Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
APHRODITE
A ll eyes locked on me.
A suffocating darkness wrapped around me as my world began to collapse. Ouranos’s deal with the Olympus Syndicate had stripped me of any sense of worth, reducing me to nothing more than a mere bargaining chip in my father’s ruthless game.
The realization hit me with the force of a sledgehammer, igniting a searing rage that made it nearly impossible to keep my emotions in check. My heart hammered violently in my chest, and my fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Each breath felt like a struggle against the oppressive weight of my own helplessness.
I was determined to conceal any hint of vulnerability, to mask the turmoil roiling inside me from my father’s cold, calculating gaze. Every ounce of anger I felt was an attempt to shield myself against the crushing reality that I was nothing more than a pawn in his ruthless scheme. Before exiting the meeting, I plastered on a fake smile and nodded in agreement, but inside, rage consumed me. My footsteps echoed as I stormed toward my bedroom, seeking a moment of solace before the sudden upheaval of my life. The air was so heavy and stifling in the manor that it made it difficult to breathe.
The terrifying stories of Olympus Syndicate, the feared motorcycle family, were spoken in whispers and instilled fear in those who listened. Their reputation of being the most dangerous gang in Aeolopolis City was earned.
I pressed my trembling hands against my forehead, feeling a shiver run down my spine.
I needed to run.
My pulse thumped loudly in my ears as I grabbed a bag from my closet, adrenaline sending tremors through my body. Tears flowed down my face as I clutched onto the crumpled bills and gun my brother gave me.
Without another thought, I threw on a tracksuit and shoes, then quickly zipped up the bag. I snatched a hat off my shelf, attempting to tame my unruly curls as I hurried to the Juliet balcony. Swinging the doors open, I felt the cool breeze brush against my face. I tossed the bag to the ground and quickly swung my leg over the railing. I wasn’t going to wait to see what they had in store for me.
“What is taking her so long? Go and get Aphrodite, bring her down here!” Ouranos demanded, he spoke with an animalistic growl, the urgency in his voice growing with each passing second as it echoed from the hallway.
A wave of nervousness washed over me. My hands became clammy, and my breath caught in my throat. I climbed down the thick ivy covering the brick wall, my fingers stinging as they dug into the rough vines. It was a long drop from the second floor, but I managed to make my way down. It wasn’t my first time using this as an escape route and I knew the ivy gave me enough to grip onto keep me from falling. Picking up the bag, I sprinted toward the forest, my heart pounding as the deafening thud of my footsteps reverberated in my ears.
Within the forests dense foliage, concealed paths unveiled a route that led straight to the beach. If I managed to get there, I could find a hiding spot until it was safe. Flashlights illuminated the area, casting shadows as the faint sound of men shuffling around echoed in the distance. Retreating was not an option.
I raced through the pitch-dark forest, pushing branches out of my way. The sky was a dark abyss looming above me. I slid down the dirt banks and crawled under a fallen tree. Fear overwhelmed me as I leaned against the cold, wet surface. With a quick glimpse over the log, I saw the flicker of flashlights weaving through the thick underbrush.
“Aphrodite!” people called from various directions. The haunting echoes reverberated throughout the forest, intensifying my sense of internal doom.
Before the lights could get closer, I pushed off the muddy ground and continued my descent down the hill. I sprinted, heart pounding, knowing my life was on the line. Every nerve was on edge, my senses sharpened as I scanned the shadows for danger. I sprinted, my life hanging in the balance, constantly on alert for any sign of the henchmen following me.
Fear surged through me, shoving me to go faster, desperate to escape. In an instant, I lost my footing, and I slipped and tumbled down the rugged dirt hill, frantically grasping for anything to hold onto. My mind went blank as a surge of fear took over, and with a sickening thud, my back crashed into a jagged rock. Pain thundered through my body, but I fought the urge to give up.
My head spun, and I pressed my hands against my forehead, desperate to block out the terror that loomed ahead. Gasping for air, the pain tightened its grip on me, the metallic taste of blood lingering on my lips. Covered in mud, I forced myself to rise, pushing through the throbbing pain in my ankle.
A bright light landed on my face.
