Page 28 of Loved By Aphrodite

He pulled back, still holding her arms gently, “The app asked for the biometric information of Matt Anchises. He’s the app’s creator. This building is one of his properties. I thought maybe he’d be hiding out here—or at least left a clue.”

“And?” she asked, glancing around. Her voice was steadier now, though her cheeks still held the faintest flush.

He shook his head. “It’s empty. But something feels off. Anchises is missing, and I have a bad feeling it’s not by choice.”

She crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. “So, you came here alone, hoping to stumble across answers?”

“I didn’t exactly plan to stumble,” he said with a wry smile. “I’m trying to keep this quiet, remember?”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. “Next time, tell me.”

He nodded, his grip on her arms loosening. “Next time.”

They stood in the warehouse’s stillness a beat longer, and he could feel the tension between them easing. She stepped back from him, her arms crossed and her expression impatient. “So, what’s next?” she asked, her sharp gaze sweeping the empty space. “He’s obviously not here.”

“Anchises has a house in Newport. I was planning on going there next.”

With a small, confident smile, she reached out and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”

Before he could protest or question her, the familiar jolt of divine teleportation overtook him. The warehouse vanished, replaced by the opulent, windswept solitude of a mansion perched on a bluff.

He barely glanced at the mess as they stepped into the house. Papers and mail were scattered across the counter, dishes sat unwashed in the sink, and a chair was tipped over in the corner. It didn’t screamcrime scene—it screamedchaos.He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Doesn’t look like much of a fight,” he muttered, scanning the room. “More like he left in a hurry or didn’t care to clean up.”

As he began methodically searching for clues, Aphrodite stood by the large windows. “Wow, that’s a great view.”

He grunted, still focused on the mess. “Yeah, sure,” he said, distracted.

She wandered farther in, her steps slow and deliberate. “Hang on,” she said, heading to the sliding glass doors.

He watched as she slid them open and stepped out onto the deck, the sea breeze immediately tousling her hair. He followed her, the faint scent of saltwater and the rhythmic crash of the surf filling the air.

Out in the backyard, the view stretched wide—an endless expanse of ocean sparkling under the midday sun. Aphroditeleaned on the railing, her posture graceful, as if the breeze itself was part of her; her eyes surveyed the shore below. He noticed how her expression shifted, the faint furrow of her brow signaling that she’d spotted something, her lips pressing into a thoughtful line as she looked at the water.

“What is it?” he asked, stepping closer.

She held up a small and iridescent object that caught the sunlight, glinting like a shard of polished glass. “It’s a scale,” she said with certainty. “A siren’s scale.”

He frowned, taking in her words as his gaze shifted from the scale in her hand to the ocean beyond. “You’re saying sirens took him?”

She straightened, nodding as she brushed back her windblown hair. “It makes sense. Sirens have a habit of getting involved in situations where they shouldn’t.”

He exhaled heavily, turning his attention back to the horizon. “Great. Now we’re dealing with unpredictable sea creatures. This just keeps getting better.”

“The sirens are in Sirenum Scopuli. If they took Anchises, that’s where we should go first.”

“Sirenum Scopuli? You mean the jagged death trap surrounded by monster waves and murderous singing?”

“Yes, that one. Unless you have a better idea?” She gave him a pointed glare.

“No, no better idea. Just a strong aversion to being drowned and lured to my doom.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. You’re with me. No one’s luring anyone anywhere.”

“Fine,” he muttered. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you if this turns into a disaster.”

She stepped closer, her expression softening slightly. “It won’t,” she said, her voice quieter now. “We’ll handle this.”

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