I tuck the charcoal pencil behind my ear and snap the sketchbook shut, sliding off the bar stool to follow Morpheus into the back room.
Last month, I sold half of The River Styx to The Serpents.The deal sucks, but it has its perks, like getting information to take down Belen Drakos.
People fear the names of The Serpents whispered in the streets—Hades, Morpheus, Charon, and Lethe.Their real identities are unknown.
Our deal was a handshake over a few drinks.Men like The Serpents don’t sign contracts.That would mean giving away information, like their real identities.
They come and go most nights, using the storage room to hide their illegal products.I don’t know what they bring into the bar, and I don’t care.
I never ask questions.
It’s better this way.
I enter the backroom and shut the door.
Morpheus hands me a flash drive.“This is everything you wanted on Belen Drakos.”
The Serpents are artists like me but use their skills to recreate rare pieces of art so they can steal the originals.They’re splashy about it, too.They were behind Avant Corp’s scandal two years ago.It was all over the news.
But their artistic abilities won’t help us with Belen.I sold half of my bar because of their backgrounds in cyber intelligence.They come from wealthy families, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at any of them, not with all their tattoos.
Morpheus is tall with short, blond hair, muscular but not too bulky.He turns his back on me and walks to the desk in the corner.
I tuck the sketchbook under my arm and approach the desk.“Will you help us take them down?”
Apollo has assured me everything is under control.But all of his plotting with our mother could go sideways, and then what will we be left with in the end?
Nothing.
I can’t risk it.
“We can’t dismantle Belen’s empire by ourselves.”I shift my stance as he carefully appraises my face, considering my question.
Morpheus leans forward, his inked hands folded on the desk.“What is our help worth to you?”
A beat passes, and my heart is pounding, clambering to get out of my chest.I don’t want to do this, but what choice do I have?We can’t attack the Drakos from all sides.
I don’t know why The Serpents have taken a liking to my bar.Maybe it’s the name and the reference to the Greek underworld, but it’s helping me get closer to my goal.
“I’ll sign over The River Styx.”
Morpheus lifts an eyebrow.“All of it?”
I nod.
A delighted smirk tugs at the right corner of his mouth.“Deal.”
And just like that, I have sold my soul to the devil for revenge.
ChapterFifteen
OPHELIA
For the restof the week, I ignored my new housemates.They kept busy with their businesses and rarely came home.
I like it this way.
But this morning, they’re sitting at the table with me, shoving the food our chefs made into their stupid mouths like we’re a family.