The clouds emitted a thunderous crack as the rain began and a frigid wind brushed against my face. I collapsed to the ground, aware that escape was impossible. The light drew near, so I shielded my eyes with my hand to protect them from its intensity.
“Just kill me now! I will never be his wife!” I screamed with all my might, hoping my voice would reach the heavens. I blinked to adjust my vision, the beam of light unmoving as I saw who my captor would be.
Ares.
He dropped to one knee, pushing his hoodie back, the flashlight casting sharp shadows across his face. His dark eyes burned with an intensity that pinned me in place, igniting a confusing, undeniable pull within me. My breath hitched, a sudden rush of heat flooding through me, unable to tear my gaze away from him, even as I struggled to understand why I felt this way. With a gentle touch, he brushed my swollen lip, and a soft gasp escaped me. “I need to bring you back.”
“No! Just say you couldn’t find me,” I violently shake my head as I pleaded for my life.
“No one’s going to lay a finger on you, not while I’m around.” His eyes locked onto mine, while his jaw twitched with tension.
He was an enigma that made my heart go wild. My throat tightened as the heat of his fingers slipped away from my skin.
My lips trembled and tears escaped my eyes despite my efforts to remain stoic. Defeated, he hoisted me into his arms. As he carried me through the forest, I rested my head on his chest. He smelled like leather and warm, rich amber. An undertone of tobacco clung to his jacket. I clutched onto him, feeling the strength of his arms bound me to his comforting warmth.
“Why are you protecting me?” I implored, placing my hand on his firm chest, capturing the beat of his heart.
“Your brother was a friend of mine.” His voice trembled as he whispered, “He told me to protect you if anything happened to him. This, moving forward with our father’s plan, is the only way to keep you safe.” His eyes darted around the forest as if he expected danger to arise from the shadows. Ares’s voice carried the weight of his sadness, leaving a lingering sense of sorrow in its wake.
He was the friend—the person Titan mentioned .
Dread washed over me.
I nodded, then pressed my head against his chest again. I could feel the rapid thumping of his heartbeat against my cheek. The manor’s imposing silhouette grew smaller as we disappeared into the distance.
“How did you know about this street?” I inquired, scanning the surroundings. I noticed we were on the road I was running toward.
“I used to meet your brother here. Nobody ever uses this route. I figured this is where you’d run off to.” Ares’s voice sounded rough and raspy. I struggled to discern his facial expressions in the darkness with beads of water dripping down his face.
“I was easy to p-predict,” I stammered, embarrassment made my cheeks burn.
He licked his bottom lip, with a smirk, “Maybe, but that’s what makes me reliable. I know what you’ll do before you even do it.”
As we reached the forests edge, I noticed a man straddling a motorcycle, parked next to his own. Ares set me down, the rain still drenching me. I trailed behind him, observing the man in the helmet. The name embroidered on his leather vest identified him as Hades .
Ares handed me his helmet, and I took it from him. My heart thrummed in my chest as I imagined the dangers that awaited us on the road. “Hop on,” he urged, “before the night swallows us.” I grabbed his damp hand and swung onto the bike.
Ares pulled me close, my heart pounding with a mix of unease and excitement. My fingers brushed against the hard lines of his well-defined muscles, his broad shoulders bearing the emblem of the Olympus Syndicate. I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, feeling the rumble of the motorcycle beneath us, every inch of him radiating power and control.
Ares shouted over his shoulder, “Hold on!” as he pulled his mask over the lower half of his face. He started the engine and trailed down the slick road at a decent speed while Hades trailed behind. I laid my head on his back, closed my eyes, and felt a sharp pain in my chest .
The roar of his engine reverberated through the stillness of the night, as the flicker of streetlamps flashed above us. Time felt like it was being stretched and rushed all at the same time. Ares turned his head ever so slightly, his brown eyes deepening to a captivating shade that sent a shiver down my spine.
As we entered the Olympus Syndicate compound, I was stunned by the bustling city hidden within its walls. I had always assumed they lived in some rough part of town. The rumors painted them as the cockroaches of the city, but this was nothing like I’d imagined.
