Powerful (The Driven World) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,30
that coming to light. It was why they gave her the assignment that nearly killed her.”
I remember that story. It was everywhere. Many of the world’s rich and famous got tied up in that mess. Some were jailed, others took their own lives, and some fled to countries with no extradition. I had no idea Athena was instrumental in bringing that sordid mess into the public arena.
“Athena helped with that story?”
Todd gives a slight nod. “Athena was the one who found out about the girls, but she was new, so they gave it to a seasoned reporter. But that story opened the door to many more.” Todd unfolds his arms and scrubs a hand down his face. “She’d only been with them a short time, but she was so desperate to prove herself that she took risks. The next story took her to New York. Athena was undercover, trying to expose a drug ring. Except somehow, they found out who she really was.” Todd looks up and locks eyes with me. “They had her for three days. The things they did to her, I’m amazed she survived. Athena was…” Todd stands, puts his hands in his pockets, and looks out the window, “… raped, they took turns with her.”
My stomach lurches, and I run for the bathroom. I’m heaving, but nothing is coming up. Todd is beside me, turns on a faucet, and hands me a wet washcloth. With my hand resting on the toilet, I slide down to the floor. Todd fills a glass with water and holds it out to me.
“I didn’t know.” The words come out strangled, and I’m finding it hard to put a sentence together as I take the offered glass. I drink it all down, but I can’t look Todd in the eyes. “I-I didn’t know.”
“No one knows. I’m betraying her confidence. Not even her parents or TB know. I only know as I’m her friend and not a threat. Athena doesn’t date. Athena doesn’t leave this town. Athena stopped living, but tonight, when I saw her in that dress and heels, I knew she wanted to live again.” I glance at him, then the floor. “She still cares for you, but if what I told you is too much for you to handle, then fuck off now. Athena deserves better.” The harshness of his tone and the conviction that is absolute in his meaning, wash over me.
Can I handle what happened to her?
Am I man enough to help her?
Will she even want help from me?
Then I replay his words in my mind, I’m her friend and not a threat.
“I’m confused. Are you her boyfriend or only a friend?”
Todd holds out a hand to me. “Think you can keep your dinner down?”
“Yeah, it was a shock, that’s all.”
Leaving the glass on the floor, I grab his hand and let him pull me up. For a moment, I think I’m going to vomit, so I bend over and put my hands on my knees and breathe deeply.
“I’m gay.”
My head snaps up so quickly, I nearly do lose my dinner. “What? Does Athena know?”
Todd chuckles. “Yes, Kris, she knows.”
Closing my eyes, I nod. Of course, she knows. I’m an idiot. All I could see was this good-looking guy who seemed to have it all together and was with the one thing in this town I wanted, the one woman I’ve always loved.
Straightening up slowly, making sure I don’t feel nauseous, I give him a small smile. “Athena chose well when she picked you to share her story with. And I promise not to tell her. I’ll let her tell me when she’s ready, but why didn’t she tell her family?”
Todd turns and leans against the sink, crossing his ankles. “She knew TB would want to kill them, and she said she couldn’t handle the looks from her parents if they knew. Athena told them she was assaulted, apparently coming home black and blue. And afterward, she had plastic surgery to remove the scar on her side.”
“Scar?”
“Yeah, one of them sliced into her ribcage. Athena couldn’t look at it without the memories flooding back, so she had it removed.”
“How long have you known Athena?”
With a tilt of his head and a smile, Todd says, “I came into her life two years ago, not long after she had the surgery. She’s come a long way since then. We met on the beach.”
“Did they catch the bastards who hurt her?”
“Two ended up dead when the police raided the building,