Chapter 12
Twelve
N ERINE
A heavy, weighted groan escaped my lips as I slowly emerged from the fog of sleep. Blinking against the dim amber light that filled the room from the small lamp on the nightstand, I urged myself to stay in bed, reluctant to face another day of loneliness and heartache.
But even with my eyes shut, I couldn't shake the awareness that it was all just a dream, a brief glimpse of happiness before the harsh reality of my life came crashing down on me.
In my dream, the men I loved touched me with a tenderness and desire I had longed for. There was no hate or resentment in their eyes; only a shared desperation and love consumed us. It was blissful and intoxicating—a feeling I never wanted to end.
But now, as I lay in bed alone once again, I was forced to confront the truth: they were not here with me, and I was still alone.
I let out a defeated sigh. "Just a dream, Nerine," I whispered to myself. "They didn't find you. You're still alone. Accept it."
"Oh, but we have," a familiar voice growled from above, causing me to jump and struggle against the restraints binding my wrists and legs.
"Theo!" I gasped as his fingers tightened around my throat. Beside him stood Xander, his expression serious and resolute.
"And we fucked you," he added bluntly. "And we plan to do it again."
A shiver ran down my spine as Theo leaned in closer. "But first, we want answers."
Panic surged through me as I attempted to sit up, only to find myself bound by ties around my wrists and legs. Confusion mingled with fear as my two lovers loomed over me with intense gazes that revealed no trace of warmth or love.
"What are you doing?" I demanded frantically.
"Making sure we get what we want," Xander replied, his voice laced with determination.
None of this made any sense. Just last night, I had felt the love and passion radiating from their eyes. But now, I only saw cold calculation and a fierce resolve to get what they wanted from me.
"So, this is your plan?" I asked, straining against my restraints. "I never fought you before."
“We’re not talking about sex,” Theo said. “You’ve never been one to deny our desires, Nerine?”
Ignoring his thinly veiled insult, I shook my head in disbelief.
"Please let me go," I pleaded, feeling irritated.
"Not until we get the truth," Xander stated firmly, his expression sharp and unforgiving.
As panic threatened to consume me, I pleaded once more for them to let me go.
"Talk," Theo demanded, his arms crossed over his chest. He and Xander stood side by side like twin interrogators, their matching expressions of fury and frustration only heightening my fear.
"What exactly do you want to know?" I asked, tugging at the ties binding my wrists in a futile effort to escape.
"Tell us about the night you left," Xander demanded through gritted teeth.
"What's the point?" I replied. "It was years ago. I can barely even remember it anymore."
But as soon as the words left my mouth, I could taste the lie on my lips. They knew it, too. My memory was sharp and detailed, and there was no way I could forget that night or the reasons I had left. My heart sank as I realized I could no longer escape the truth. Tied up and at their mercy, I would have to face the consequences of my actions from that fateful night years ago.
“Fuck,” I cursed under my breath, a knot tightening in my stomach. “I don’t know what happened. I woke up in a strange house, alone in California. My mother and sisters were nowhere to be found. All I knew was that I couldn’t endure another situation like the one with Andraius.”
I peered up at them, determination radiating from me as I recalled how I felt when I regained consciousness in that bedroom. I had never been more scared in my life.
The memories flooded back, and a wave of fear and panic washed over me again. Even after two years, the terror still lingered within me, a constant reminder of what had occurred.
“I wasn’t ever going to let someone rape me again. And if anyone tried, I would kill them just as I’d killed Andraius. Or I would die trying.”
My words hung heavy in the air between us.
I had no idea what their intention was. I couldn’t read their hard expressions. They’d fucked me already. Maybe now it was time to kill me. They certainly looked angry enough to do so.
But they’d told me they loved me before I drifted off. Had I dreamed that? Had all our love turned to hate because I blew up our lives? Had I damaged our relationship beyond repair?
I wouldn’t trust me again if I were in their shoes.
I had no clue what they wanted, and I knew nothing about what they had endured over the past few years. All I knew was that I’d hurt them in a way that seemed beyond anything we could come back from.
Perhaps they still planned to kill me. They certainly looked angry enough to do so. Whatever the outcome, I’d give them the truth; it was the least I owed them.
“When did you find out Solon had taken you?” Theo's voice was sharp and accusatory.
I raised an eyebrow, impressed by their deduction. It wasn't exactly a secret if anyone was paying attention.
