Chapter Thirteen

Ares POV

Club business is always a bitch to deal with. There are always small time gangs attempting to climb their way up the ranks, rival gangs who think they can impede onto the Rebel Angels territory, and of course the gangs that dabble in the selling of human flesh. If I get even a whiff that a gang is selling prostitutes or even kidnapped people to sell, I put that shit to an end. I have seen too much war to see the trauma those innocent people go through and I refuse to stand by and watch people be sold to the highest bidder, to do as they please. No one deserves that kind of life.

After scaring some start up, I head to the garage to work on a beautiful '98 mustang. When I enter the garage, the heat is on full blast, instantly causing my shirt to stick to me.

"Fuck, doesn't anyone know how to turn that bitch off?" I grumble, shedding my jacket and rubbing my hands as I approach the black beauty.

A few of the boys snicker. "From what we've heard you only know how to turn bitches on," Ralphie, a middle aged man with black hair, grey streaking big portions of his hair, says.

My gaze snaps to his. "Refer to my woman as a bitch again and I'll break your fucking fingers." The threat is very real. No way in Hades would I let any man disrespect her. Aphrodite is the light that I didn't know I needed. I was content to be miserable and alone in gore and war, then I saw that beautiful brunette firecracker at that Gods damned bar and I knew, I knew I was a goner. I knew there was no way she was going to be some meaningless fling in my life.

I had to make her mine, so I did. I made her fall in love with me and there is no going back.

The day drags and I fire off a few texts to Aphrodite, some teasing her, others just saying how much I want to be home. I never thought I could be a settled down kind of man, but anytime I think of Aphrodite all I can see is the white picket fence, children and Max, with Aphrodite draped over me every night, her soft breathing soothing me to sleep.

She doesn't answer, which is okay, she is at work after all.

The man with a mustang picks up his car, the engine running much more smoothly as he drives away. With my client gone, I glance at the clock, four in the afternoon. Still no text from Aphrodite. Maybe she decided to dress herself in whip cream after all and is just waiting for me at home.

With quick goodbyes to the boys, I hurry home. The lights are off and Max looks up from his dog bed, seeing that it's me he lays his head back down.

Grabbing my phone I call Aphrodite.

The phone rings and rings and rings, just when I think it's about to go to voicemail, she picks up.

"Hey baby, I am home, missing you."

"You will be missing her. Come to the warehouse on second boulevard, if you come fast enough we may leave her cunt intact."

Ice runs through my veins. There is only one person, one gang stupid enough to take what's mine and that's the Crimson phantoms. There will be hell to pay. They think they can bait me by using Aphrodite? Well I'll come, but I am playing by my rules.

-~-

Me, Jez and Hog ride up to the warehouse. My pulse thrums through every part of my body. All this time I was worried that being the God of War would turn her away, never in a million years did I think that being affiliated in a gang would put Aphrodite in the crossfire, although, that's exactly what happened to Jez's wife. Her brother was part of the Crimson Phantoms and when he decided to leave they killed his sister, leaving Jez without his wife.

Over my dead body will this happen again, and there is only one way to ensure that. One way that will feel like I have lost a limb, but if it will keep her safe, then she must be away from me. Right when she finally said she loved me... Karma's a bitch.

Wordlessly, I point to the doors and as one we enter the warehouse. Guns fire, Jez and Hog are already ready, pistols raised and downing more than a few of their men. In the middle of the room is Aphrodite, taped to a chair, blood coating her nose and chin.

She stuns me by smirking, leaning back in her chair, slightly arching, flipping her long, golden brown hair over her shoulder. "Hello boys, it's about time you showed up." Her voice fills me to the brim and I prowl towards her. There she is, my strong woman, sassy even in the most dire of situations.

"Nice to see you, love." I play along.

Her honey brown eyes sweep over me as they did the night at the bar, capturing me just like they did even then. "I do apologize that I am not cleaned up. Me and Greg over there just got a little carried away."

