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My shoulders dropped. “You serious?”

“Dead serious.”

I groaned and fell back against the pillows. “This is prison.”

“It’s detox,” he corrected calmly.

My eyes cut toward him. “And my cousin?”

His expression shifted. “Not yet.”

Ugh.

I sat up again, irritation creeping back. “You said you were going to help me.”

“I am.”

“Then let my people come.”

“Your people helped you destroy yourself. You’re not getting a phone either.”

I scoffed. “You love controlling women. That’s why you went and got five of them.”

“I love keeping people alive. Zay, Emily, and your nephew are coming to stay here for a few weeks. You won’t be alone.”

Hearing my brother’s name made me feel a way. He was the only person in this world I halfway trusted. I tried not to show the relief.

“Now come here.”

I frowned. “I don’t want to be close to you like that.”

“Stop acting like you don’t need love right now. I’m not going to try and fuck you,” he said. “Just come here.”

I hesitated before I slid out of the bed. The floor felt cool under my feet as I walked over. He reached for me and pulled me gently onto his lap, so I was straddling him. Normally, that would’ve sent me into panic mode. But his hands didn’t move anywhere inappropriately. They just rested lightly on my back.

Waiting.

So, I started talking.

“I’m scared.” The words felt foreign in my mouth. “I don’t trust my family. I don’t trust you either.”

His hand moved slowly up and down my back. “I know.”

“My mom’s a piece of shit,” I whispered. “My dad too. Zay threw me into this. He didn’t say no to them like he has always done for me.”

Ares’ hand stilled.

He gently grabbed my chin so I had to look at him. “Don’t do that.”

I raised my eyebrow. “What?”

“Don’t turn on Zay. He would never put you in harm’s way,” Ares said firmly. “The only reason he agreed to this arrangement is because it was me.”

That made me pause.

“Zay trusts me,” he continued. “So you should too.”

I looked away. “I’m tired of trusting people.”