"I didn't take long to figure it out,” I admitted. “Every time I tried to escape, a member of the Solon security team caught me. But they never hurt me, which made me suspect that Solon was behind it. Later, I learned that Devani had ordered them not to harm me, or she would have killed them herself.”
Silence enveloped us as they processed my words. I could see the storm brewing in their eyes as they pieced together the mystery of my disappearance.
“And when did you find out you were pregnant, Nerine?” Xander's tone was filled with anger and hurt.
Theo's piercing gray eyes drilled into mine, his expression as sharp and deadly as ever. I couldn't help but gasp in surprise; I should have anticipated this question.”
My gaze flicked to the open door, noticing that most of my belongings were missing. It made it clear they knew the hidden nook where I stored my memories.
I redirected my attention to them. Their frosty expressions were disconcerting, prompting me to want to turn my gaze away. Shame and regret surged within me like a wildfire of emotion, igniting and intensifying in my heart.
Every moment away from them weighed heavily on my heart, especially when I thought about all the milestones I had missed with our twin boys. It wasn't the same without Xander and Theo by my side, and it broke my heart.
Living without them felt like having a massive hole inside me that no one else could fill. Now, confronted with their anger and disappointment, I realized the extent of the pain I had caused them by leaving.
There was no justification for my actions, and I couldn't comfort their suffering. All I could do was apologize and hope for their forgiveness.
“Two weeks after I arrived at that house, Devani came to see me. She told me I was pregnant and said I couldn’t go back until after I gave birth and things were safe. Of course, I didn’t believe her, but she showed me lab results from when I was in Boston. I’m not sure how she managed to get the tests done, but Devani has her ways, and the results confirmed that I was pregnant.”
Tears streamed down my face like hot, heavy raindrops, and I desperately longed to wipe them away. But my hands were bound tightly, rendering me helpless as I stared into their faces, hoping they could see the regret in my eyes through the blur of tears.
"Do you finally understand?" I pleaded. "I didn't go with them willingly. I was pregnant, and that's why they took me. Solon took my mother and my sisters, too."
"I don't believe a word of it," Theo hissed.
"What aren't you telling us?" Xander demanded, his voice tense with suspicion.
I looked up at them, shaking my head in frustration. "I am telling the truth," I insisted, praying they couldn't see through my lie.
"We know when you're lying or leaving things out," Theo said coldly, glaring at me.
"What does it matter? You're going to kill me anyway," I replied bitterly.
"Are you serious right now, Nerine?" Xander erupted as his calm facade shattered. "What aren't you telling us?"
This wasn't the Xander I knew.
He always kept his cool with me, even during moments of anger. It was Theo who frequently lost his temper with me. But now, it seemed like I had broken them both.
“What am I supposed to believe? I deserve whatever you do to me. I accept it.” I managed to keep my voice steady, even though the burning in the back of my throat felt like acid, scalding, and utterly painful.
“If we had wanted you dead, we would have done it long ago,” Theo stated, his tone icy. “I’ve already told you this. You will live a long life, Nerine. I’m going to make sure of it.”
“But you intend to make me pay for hurting you.”
Theo and Xander exchanged glances before Theo focused back on me and said, “We will decide your penance later. Now, speak. We want the rest of it.”
I couldn’t tell them everything now that they knew about Hayes and Charis. “I’m not saying another word until you let me go.”
"We’re in charge here, Angel," Theo reminded me.
Xander raised an eyebrow. "You're not in a position to make demands. "
I rolled my eyes, annoyed that they were right. There was no point in arguing with them since they were as stubborn as mules. That was how they had always been. Why should I have expected anything different?
"I'll share what I can," I reluctantly agreed, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath before starting my story. “Devani visited me one day. I had no idea why she wanted to meet, but I trusted her."
A buzzing sound interrupted our conversation, prompting them to grab their phones simultaneously. They read their messages with increasing alarm before glancing at each other in panic.
"Shit," Xander muttered under his breath.
I asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"
Theo quickly pulled a gun from his waistband, his face filled with fear and urgency. "We need to go now."
"Right now," Xander added, his voice tense with urgency.
"What the hell is happening?" I demanded, tugging at my restraints once more. "Untie me immediately!"
But they ignored me, their gazes filled with worry and determination as they swiftly approached the door.
Theo firmly said, "Our conversation isn't over."
"Hell no, it’s not," Xander growled before both of them walked out of the room, leaving me still tied up and seething with uncontrollable anger coursing through my veins.
"Come back here!" I shouted, aware they would ignore me no matter how loudly I yelled.