My eyes follow where she pointed with her chin to a man with black hair and a nose that looks like it has been mangled one too many times. "Ah, dove, what have I told you about playing without me?" I run a finger over her chin, the blood flaking under my touch, they will pay.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. Not when he was so easily riled up." Her beautiful eyes spark, holding me captive in her gaze. I rip the tape from her wrists and ankles. She stands to her full height, eyes conveying everything she won't say aloud. I'm okay, don't worry about me.

I turn to face the man called Greg, most of the Phantoms that were in the building are either down or have vacated the premises. Greg reaches for his gun and shoots me once in the shoulder and another time in the thigh, pain lancing through me, but it won't last long, being the God of War has it's perk, like being shot and not having any lasting damage.  Quickly, Aphrodite is on him, nails digging into the sensitive skin of his neck. Blood pools down his neck as she seeps her nails in deeper.

"I would say you would regret capturing me, but you won't be alive long enough to regret this poor decision." Her lips come close to his ear as she continues. "It isn't a mercy to die at my hand. Goddesses can be vengeful creatures." Her eyes glow with a soft luminescence and he gurgles, attempting to scream and flee from her grasp, understanding flicking across his face. She rips his head off his body, letting both thud to the ground.

Once everything is silent, her body sags and I move to catch her, holding her by the shoulders. "Did they hurt you?" I ask, skimming my hands over her.

"Just a black eye and a bloody nose." She sounds so tired, all her bravado vanishing.

"None of this should have happened." I murmur, shaking my head.

"It's okay, it's not your fault. Let's go home." She tucks herself under my arm and we head out.

She may not understand now, but this is my fault and I am going to make damn sure this never happens again, even if it kills me.

-~-

Once Aphrodite is cleaned up and my bullet wounds heal, we lay in bed, restlessness settles in my veins. Even with her soft body cradled against me, I can't get her bloody face out of my mind. She can obviously handle  herself, but that was never the question. She is not safe with me and maybe one day there won't be someone trying to bait me, there will be someone trying to hurt me by hurting the one I love. Then, it will be too late, but now? I have the power to take that out of the equation all together.

"Aphrodite," I whisper.

She hums, rubbing her face in my chest. My heart melts, making what I am about to do ten times harder.

"Aphrodite, we can't do this."

That get's her attention.

She snaps up, brow furrowing. "What do you mean?" Her voice wobbles and I can tell she already knows what I am talking about.

I clear my throat, slipping my arm from around her, reluctantly. "We shouldn't be together."

Tears fall down her cheeks. "Why are you doing this?"

Tell the truth. If I tell the truth she won't hate me. "Because this never would have worked out anyway." Lie. The words taste like ash in my mouth. I would have sold arm and leg to have made it work with her.

"Y-yes it could have. There is nothing preventing us from doing this." Her voice cracks and I have to look away from her.

"You're a distraction. You put the club in danger and the brothers come first."

A sound I never want to hear again comes from her mouth as though I physically struck her. She slips out of the bed, holding a hand to her stomach. "But you wanted me to fall in love with you. You have made it your stupid fucking mission for months, to make me love you. You dared me to love you, to let myself free. Why are you doing this?" Anguish twists her words, contorting her lovely features.

"Leave, Aphrodite. Don't make this any harder than it has to be." I still don't look at her. I can't. If I look at those eyes, her face. I would forego all of this, beg her forgiveness and never let her leave, but this is what's best for her.

She stands there for long moments, staring at me, beseeching me to look at her, but I won't. I have to do this or things could end up so much worse for her than what happened today.

With a quiet sob she leaves, I hear Max's nails clipping against the floor, following his distraught owner, sending me a murderous look. I am sorry, buddy. Take care of her for me. The door slams shut and I press my forehead to the closed door, hearing a heart stopping sob echo in the hallway, until I can hear no more.

"Be free, my sweet dove."