Apollo's Gift (The Greek Gods Series) (21 page)

He pushed deeper, a relentless drive that went beyond owning her body. He demanded her soul. Release upon release wracked her until she shattered, again and again, until he owned every inch of her.

After, he gathered her to the warmth of his body and looked down at her, concern wrinkled his brow. “Are you alright? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No. I just…” She sniffed and peered through bleariness at the man she’d waited for. “I love you so much. I didn’t…I never imagined.”

Apollo ran his fingers along her jaw. She blinked to focus and saw a tear glistening on his cheek. “No words, beloved.” He kissed her.

He was right. Their hearts had already spoken.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Three hours later, Apollo and Cassie, still flushed from passion, strolled to Andromeda’s home. He drank Cassie in. Redness from his beard stubble shone on the tender skin of her face and neck. Other proof of his ardor hid beneath her clothes. Each time he took possession of her, his desire deepened. He’d never be sated. She’d wrapped herself around his heart and he’d keep her there. Apollo wished for days rather than hours to enjoy each other. Later, after they’d made arrangements for Jason’s trip to America, then he’d make love to Cassie in a manner befitting his skill.

Apollo wrapped on the door. They waited and again he knocked. No answer came. His gut turned in on itself. Something was wrong. He opened the door and walked in with Cassie close behind. The sight that met them twisted his nerves all the way down his spine. A painted chair turned on its side. A broken wine bottle on the floor, its contents poured out in a red pool on the brown tile. “Andromeda,” he called and strode by broken glass littering the ground. He’d seen this before: the signs of struggle by those forcibly taken from their homes.

“Jason?” called Cassie. She retrieved a blanket from the floor and placed it in Andromeda’s chair.

“They’ve been taken,” said Apollo, his eyes scanning, hoping to find a hastily scrawled note.

“They?” asked Cassie, pulling at a lock of her flowing hair. “Who would kidnap them?”

“It must be the group working with Hydra.” He rummaged through paper on the dining table. “There’s no other explanation.” If he’d retained prophecy, then he would’ve seen this and his friends wouldn’t be in danger. He looked up to the ceiling and mentally implored his father:
Now would be a fine time to reinstate my gifts.

“But why?  Jason had refused to work with them and he’s just a kid.”

No response from Zeus, but Apollo clung to hope. He glanced back to Cassie. “They must need him. Jason is a useful young man, skilled with explosives.”

“Maybe they didn’t take him,” she said twisting her hair until it looked like an inky cord of rope. “He might have gotten away.”

Apollo shook his head. “No. They’d only take Andromeda to force Jason’s cooperation.”

Footsteps sounded from the back of the small house. “Jason?” said Cassie.

“I thought you’d return.” A dark-haired man trained an automatic weapon on Apollo. Four other men, two carrying similar guns, strode into the cramped space.

“George,” snarled Cassie. “You rotten bastard.”

The man nodded to her. “A pleasure.”

Apollo wouldn’t chance Cassie’s life by fighting them. He was mortal and five against one wasn’t the best odds.

“You escaped from us once, Cassie, but not again,” said George. “Tie them up, him first.” He tossed a coil of rope to a freckled young man. George leveled the gun on Cassie as he spoke to Apollo. “Give us any trouble and she’s dead.”

Freckleface moved behind Apollo. “Hands behind your back.”

Apollo glared at George, but complied. Trapped by mortals, he ground his teeth in frustration. When he was able, he’d thrash the lot of them. Freckles bound his wrists together.

A man, the shape of a brick, yanked a pack off of his back and reached inside, pulling out a glass bottle and a cloth. Cassie’s eyes widened and she backed away.

A skinny young man grabbed her arms from behind. “Hold still. It won’t hurt.”

She struggled and he shook her hard. Cassie stumbled on her heels. “Let us go. You don’t know who you’re messing with.” She stared at Apollo with hope shining in her eyes.

Her trust stabbed into him. He had to do something. Apollo glared at Skinny, but not so much as a puff of smoke wafted above the man’s head. Apollo growled.

George smirked and brandished his gun. “We know who you are Cassie. The secretary of state’s daughter is a useful prize. I prefer to deliver you alive, but that’s up to you.”

The brick stalked toward Cassie with a rag clutched in his thick fingers.

She glanced to Apollo, panic stamped on her face, her mouth trembling.

