Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"No killing, Luca!" I give him a side glance as he drives to whatever is our destination.

"This is why I wanted you to go to the hospital! You'll just get in the way." He complains.

Hospital.

One word.

But has the power to make my heart stop.

I don't want to go there hopelessly. I can't face Alex like that. I want to go there with hope and a solution. My only prayer is we get there on time because Rayen will never forgive me.

"Do you know what caused his heart attack? Could it have been induced by something or someone?" I ask with a pounding heart.

Truth is, guilt has been eating me and a part of me is afraid that I may have been the reason behind this.

Luca shakes his head.

"No. He knew it was coming. He even prepared a will and put some of his assets in a trust." He turns to look at me, "With you as the trustee."

"What?"

Luca doesn't repeat himself. He just keeps his eyes on the road, both hands tight on the wheel, his jaw clenched like saying those words physically hurt him.

I know he's hurting and panicking just like I am. Maybe even more. Having made a will and put things in order doesn't make any of us feel better, it scares the shit out of us.

"I'm the trustee?" My voice is barely above a whisper.

"You heard me."

"But... why?" I ask, completely stunned. "After everything? I don't understand."

He exhales sharply, a bitter kind of laugh slipping through. "Because Alex never stopped loving you. Not for a second. Doesn't matter how mad or betrayed you felt, Athena. You're it for him. Always have been."

I shake my head, my thoughts spiraling.

He made me the trustee.

Me.

I hold power over things he spent his whole life building... and I don't even know a thing about running a business.

He was telling the truth about not having used me for the formula. I should have listened to him.

Tears sting my eyes again, but I push them back this time. I've cried enough. What Alex needs isn't my guilt. It's action. It's strength.

And I won't let him down again.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I murmur after a long pause.

"Would you have believed me?" Luca glances at me. "You hated him. Hated me. You were running on pain and anger. I had to wait until you saw the truth for

yourself. Besides, I was mad at you too. Angry even."

I look away, biting down hard on my bottom lip.

"I don't hate him," I whisper. "I never really did."

Luca doesn't reply.

awkward. It's heavy, loaded with everything we've seen, heard, done in the past twenty-four

Eventually, I speak again.

a stupid order asking us not to use the formula did he?" I ask with a

"Using the formula will put you in danger. So he must have done something to stop

do

his tongue. "The fucker doesn't get to die on me. Not

my insides as a

a good friend,

sure to tell him that when he tries to

the headrest, I turn my head to

the plan? Where

hiding out

do we

eyes gleaming with

We don't get

what am I supposed to do? Just stand and

"You'll cover me."

what? My stethoscope and

and it's the first real

though, as his expression

isn't

he won't cross. Especially with you. He has had eyes on you for many years now. I've always wondered why, but I thought it was to just provoke Alex. Now

I Finish the

regret it? Getting the formula I

head.

do with it, but now I do. won't let sick bastards ruin what my parents sacrificed their hives for! I

in his eyes. Maybe admiration. Maybe disbelief. The man is so

lets out a breath like he's been holding

that

to sell it too? Isn't Elias also looking for it?" I ask, remembering the Med center lan launched

head,

of Arnold's

loves lan more than life itself,

on't think he's

that stupid." s

I digest Luca's words.

who is

road ahead stretches into the city, the

buildings taller.

he know we're coming?" I ask, breaking the

I've given up. Or that I'm too busy to

in the

catch

gives a small

into an underground parking lot beneath a run-down building. Luca

and reaches into the backseat, pulling out a

there?" I

revealing a mess of wires, tools, and a

handing me a small

while I'm

thought I was covering

If anything goes

"Luca-"