Chapter 14 | The Devil of Siren City

CANDY CROSSED THE bridge into Olympus.

No one stopped him. Candy did business everywhere in Siren City, and no one would dare interrupt him.

There was a good chance he was doing business for one of them.

His motorbike roared as he soared past the checkpoint at the end of the bridge. The guards stiffened, then calmed at the first glance of him. Everyone knew Candy’s bike. It was white with a single bright pink heart painted on the side and shiny features made of dazzling chrome.

Candy gave the guards a wave as he passed (fought the urge to give them the finger, too) and turned north toward Scarlet Street. Weaving between the cars, the lavish concrete jungle became a blur as Candy replayed the events of the evening in his head, searching for anything he might have missed.

Skylar.

Who is this woman? Where did she really come from?

And what does she want with Adrian?

Despite all the mystique, Candy didn’t want to admit that he liked her. She was cute, her laugh infectious. A sincere pleasure to be around. There was an innocence in her eyes one doesn’t see often in Siren City; a brightness that only waned in the brief seconds when she looked at Adrian and a shadow passed through her irises.

What was that?

Why can’t Adrian see it, too?

Or, perhaps, he can, and...

Oh. Of course.

Candy couldn’t think of anything more dangerous than that.

He shook it off as he slowed his speed. Aphrodite’s high rise was ahead of him. He stopped at the gate and scanned his keycard, opening the underground parking garage. Rows of luxurious vehicles greeted him as he drove inside and parked his bike next to the elevator. Leaving it there, knowing it’ll never suffer a scratch, Candy boarded the lift and hit P for Penthouse.

“Please enter your authorization code.”

Candy tapped it into the keypad, his mind still spinning over Skylar. Over Adrian. His rock. His mentor. The closest thing to a father he’s ever had in his life.

“Access denied.”

Candy eyed the keypad.

“Please enter your authorization code,” the lift asked again.

Thinking that perhaps he mistyped it, Candy reached out and input his code once more.

“Access denied.”

Well, that’s odd.

The elevator came to a sudden stop between floors.

“Please wait for security.”

That’s annoying.

Candy pulled out his phone and dialed Aphrodite herself, very much not in the mood to deal with the jackboots who patrol the building.

“Where are you?”

“Funny you should ask,” Candy said. “I’m currently trapped in your elevator. My code isn’t working.”

“Stay there,” she said, groaning in annoyance.

“I—” Aphrodite hung up on him and Candy sighed. “I can’t imagine where else I’d go, but all right,” he finished as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.

Moments later, the elevator lurched to life and began its ascension to the top again. Candy waited, this curious new development just enough to keep his mind off other things. He pushed it all — Skylar, Adrian, their dinner — especially Adrian — into the depths of his mind, willing for it to stay there. Aphrodite, while lavish and shallow, did not stumble into her power. She took it with keen strategy and steady hands. Candy couldn’t afford to allow an ounce of truth to enter his eyes. 

She’d see it.

And his Adrian would be dead.

He wouldn’t let that happen. Not again.

“Sorry about that, Candy,” Aphrodite said as the elevator opened on her penthouse. “Had to change the locks.”

She spun around, her lily white dressing gown flaring as she walked across the hardwood floor.

Candy stepped off and instantly noticed the two guards flanking him on either side of the elevator doors. Black uniforms. Red insignia. Ares’ men.

Aphrodite was spooked.

“Was it something I said?” Candy quipped as he followed her through the pristine foyer to an even grander, more pristine living room.

“Now isn’t the time for your jokes, Candy,” she said, her golden hair whipping around as she glared back at him, her porcelain beauty stiffer than usual. “Have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

Aphrodite charged down a narrow hallway toward her master suite. She pushed open the tall double doors and waited for Candy to catch up before closing them behind him. “Where were you tonight?” she asked.

“I told you,” he answered. “Having dinner with a friend.”

“What friend?”

Candy saw the suspicion in her eyes and steeled himself. “Rackham,” he said; the first name that came to mind. “He made port for the first time in months, so I went to see him.”

“Would he corroborate that?”

“Of course.” Candy furrowed his brow, faking confusion. “What’s this about, Aphrodite?”

Aphrodite looked him over, her lips tensing. Without a word, she walked toward the landline phone on her bedside table. A few button pushes and a voice came through on speakerphone, asking what she needed.

“Get me Captain Rackham,” Aphrodite said into it, then at Candy, “Don’t move.”

Candy didn’t blame her for doubting him. He just... thought she’d be a bit more subtle about it.

Well, shit.