He wouldn’t allow abuse of his bride, no matter the cost to him. Apollo launched himself forward aiming for the brick, but two of the men lunged, slamming hard against him. Cassie screeched. Apollo’s feet gave way. With his hands tied behind him, he couldn’t stop his fall.  His head thumped hard against the tile floor. The sound of bone cracking as a shock of pain spread over his skull. Sticky wetness dripped from his cheek. Blood smeared the floor. He tried to roll and right himself, but a boot pressed hard into his back pinning him. A new experience for him and he didn’t care for it much.

George stood over him with the gun, Apollo dazed by pain. A meaty hand covered Apollo’s mouth and nose with a damp cloth. He gulped a breath and all went black.

* * *

Apollo opened his eyes to slits. His face ached. He moved his jaw. Not broken, but his left cheek had swelled and a crust of rust-colored blood had formed over the gash, visible when he glanced down.

He was tied to a chair with Cassie secured to another. He didn’t know where he was, but they had to escape. “Cassie,” he whispered. She didn’t move. Her head sagged forward and to the side. The length of her ebony hair hid her face. They must have been drugged.

Needing to devise a way out, Apollo surveyed the room. A few desks housing computers and other generic office furniture filled the space. Beige paint covered the walls and a large window showed the gray light of dusk. He couldn’t see the street. From his view, muted green treetops swayed against deepening night. He guessed that they were about three floors up.

He strained at the ropes securing his wrists and numbing his fingers. The binding held. Irritation burned through his veins and he pulled with greater force. His skin was covered in beads of sweat. Nothing accomplished beyond his rising frustration and a damp shirt. He grumbled beneath his breath. Was this his end? He’d bested Hades by winning Cassie’s love, but victory wasn’t complete. Athens might yet be destroyed.

What a foul trick. His sister had warned him. Hades had to be at the root of this evil. No other creature held such disdain for humanity. If Apollo had access to his power, this spider’s web would be wiped away with a thought and the spider with it. Apollo shook against the binding at his arms and feet, but the chair only trembled.

The click of a lock turning stopped his efforts. The door squeaked opened. John Medina strode in and closed the door. His head displayed an array of singed hair and burn marks. The grimace covering his mouth added to his ugly appearance. “You’re awake.” he said.

Apollo struggled.

Cassie lifted her head and blinked. She gasped. “John, what are you doing here? Quick, untie us.”

Apollo sneered at Medina. “Cassie, John is one of them.”

“No, he can’t be.”

Medina leaned his hip against a desk between Cassie and Apollo. “You’re more intelligent than I thought, Goldilocks.”

Apollo glared at Medina and focused his gaze with all his might. No flames or blue light ignited the rodent. Apollo yanked his arms, envisioning his hands around the mortal’s neck. The ropes held.

Medina casually pulled a revolver from under his leather jacket and pointed it at Cassie’s head. “Calm down, Goldilocks, or I’ll have to do something to her.”

Medina ambled next to Cassie and ran his vile hand across her cheek and down her neck.  “We were interrupted last time.” The weasel drooled. A glob hung in the corner of his mouth.

“Stop it.” Cassie wrenched her face away to avoid Medina’s touch. The insect chuckled.

Apollo’s rage could ignite the room, if he were able. By Zeus, when he was free, he’d chain the man and hand him over to the Harpies for sport. Apollo ground out an oath. “You will die in the flames you planned for another.”

The insect smirked. “If that’s supposed to be a curse, you’re wasting your breath I don’t believe in them. You might as well relax. I have the hag and the boy. If you don’t settle down, I can find all sorts of interesting ways to torture them.”

“You monster,” snapped Cassie.

“Oh, not me.” He withdrew his hand from the swell of Cassie’s breast. “That title belongs to our master.”

"Hydra,” growled Apollo.

“That’s the brilliant mind behind everything,” said Medina sneering at Apollo. “I’m amazed that you’re smart enough to piece this together. Just for fun, tell me what you think is going to happen next?”

The rodent mocked them as if he were more than a scurvy little spider. Apollo had no patience for such disregard, but he had no choice but to bear it. A picture of Medina turned to stone entered his mind. If only he could immobilize with a glance. “Great Zeus. I will be eternally grateful for all of my gifts, if you will grant me this,” he muttered under his breath. 

