Wrath of Love (Olympus Syndicate #1)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ARES

I felt like I was being toyed with by the devil as I watched my angel slip further away from me. Because of potential gossip spreading, I had to keep my distance from Aphrodite.

Fear gnawed at me, the terror that she might discover my brother's accusations that I was somehow involved in Titan’s death. She couldn’t catch wind of what was being said. If she did, she might believe it. Although it wasn’t true, any suspicion she had could destroy everything between us.

Despite my efforts to stay away, the thought of being close to her consumed me.

The temptation to taste her again was maddening; I craved the feel of her in my arms, her heartbeat syncing with mine. She was my temptress, my siren, luring me in even as she kept her distance. Seeing her with Hephaestus was agony. Watching her let him into her life, into her heart—it was like watching her slip further into a trap I could see so clearly. He was no good for her. His charm was nothing but a mask, a carefully laid snare.

Hephaestus's hunger for power was insatiable. He’d stop at nothing—lie, betray, twist the truth—to get what he wanted, and I knew he was using her to get it. The thought of her caught in his web, manipulated by his lies, made my blood boil. But getting close to her again was dangerous. I knew that. I felt it. Still, no matter the risk, I couldn’t stop wanting her. I couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to hold her again, to make her mine like she should have been all along.

I was losing myself, teetering on the edge of obsession. But the need to be with her, to shield her from him, was stronger than my fear of what could happen if I gave in.

I grabbed a glass of whiskey from the bar, the burn of it sliding down my throat doing little to dull the ache inside. As I watched her effortlessly play the part of the perfect bride for my brother, something ignited within me—a burning anger that had nothing to do with her. It was me. I had failed her. Failed to say what needed to be said, failed to keep her from slipping through my fingers. And now, here she was, slipping further away, and it was my silence that had pushed her into this life.

Aphrodite’s eyes flicked toward me, a brief glance that silently acknowledged the tension hanging between us. She leaned in, whispering something in Hephaestus's ear before standing.

My gaze trailed her every step as she moved gracefully through the room, past him and the guests, making her way toward the long table adorned with a lavish display of flowers—Gaia’s handiwork, meticulously arranged to perfection.

Time dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity. When I finally glanced down at my watch, the ten minutes had passed. Careful not to draw any attention from my crew, I quietly slipped away from the table, all too aware that Hephaestus would soon sense something was off.

I slipped out of the grand hall and into the dimly lit hallway, my heart pounding as I quickly scanned my surroundings. The corridor was eerily empty, the silence unsettling. With a deep breath, I made my way toward Ouranos’s office. But just as I turned a corner, a firm grip seized me, yanking me into a dark room before I could react .

Aphrodite squeezed my hand, her eyes locking with mine. "Ouranos is in his office," she whispered.

“I don’t remember seeing him leave,” I murmured, my mind scrambling to recall who had stayed behind at the table in the grand hall.

“That’s because you were too busy staring at me.” Her lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes glimmering in the moonlight streaming through the window. The pull to touch her was almost unbearable.

“Is there anywhere we can listen in on what he’s doing?” I asked, my curiosity heightened as I wondered if the manor held any hidden secrets.

“There’s a closet next to his office with a vent. My brother and I used to eavesdrop through it when we were kids,” she said, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Moving silently, Aphrodite led the way down the hallway, our footsteps barely making a sound on the polished floor. We crept closer to the closet, and with a quiet twist of the handle, she pushed the door open, slipping inside. I followed, closing it softly behind us, the room instantly consumed by darkness.

I pulled out my phone and flicked on the flashlight, the soft glow illuminating her face for a moment. Her scent, that intoxicating blend of jasmine and warm vanilla, enveloped me, stirring a raw, primal need to pull her into my arms and feel her beneath my hands. But I forced myself to focus, the danger we were stepping into far more important than the temptation that clouded my mind.

The small, cramped space of the closet made everything feel unbearably intimate. I stood close to her, our bodies almost brushing, the heat between us palpable. The proximity, her scent, her warmth—it was enough to make my body react, a sharp reminder of the nights we'd spent together. My thoughts drifted back to the feel of her beneath me, the way she fit so perfectly.

The memory alone made me ache for her all over again. I could see the way she shifted, struggling to find space, but also affected by the tension between us.

It was undeniable, this pull—dangerous, consuming, inevitable.

