Chapter 17
Seventeen
N ERINE
As the plane descended toward LAX, I felt a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline coursing through my body. My mind was still reeling from the chaotic events of my life, and I could feel the weight of it all dragging me down.
On a positive note, Theo and Xander seemed to forgive me for my mistakes. While I understood that things wouldn't magically become perfect, having them listen to my side of the story was more than I had expected. The three of us had reached a tense truce, but the wounds were still fresh, and we were all trying to navigate our emotions.
As we prepared to land, I couldn't help but wonder if there were better ways to handle the aftermath of everything. Perhaps jumping on Theo and trying to hurt him wasn't rational. Still, somehow, it led to an intense physical encounter between the three of us that left us all breathless and satisfied.
The chemistry that Theo, Xander, and I shared was a living, breathing entity, something undeniable. It transcended physical attraction, reaching deep into our souls and leaving us feeling incomplete when we were apart.
Still, it wouldn’t fix the damage I caused to our relationship. That would take time.
After twenty minutes, our private jet touched down at LAX and taxied into a hangar. As we were about to leave the comfort of the luxurious plane, I couldn’t help but sigh—the prospect of moving after my earlier activities wasn’t ideal. At least the flight to Phoenix gave me an hour and a half to recover.
“I take it you’re sore,” Xander said with a satisfied grin.
I winced, taking his hand and letting him pull me to my feet. “You could say that.”
"Good. Get used to it. We have two years of unsatisfied lust to take out on you."
"As if you wouldn’t have fucked me senseless on the regular if I never left.”
Theo shrugged as he made his way to the door. "You're not wrong."
In one swift motion, he pulled out his gun and phone. “Wait until I check the hangar and the jet to move.”
Xander nodded, and Theo exited.
After a brief moment, Theo signaled that it was secure, and we made our way down the stairs from the jet. However, Theo and Xander were cautious. They positioned me securely between them, weapons at the ready and their eyes carefully surveying the surroundings.
Once we reached the new aircraft, it took several minutes for them to consider it safe enough for us to board with our crew.
As we settled into our seats and took off again, two flight attendants emerged with a large platter of hot Thai food. The aroma filled the cabin, and I shook my head as I watched Theo and Xander rush to the table to pile their plates high, as if they had been starving for weeks, before returning to their seats.
"They've always eaten like this since we were teenagers," I remarked to the attendants standing in the corner.
Neither replied. Instead, they pressed their lips together as if trying to hold back laughter.
"They know our quirks and habits," Xander said between bites of food.
I rolled my eyes and shrugged. "Sorry about that. They do have a lot of quirks, don't they?"
This time, one of the attendants turned away to hide a smile and busied himself with restocking the drink cart.
"Stop talking about us," Theo chimed in playfully. "They're professionals. Don't expect them to agree with you or speak poorly of their bosses."
"Technically, I'm your boss, too," I teased. "So I can say whatever I want about everyone. "
Both of their heads snapped up, surprised by my comment.
"Are you claiming it then, Angel?" Theo's intense gaze bore into mine. "I'm more than ready to hand it over."
My heart thundered in my chest. The pounding was so loud I was certain those around me could hear it. Emotions swelled like a tidal wave, and I fought to keep them in check.
"Even if I wanted to, I can't," I replied honestly, feeling the weight of responsibility crushing me as the Angelos.
Xander set his dish on a side table with a clatter and leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Why not? You are the Godmother of the Night for the Angelos Family. The right to the seat runs through your blood, solidified by our victory over Andraius and reaffirmed by your handling of those assholes at the meeting. Tell me, what is stopping you from being the Angelos?”
I sighed heavily, knowing they wouldn’t accept my answer, even though I knew I wasn’t worthy or deserving of the role they expected me to fill.
“I disappeared. I no longer hold the power.”
“Who said you disappeared?” Theo chimed in, continuing to eat despite the tension in the air. “To the outside world, you simply went into hiding when you found out about your pregnancy. A protective mother, especially one who leads a powerful family with a target on her back, would do anything for her children.”
These men were insane.
“Are you kidding me?” I exclaimed, springing up from my seat. Everything was spiraling out of control, and I had little power over it. “It's not that simple. Where do you come up with this shit?”
“He's right, Angel,” Xander interjected calmly, taking a sip of water before continuing. “In our world, danger lurks at every corner, and our sons are heirs to an extraordinary legacy of power and wealth.”
I threw my hands up and paced back and forth.
“Men! This is what happens when a girl falls for not just one, but two men who both believe they hold all the solutions to the world's issues.” I scanned the cabin, searching for the flight attendants who had disappeared. “Great. Now, I can't tell them to stop giving you food nonstop at this altitude. All that food is having negative effects on your brain.”
Taking a few deep breaths, I attempted to calm myself and find logical ways to reach the two idiots I love so damn much. But when I opened my eyes, Theo stood inches away from me, his gray irises burning with annoyance and anger.