A tall building towered in the center, casting shadows over the people below, while smaller buildings clustered around it. The clubhouse flickered with light as muffled music seeped through the closed doors.
The rest of the group had already parked, their laughter echoing in the distance as we pulled into an empty spot. Though the rain had ceased, my body still trembled from the bone-chilling ride, as if the storm’s fury continued to haunt me.
With the engine silenced, Ares swung his leg off the bike. He extended his hand, and I placed my trembling one in his, letting him guide me into the clubhouse. My cheeks burned, and I shook from the cold and fear that permeated my body. As we entered, I was embraced by the sudden warmth of the clubhouse.
“You found the princess!” Zeus shouted, propping himself up on the bar. Ares quickly dropped my hand as he moved past me without a glance. His indifference was a blade, cutting deep and leaving me hollow as he moved toward a blonde, rendering me nothing more than a shadow in his wake.
Maybe the electric charge I felt between us had been nothing but a figment of my imagination. Perhaps the heat in his eyes was merely a trick of the light, a desperate projection of my own desires. Yet, as I watched him walk away without a second glance, doubt crawled at me, sharp and relentless, gnawing away at my certainty. The ache in my chest twisted painfully, as if the connection I thought we had was nothing more than a cruel illusion.
Of course, he had a girlfriend. The thought hit me harder than I expected, a strange pang of something I couldn’t quite name twisting in my chest. It shouldn’t have mattered—I wasn’t marrying him; I was marrying his brother. But the knot in my stomach told a different story.
“Are you capable of having a conversation? Or are you a mute?” Zeus sneered as he approached me, his tone dripping with contempt. Ares had no resemblance to his father. Zeus stood at the same height as him but had lighter features. His icy blue glare made me feel weak.
“I can speak,” I responded.
Zeus’s gaze slithered over me, a predator sizing up its prey. I felt the weight of his scrutiny, making me feel exposed.
“My son finds you quite intriguing,” he said, his smirk carrying an undercurrent of menace. “You might believe you have value here, but don’t deceive yourself. We all have our roles to play.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing as he continued. The room’s oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in on me, heightening my sense of dread.
My eyes fell upon Hephaestus, standing just behind Zeus. His face had a scar that ran along his temple to his jawline. From the whispers that I’ve heard over the years, I knew that Hephaestus was in a terrible motorcycle accident that caused him to become deformed.
You could tell he had once been an attractive man. His well-defined jawline, accentuated by a neatly groomed black beard, gave him a distinguished look. His icy-blue eyes, striking and unmistakable, mirrored those of his father. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel a disturbing presence about him. Something inside me felt off, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach.
Hephaestus approached me with a noticeable limp in his stride, yet he still radiated dominance. His fitted black t-shirt clung to his muscular frame, highlighting his powerful presence despite the slight hitch in his step.
He was the epitome of a bad boy, with tattoos adorning every visible inch of his skin. “You’re soaked,” he remarked, noticing the water dripping off my clothes. “Come on, let me take you to my room so you can dry off.”
“Your room?” I gulped, realization hitting me that this was the man who was going to be my husband. I wasn’t ready to share a space yet, nor was I prepared to be some woman that he could do whatever he pleased with. Despite everything, I refused to let the fear of being mistreated again consume my heart. I stiffened, and my gaze locked onto Zeus with wide, terrified eyes, frozen in anticipation. “I demand to have my own room until we’re married.”
The laughter was malicious as it pierced through my ears, fueling my rage. I clenched my fists, ready to confront those mocking me.
“Demand?” Zeus’s laughter filled the air, each mocking chuckle a stab through my heart as tears welled up in my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I stared into his cold, calculating eyes. Hephaestus’s eyes narrowed; his stare filled with a fury that made me want to squirm.
I would not let them intimidate me.
“Is that a problem?” I retorted. They expected me to submit to them, but I would fight with everything I had before allowing anyone to lay a hand on me.
Zeus’s nostrils flared, but I held my gaze steady. The thought of being confined to Hephaestus’s room sent chills down my spine, imagining what he might impose upon me.
“Fine,” he snarled through clenched teeth.
“What the fuck?” Hephaestus growled. His face turned red, and his fists clenched tightly into fists as his voice seethed with venom. “She’s mine.”