Cassie trembled in her chair. “John. You don't understand. People will die. We’ll all die.”

“You two will die. I’ll be far away on a beach enjoying the pleasures of beautiful women.”

“John. No.” Tears glistened in her eyes.

Medina glanced at her. “Give it a rest.”

The weasel strode back to Apollo. His dark eyes pits of evil. “I’d like to blow away that pretty face of yours.” He pressed the cold gun barrel to Apollo’s head. “Someone did nice work on your cheek. Wish I’d been there to finish the job, but I’ll have my revenge. It turns out that Cassie won’t be leaving here. You’ll both take your chances with the bombs.”

Cassie looked away. Apollo hardened his stare on the weasel. “The dignitaries have left. What good is the building?”

“Leveling the embassy will send a message, proving we can attack any target whenever and wherever we want. We have plans for those corrupt world leaders. One word from Hydra and the streets will run with blood.”

Cassie’s face blanched. “Have you no compassion or loyalty?”

“Only for himself,” rumbled Apollo, the revolver still against his head.

“If you don’t look out for number one, who will?” John pushed the barrel to Apollo’s temple and his head swayed with the force.

“You’re a freakin’ sociopath,” roared Cassie.

“A useful skill to Hydra.” Medina turned his gaze to her. “No remorse, no hesitation to kill. You really shouldn’t tempt a man like me. You’d both be dead now, but I have orders.” He lowered the gun.

“And what about the old woman and the boy?” said Apollo, his temple throbbing.

“Jason? He’s useful. The man who taught him decided he didn’t want to blow up the train station. A silly moral objection about killing children and innocent people.” Medina shook his head. “What an idiot. He’d already built the devices. After the man had a little accident, we picked up Jason.” He grinned at Cassie and licked his lips. “I love my job.”

“But not you. Nothing bothers you.” Apollo spoke to distract John from Cassie.

“Not when it’s in my interest. And Hydra pays very well.”

Cassie shuddered. “There isn’t enough money in all the world to murder people and betray your country.”

Medina glared at her. “Sweet heart, that’s easy to say when you’ve always had plenty of everything. I was dirt poor all my life until one of Hydra’s cells recruited me. They accepted me, trained me. They value my unique talents. I’d hoped to infiltrate the FBI but your dad shut me down. You were my back-up plan until our date went bad. That’s when Hydra ordered me to Athens.”

“Disgusting excuse for a mortal,” muttered Apollo. He’d scraped better camel dung from his sandal. “Do you think Hydra will let you live?”

Medina swung his arm back and hit Apollo in the face with his fist. His head jerked from the impact. The gash opened and swathed the rodent’s knuckles with blood. Medina stared at the thick red smear on his hand and a sick smile twisted his mouth. “I’m important to them in ways you know nothing about. They value my loyalty. The current leaders demand power. Hydra will take it from them, and share it with us. I’m about to be a wealthy man.”

Sobs tore from Cassie’s throat.

“You go ahead and cry. Scream if you want, no one will help you,” said Medina. “Our people are everywhere. You’d be surprised. In a few minutes, you’ll be dead and Hydra will assume credit. The first of many displays of strength around the world.”

Apollo despised being helpless and at the mercy of this insect. If he could get free for just a moment, he’s squash the bug like a grape between his fingers.

Medina strutted toward the door. “I have an old woman to see before I catch my plane.” The lock clicked behind him.

Cassie stared at Apollo with a combination of bewildered annoyance and rage. “Why don't you do something? You’re a god, for hell’s sake.”

He winced. Apollo knew he’d have to tell her the truth some time, but he’d hoped for better circumstances. “I
was
a god.”

* * *

Cassie felt her eyes bulge. She must have heard wrong. “What do you mean you
were
a god? Of course you’re a god. You’re Apollo. Zeus is your father.” She knew she rambled, but couldn’t stop the steady flow of words spewing from her lips. “You have a twisted sense of humor. Fry these damn bindings with your super laser vision. Do it and let’s get out of here.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. Zeus punished me and made me mortal.”

“That’s ridiculous.” A nervous laugh erupted from her. She hated this quirk. It only happened under extreme duress. “You’re teasing me and it isn’t funny.” A series of snickers passed her lips. “Stop this sick joke and work your magic before I lose it.” Cassie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from hysterics. She hoped he was kidding, because if he wasn't, they were in serious trouble.