My immediate reaction was to step back, but his strong arms wrapped around me and held me firmly in place.
“You can't give anyone orders unless you accept that you are the Angelos,” he growled, looming over me as if trying to intimidate me into submission.
“I don’t need to be the Angelos to give orders.” I glared up at him defiantly. “I was born an Angelos, you idiot. My father was Peter Angelos, Godfather of the Night. He made me his heir at birth. The blood in my veins says I give orders.”
“Then act like it,” he retorted sharply, his grip on my waist tightening as he spoke. “You're not a little girl anymore. It's time to get your act together and accept your responsibility, whether you want it or not.”
“Don't call me a little girl!” I seethed, pushing against his chest with all my strength. But he hardly moved. “Let me go, or I’ll punch you in the face.”
He looked down at me with a smirk and pointed to his chin. “Go ahead. Hit me if it makes you feel better. Just remember there will be consequences.”
“Oh please, what consequences could you possibly come up with?” I spat back, my frustration reaching its peak.
Without warning, he grabbed onto my throat and pinned me against the wall of the cabin.
"I might be 'acting Godfather of the Night,' but I'm still the same old Theo, Angel," he whispered, his hot breath brushing against my lips. "Two years apart haven't changed anything about our dynamic."
Heat flooded through my body as arousal coursed through me, causing my nipples to harden and a coil of desire to form between my legs. “What does that have to do with this situation?”
“You already know,” he growled, his breath hot against my lips. “Nothing will stop me from turning your ass red, fucking you senseless, and leaving you begging for more.”
“I don't need you,” I countered, my voice shaking with anger and desire. “Xander will take care of me.”
“Can we please leave me out of this?” Xander interjected from behind us.
Theo pressed his nose against mine, sending shivers down my spine as he spoke in a low, seductive tone. “Even Xander can't satisfy that need inside you when I put it there. Only I can make you scream, cry, and beg for mercy.”
“You're such an asshole,” I shot back, attempting to take control of the situation.
Theo's grip on my throat tightened slightly, yet his eyes sparkled with desire.
“It doesn't change the fact that you want me to make you scream, cry, and whimper," he said in a low, husky voice.
My breath caught in my throat as his words sank in, and all I could do was stare at him with wide eyes filled with a mix of need and frustration. My skin burned with this new, darker arousal coursing through me. My nipples ached, and my pussy throbbed.
"Am I wrong?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
I couldn't deny the physical reaction my body had to him. “I hate how you can use my body against me. It's not fair.”
"When did I ever suggest I was a reasonable man?" He pressed his body against mine, pinning me between him and the cold metal wall of the jet. "You fought for the role of the Angelos. You nearly died for it. So why are you fleeing from it now? Give me the truth, Angel."
My lips trembled as I struggled to find the words. "Why can't I lie to you? It would make everything so much easier if I could."
"Because that's not how we operate," he said firmly. "Now tell me the truth. Give me the real reason you can't be the Angelos."
I wanted to turn away, hide my shame, and pretend that my weaknesses didn't exist. But Theo held me in place, refusing to let me escape.
Then Xander stepped into view next to Theo. "We're here with you," he said softly. "You're not alone anymore."
"That's exactly it!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my frustration. "Neither of you see it. It's not that I can't be the Angelos. I don’t deserve the power. You two do. Even if I come back, what role will I have? A figurehead, as useless as Andraius was."
"Don't compare yourself to that piece of shit," Xander's tone brooked no argument. "You are nothing like him."
"But it's the truth," I insisted. "How can I just take over again?"
Theo narrowed his eyes at me. "You're still holding back. What is it that scares you so much?"
I stared at him, struggling to find the words. They couldn't possibly understand that this wasn't something we could fix with a snap of our fingers.
A lump formed in my throat as my mind raced, unable to articulate my thoughts.
"Theo, move," Xander commanded. "You're only making things worse for her."
Frowning, Theo stepped aside and asked, "What do you mean?"
"This." In one swift motion, Xander lifted me into his arms and carried me to the couch like a small ragdoll instead of a tall woman.
"Is this necessary?" I protested as he settled me on his lap and tucked my head against his shoulder .
"Just relax," Xander murmured. "The conversation is over for now. We'll figure it out later."
My first instinct was to resist, to push him away and reject the comfort he offered. But with Xander's strong arms around me, I felt safe, protected, and loved. It had always been this way with him since we were teenagers.
He was my gentle giant, the ruthless enforcer who softened only for me. I could tell him anything without fear of judgment. It didn't matter how often I messed up. He was always there for me.
Theo and I fought fiercely and loved just as passionately. However, Xander and I shared a different kind of bond, one filled with easy conversations and deep emotions. It was effortless to open up to him.
