Delinquents Can't Change

Chapter 32

Apollo Castrel
I woke up to a knife at my throat. I cleared my throat. Surprisingly it wasn't Ares but the youngest of his partners. I glanced slightly at the bread knife. I sighed and took the knife gently from his grip. I tossed the knife onto the carpet and then put my dagger in his hand. I adjusted his hand. Fixing it so he could cause harm. But his watery eyes and shaky breath were not gonna cut it.

"You see them do this too often, and it works for them. You don't want to kill me, you want answers. So how about it love? What questions do you have for me?" I whispered and removed the blade from my throat.

"My dad," Greg croaked. I nod, placing my dagger in its holster around my thigh. The kid was straddling my waist, I moved him slightly since my leg was killing me in this position. I fold my good leg underneath me and the other still on Wolfe. The last thing I need is the agent awake. Greg sat in the open space, knees to his chest.

"I'm not sure you'll like what I say," I mumbled.

"Tell me anything. Belle doesn't say anything. It's like he never existed to her," Greg sniffled. 

"He was a good friend," I said.

"You had friends?" Greg scoffed, wiping tears aggressively. I chuckled.

"Yes, I know it's a shocker people might like me. We were best of friends. Eventually, we split. He works with the Giver. I work with the feds for now, but I used to be privately contracted. Your dad was smart, quick to think and quite the charmer," I said. Greg looked at his hands fondly.

"He was nice?"

"Complete hardass. Nice to kids though. Or newbies in our field. He took quite a liking to that girl Belle. She did only like women though. I assumed they formed an alliance, he gave her kids, and she gave him a sense of being. It's why she doesn't talk about him because besides being a donor, he was nothing important," I said.

"She's... she's a lesbian?" Greg looked up at me confused.

"Didn't tell you?" I clicked my tongue. Greg shook his head. Eyes shining with amusement and curiosity.

"I don't think I've been home long enough for storytime but it's not like we talk either," Greg said.

"She was the bitch. Absolute badass woman," I said. I remember she ended up beating up her fair share of abusive men and women in her prime.

"No fucking way?!" Greg said excitedly.

"Killian was flirting with her, she refused, and when he kept going she was able to catch him off guard and put him in an arm lock. It was the greatest thing I've seen. It's why you and Jaime are half-brothers. He's your dad, but you two have different moms. He's a good guy but in all my years of being friends with him, I don't think he would be a dad. It's why she says your uncle. Killian is biologically your dad but not by other means," I said. Killian was somewhat like me. Everyone around him was always constantly in danger. 

"And how can you say that?" Greg snapped.

"Because I raised two kids of my own and seen how he tried to help," I said. Greg flinched.

"Did he even try?" Greg mumbled, curling up tighter in the small space I left him. He reminds me of a younger Ares, how he was terrified of his failure in academics or his struggle to make friends in school. I ruffled his hair.

"He tried his best. But our best isn't always enough Gregory," I whispered.

"I know... tell me more. About anything," Greg closed his eyes. Relaxing toward my direction. He leaned on me. 

"Ares was a toddler when we were I took him away from everyone. Our father gave up some cash, Harry helped us to the States where we met your boyfriend's mother. Lucifer wasn't there yet, he wasn't brought from foster care until around five years later.  Ares would call her Ms Clara. I would be busy on assignments while Kris would take Ares down to the beach. The two would collect shells. Ares made me this little painting with some of those shells for Father's day," I whispered. Greg was snoring on me now. Drooling as I stroke his hair. Ares would sleep like this during storms. Where the flash floods would break into our makeshift home while we were on the run. Lyola would be sleeping on my other side, and I tried to keep them fed, and warm as storms would rage on near the coast. Even Harry wasn't able to follow us all the way. She had to leave us at the airport.