following behind her and my father and the don’t look very happy. My mom is trying to hide her face from the camera but my father doesn’t bother hiding his anger.

“What about the rumors that your son has been secretly working for the government?”

That question gives me pause.

My father stops and turns to the camera. “My son has never nor will ever be involved in the corrupt ways of cyber monitorization.”

He doesn’t bother saying anything and storms off with my mom trying to catch up with him. What upsets me the most is seeing Athena right behind them. She must have been through hell when Blue and I never showed up. It’s the first time in too long that I feel guilty for putting my sister in an uncomfortable situation.

“What is it?” Blue asks and I quickly lock my phone.

“It’s nothing.” I try to start eating again hoping she’ll drop it, but that isn’t her style.

“It’s obviously not nothing. You looked pissed.”

“I thought I always looked pissed.” I say instead of answering her.

“You do but I have decrypted some of your expressions and you were defiantly angry. Now stop stalling and tell me what’s going on.” She crosses her arms and raises a brow at me.

“Blue.” I warn her but she stands and walks back inside.

I jump to my feet and follow her. “Where are you going?”

She doesn’t say anything and continues walking until she reaches her bag. I stand behind her and see her pull out her phone.

“Blue.” I say with another warning tone but she whirls around to face me and I feel a chill down my neck from the look she’s giving me.

Holy shit she looks scary right now.

“Don’t. You think keeping things from me keeps me safe well I tell you something…I am not made of glass and I won’t be hidden away from reality because you think it’s good for me. Screw that!” She types something on her phone and holds it up to her ear. “Rhea? Hey, fill me in.”

She walks into the bedroom and closes the door behind her. There is another sound that sounds a lot like a lock being slipped into place. Damn stubborn woman. I decide to do some more recon on the pile of shit forming back home. Once again pictures of Blue and I are everywhere. Most of the articles are pure speculation and many are way off claiming that she had been pregnant and lost the baby and shit like that. There were people reporting on what happened to her, but I guess that story doesn’t sell as well. Besides, if my parents had a hand in any of this Blue losing our baby would bring more sympathy for them than her being attacked.

That would bring too much attention to just her and my mother would hate that. I scroll through several other articles and stop on the one showing a picture of my parents coming out of our canceled wedding. I can see in my dad’s eyes that he isn’t going to let this go easily, and I expected as much. I should be more careful about dealing with him, but I can’t seem to back down completely. Besides I am so close to having enough money to buy him out that I can afford a little provocation.

“Artemis!” Blue yells and has me running for the bedroom.

She throws the door open, and a look of genuine fear is on her face.

“What happened?” I ask stopping in front of her.

“We need to go home.” She turns and I can hear her rummaging through something.

I walk into the room to see her packing away our stuff.

“What are you doing?”

“I told you we have to go home.” She says without looking at me.

I walk over and grab her wrist so she can’t avoid looking at me. “Why? What happened?”
She takes a deep breath. “Your dad showed up at your office with a slew of lawyers and is talking about shutting you down. We need to go home.”

“How do you know this? Alan would have called me.”

“He was escorted out of the building along with Abigail. She sent me a ton of messages about it. You need to get back and make sure your father doesn’t destroy your company. Now move your ass.” She tugs her arm and I let her go.

He’s gone too far this time, and he’s going to regret it.