His statement made me shudder, and I scanned the room, looking for a way to escape .
You won’t have me, I thought.
Zeus’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing with a cold fury. He stepped forward, towering over Hephaestus. “Hephaestus, you don’t make demands here,” Zeus’s voice was a low, dangerous growl. “I’m the president of this MC. You forget your place, and you forget who controls this empire.”
Hephaestus recoiled, his anger momentarily quelled by the sheer force of Zeus’s authority. Zeus’s gaze was unrelenting, a chilling reminder that even the most powerful within the Syndicate were subject to his rule. I could see the power struggle unfold, and for now, I was spared the immediate threat—but the danger was far from over.
“ You can stay with my daughter, Artemis.” Zeus exhaled deeply as he looked toward a woman at the bar. The one Ares was talking to.
His sister.
“Thank you, I appreciate the?—”
“I need a fucking drink! Where are the girls?” Zeus turned his attention elsewhere. Music filled the air, the thud of the bass sending reverberations up my body. Hephaestus gave me one last glare before stomping off behind his dad like a grumpy child. Artemis came around the bar, and Ares glanced over at me before heading elsewhere.
“Hey, Aphrodite, I’m Artemis, but you can call me Artie.” Artie’s sun-kissed waves cascaded down her shoulders. It added to her radiant beauty. Her petite height accentuated her curvaceous silhouette in all the right places. Her eyes were a mesmerizing blend of green, yellow, and brown, swirling together like a vibrant mosaic. Her warm olive skin radiated a glow, reminiscent of a life spent under the sun.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I shook her hand, feeling immediately comfortable in her presence. She had a sense of certainty about her.
“Let’s get you changed. You’re all wet!” She looked me up and down and said, “You can use the shower and get settled in at my place.” She paused and turned over her shoulder, “Watch the bar!” she shouted. I observed the girl now sitting with Ares. I gulped, that hollow feeling growing within as I tried to concentrate on Artie.
We left the clubhouse and headed toward the neighboring building. As I took in my surroundings, awe washed over me, making it feel like I had stepped onto a different planet. Everything was so unfamiliar, so far from what I expected.
On the side of the building's exterior, emergency steps led to the second floor. Artie walked towards them. We ascended the steps toward a sturdy, metal door. Artie turned the key in the lock and swung the door open, revealing a warm and inviting interior.
Her loft had massive windows that afforded a picturesque view of Neptune’s Abyss. The place had a small white kitchen with a spacious island. The living room had a massive sectional and a grand fireplace, the crackling warmth called to me. Art dominated the walls, and one piece caught my eye. It was a painting which depicted a skeleton wearing an opulent velvet cape on a large canvas. The flowers surrounding it seemed to transform into wings.
Artie leaned in and whispered, “Ares painted that. He’s an incredible artist.” I was mesmerized by the piece, as I saw the beauty within the pure darkness it had conveyed.
“Your brother’s talented,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible, afraid that my thoughts about Ares would betray me. From the corner of my eye, I saw her nod.
An ache settled in my chest, and I thought about Titan. I yearned for my brother, and my heart longed for his protection.
“Let me show you the bedroom,” she said. With a heavy sigh, she opened the door to a small, cluttered bedroom that smelled of faded perfume. A queen-size bed loomed against the massive window; casting shadows that made the room feel suffocating.
“This room is yours. Make it your own. I gotta get back to work. The guys are useless managing the bar,” Artie laughed, but her eyes lingered on me, studying my reaction as I surveyed the room. The space, though a temporary refuge, felt like a prison—a stark reminder of my new reality. The harsh truth of my forced accommodation settled over me, a reminder of the life I was trapped in.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, sinking onto the bed. I felt tears blur my vision, and her gaze remained fixed on me.
She sat on the bed as she spoke to me. “Take it one day at a time. We will make things work, okay?” She wiped the tear on my cheek. “Get some sleep,” she added. “Tomorrow will bring a fresh new day.”
“Okay.” I nodded, grateful for her comforting words.
Artie smiled at me before leaving the bedroom.
It felt as if I had traded one cage for another, each more suffocating than the last.