My eyes began adjusting to the dark, and I instinctively reached for the light switch. She quickly stopped me, her hand wrapping around mine. “If we turn on the light, they’ll know someone’s in here,” she whispered, her breath warm against my skin.

I licked my bottom lip, trying to steady myself, but the feel of her breath sent a pulse of heat straight through me; my dick hardening in response.

Being here with her felt like we were teenagers, sneaking moments in the dark, like a forbidden game of seven minutes in heaven. Every inch of me wanted to pull her close, feel her lips, run my hands along her thighs. I wanted her—more than anything.

I saw her eyes widen slightly. She gestured toward the vent, her voice soft but steady. “If you remove it, we’ll be able to hear better.”

My gaze lingered on her longer than it should have, my mind split between the task at hand and the unbearable desire simmering between us.

Reaching for the vent, I pulled it off the wall as quietly as possible. We listened closely, hearing Ouranos talking to someone on the other side.

“We still don’t know who it could be.” I recognized my father’s voice.

“What?” Ouranos’ voice boomed, followed by the sound of something crashing which echoed through the vent.

“We’ve got not leads,” my father said, his frustration evident. “We’ve talked to everyone in the area, but there’s nothing to go on after the explosion. Even the guy at the police station had no new information. The scene was cleared.”

“How is that even possible?” Ouranos’s voice was sharp with disbelief. “You’re telling me you have absolutely no idea who did this? This isn’t just some random act of violence. Titan’s death isn’t a small matter—it’s a direct threat to the stability between our families.”

He paused, his voice growing more intense. “You’ve got to understand, Zeus. Our alliance is fragile. There’s a lot riding on the marriage between our families, and now this. I need to know if this is a message, a power play. If it turns out your people are behind this, it would mean a betrayal of the worst kind. Do you realize what that would mean for our relationship?”

Ouranos’s voice dropped, filled with accusation and suspicion. “How can you be so sure it wasn’t orchestrated by someone from your side? I need answers, Zeus. If it was your people who did this, it’s more than just a threat—it’s an act of war. And you can’t expect me to sit idly by while my son’s death goes unpunished.”

“Come on, Ouranos,” Zeus’s voice was cold and dismissive. “What would we possibly gain from your son’s death? The marriage to your daughter? You know as well as I do that she’s not some prize to be won. Her value to us isn’t measured by her family’s wealth or influence.”

Zeus’s tone grew sharper as he continued, “Maybe you thought we had some grand scheme in mind, but you’re wrong. This isn’t about some twisted game or hidden agenda. We’re dealing with a situation that’s beyond our control, and there’s no profit in Titan’s death for us. The real question is why your son was targeted. If you’re looking for answers, maybe you should be asking yourself why he was mixed up in something that got him killed.”

There was a tense silence before Zeus’s voice cut through again, more forceful this time. “We’re already stretched thin dealing with the fallout. The wedding is days away, and that’s where our focus needs to be. We’ve done everything we can to address this so-called crime. If you’re looking for someone to blame, you’d better be ready to confront the harsh reality that Titan’s death was a result of his own choices. It’s a mess that neither of us wanted, but accusing us without evidence isn’t going to solve anything.”

Ouranos’s frustration was evident. “Let me make one thing clear, Zeus. If it turns out that your family had anything to do with Titan’s death, you’ll wish you’d never crossed us. You’ll beg for mercy before I’m through with you.”

As the heated exchange continued, Aphrodite rubbed her forehead, clearly distressed. I reached out, touching her cheek gently, trying to offer some comfort.

Despite the harsh words being exchanged, the underlying truth was that neither side had concrete answers. We were all left grappling with the uncertainty of Titan’s murder and the strained relations between our families.

“We are going to find the person who killed your brother,” I promised her, my voice firm despite the uncertainty hanging over us.

“There’s nothing here!” she said, her voice cracking with frustration. “No one knows anything. Why even bother trying to uncover the truth? If we find out what really happened, what do we do then?” Her eyes brimmed with tears as one slipped down her cheek. I reached out and gently wiped it away.

“We would get what you wanted—justice for Titan,” I reminded her, my gaze steady. “This wasn’t a random act, Aphrodite. There’s a reason behind it. We need to uncover that reason.”

Her arms slipped around my waist, and I held her close, feeling the tremble in her body as she rested her head against my chest. “What if it was your family?” she asked quietly, her voice muffled by the fabric of my shirt.

I pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. She was trying to hide her tears, but the pain was evident. “It wasn’t us,” I said, my tone reassuring. “I know it wasn’t us. We wouldn’t have any reason to harm Titan. I promise you that.”

She searched my face for the truth, her expression a mix of hope and doubt. “But if it wasn’t your family, then who? Why would anyone want him dead?”

“I don’t have all the answers yet,” I admitted, “but I do know that we have to keep searching. There’s more to this than we know, and we won’t stop until we find out the truth. I’m not going to let this go. Not for you, and not for Titan.”

Aphrodite nodded slowly, her resolve visibly strengthening despite the exhaustion in her eyes. “Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll keep going, but I need you with me. We need to do this together.”

“We will,” I promised, my voice resolute. “We’ll get through this, and we’ll find the answers. We owe it to Titan, and to ourselves.”

I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, closing my eyes as I savored the warmth of her body against mine. I understood she was hesitant to get too close, to deepen the emotional connection between us. She needed her space, and as much as it hurt, I knew I had to respect that. The struggle of maintaining this distance was excruciating, but it was the only choice I had. I let her go and immediately felt empty in the absence of her touch. I turned toward the doorway and whispered over my shoulder, “Wait for five minutes before you come out.”

I navigated the shadowy hallways, my heart thundering against my ribcage. The urgency in my steps quickened as I noticed the waiters slipping out of the grand hall, their departure a silent signal that time was slipping away. Just as I neared the door, Hephaestus appeared from the gloom, blocking my path.

“Where the hell have you been?” His voice was a harsh whisper, like a storm brewing. His grip on my forearm was unyielding, a vise of raw authority.

“None of your business,” I retorted, yanking my arm from his grasp with a fierce pull. The force of the movement nearly spun me around, and I glared up at him, defiance blazing in my eyes. The air between us crackled with electric tension, every second charged with unspoken animosity.

“Where is Aphrodite? She always seems to be tagging along with you, like a lost puppy.” he spat. “Where is my fiancé?” Hephaestus bellowed, his face red with rage. He crossed his arms, his gaze briefly meeting mine before shifting away. I followed his line of sight and saw Aphrodite approaching us .

“What’s going on here?” Aphrodite asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and feigned innocence as she tilted her head slightly, trying to gauge the situation.

Hephaestus’s eyes burned with frustration, his voice low but seething with anger. “Where the hell have you been?” His grip on my forearm tightened, a physical manifestation of his irritation.

“I told you, I just needed a moment,” Aphrodite responded calmly.

I stepped in, trying to ease the escalating tension. “I went outside for a smoke, Hephaestus,” I said, giving his chest a light pat. “No need to be paranoid. They’ve got meds for that.” I nodded towards Aphrodite. “Come on, you two,” I said with a smirk. “You’ve got an engagement to celebrate, remember? Try to enjoy it.”

But as I turned to leave, Hephaestus moved in front of Aphrodite, blocking her path. His expression was intense, his anger barely contained. “You think you can just bounce between my brothers like you’re some kind of plaything?” His voice was thunderous, and he gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his glare.

Aphrodite flinched, her eyes wide with a mixture of hurt and defiance. “Nothing happened!” she shouted, her voice cracking as she struggled to free herself from his hold.

You mother fucker , I thought as I clenched my fist.

“You get your fucking hands off her!” I snarled, my voice sharp as a blade.

I stepped toward him, my pulse quickening. Hephaestus turned to face me, his eyes narrowing in defiance. My heart thundered in my chest, a primal urge for violence surging through me. In one swift motion, I slammed Hephaestus against the rough wall, the impact reverberating through my bones.

His hands tried to pull my arms away from where they were tightly wrapped around his neck. “Don’t you ever put your hands on Aphrodite!” He gasped as his neck tensed under the pressure of my grip, my hands desperate to squeeze the life out of him.

“Ares! Let him go!” Aphrodite pleaded, her voice desperate as she tugged at my shirt. Her fingers clutched the fabric, pulling me from my rage as I finally met her eyes.

I released him.

My hands trembled at my sides, fists clenched, barely holding back the fury that surged through me, each pulse of rage filling my heart to the brim. I stepped back from Hephaestus, who was hunched over, gasping for air.

Aphrodite, fear flickering in her wide eyes, scrambled to pull him away, her movements frantic as she shielded him from my wrath.

I had to get out of this place—before it swallowed me whole, before the darkness inside me did something I couldn't take back.