We sat silently for what seemed like hours, listening to the hum of the jet's engines filling the space between us.
Finally, gathering my courage, I spoke up. "What if I mess everything up again?"
"What did you do wrong the first time?" Xander brushed a strand of hair from my forehead and gently kissed my brow. "I don't remember you doing anything wrong."
"I broke our family," I whispered, tears pricking at my eyes. "And now you want me to lead the organization?"
"Who said we have a broken family?" he asked. "In fact, it has only grown stronger."
"I kept you from our boys," I choked out. "How can any of you trust me again?"
Theo moved beside us, gently placing my feet on his lap. "Angel, how many times have you said everything was for our protection since we walked through your apartment door? You put your life on the line for us. That's what a leader does."
The weight of the situation pressed down on me, but I couldn't push it away.
"Can we please table this for now? We have bigger concerns at the moment. I promise we can address it once we've secured our boys, mama, and the girls."
Xander wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly against him, and I closed my eyes, hoping to find some relief from the chaos surrounding us.
Unfortunately, Theo wasn't as willing to let it go.
"There is no avoiding it," he declared, his tone firm. "You are the Angelos. It's only a matter of time before you reclaim your rightful place."
Before I could respond, Xander stepped in. "For God's sake, she asked us to stop. Can we drop it?"
My encrypted cellphone buzzed, interrupting the tense conversation. A cold shiver ran down my spine. Only one person used that device, Devani.
Which meant she’d activated a Solon operation.
"What's wrong?" Xander asked, sensing my unease.
"I don't know yet," I replied, quickly grabbing my bag and pulling out my phone to read the message.
"Oh, shit," I muttered, looking up at them with wide eyes.
Immediately, Theo got to his feet. "What does it say?"
"Solon… They’re waiting for us," I whispered, pointing out the window toward the hangar below .
"Damn it," Xander cursed under his breath. "That can't be good."
"Did they say anything else?" Theo prodded.
"No, just that," I said, showing him the message on my phone.
Dread settled heavily in my stomach as I raced through all the possible scenarios. Fear clutched at my heart as I considered the worst-case scenarios.
I met Xander and Theo's worried gazes. "Something's not right here. What if it involves the boys?"
"First, let's not jump to conclusions," Theo reasoned.
Xander got up and began to pace back and forth in the small cabin.
I also stood up, but my legs felt like jelly. Slowly, I sank back into my seat, gripping the armrests tightly as my heart pounded with anxiety.
"Don't do that thing," Xander scolded, shaking his head.
"What thing?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.
"The thing where you immediately think the most horrendous thing possible happened and panic."
"I'm not panicking," I protested, even though I knew my voice gave away the terror I felt inside.
He raised an eyebrow and pulled out his mobile.
"I'm going to check in with our team on the ground," he announced before heading to the back of the plane.
I sat there, my hands trembling as I considered the various possibilities of why Solon would suddenly show up.
First, they were here to explain their actions from two years ago to Xander and Theo. However, that seemed highly unlikely. Solon operated as a "do what we want" organization that never clarified their decisions to anyone.
Secondly, one of the twins might have got into trouble at school. A college mishap was something manageable. What could be worse than Fiona publishing a romanticized version of my life without my consent?
But then there was the third option that terrified me the most. What if something had happened to the boys? They were our biggest vulnerability, the strongest leverage against us. My mind reeled at the thought of anyone reaching them before we could ensure their safety.
Xander stopped pacing to make a call and immediately shouted orders to whoever was on the other end. His urgency pushed me into action. We were close enough to Phoenix that I could call Mama.
With trembling fingers, I dialed her number and held my breath as it rang. However, it went to voicemail, and my heart sank. I tried two more times with the same outcome before ultimately leaving a desperate message.
"Mama, please call me back as soon as possible. It's an emergency."
Next, I reached out to Fiona with the same result. Chills ran down my whole body as pure, unadulterated fear seeped into every single one of my nerves.
Fiona always kept her phone on her and knew to respond with at least a text no matter where she was, even if it was a one-word message.
“Think, Nerine. Think,” I whispered, my head spinning. “Oh, fuck. The security system. ”
I pulled up the app on my cell and logged onto the secured server monitoring cameras around Mama’s house.
“Shit, come on,” I muttered.
Why was it taking so long to load? I had Mama’s house equipped with a state-of-the-art system run over fiber optic wiring with a backup power source to keep everything active during a power outage for seventy-two hours.
“No, no, no, no, no,” I muttered when the signal pulled up and showed the word “offline.”
That fucking was impossible unless someone had tampered with my setup.
Solon installed it, dammit.
Nausea engulfed my stomach, and my heart pounded erratically and uncontrollably in my chest.
“I can’t log into the system at Mama’s house. My security is compromised. Everything is offline,” I said.
The stark expressions on both Theo and Xander’s faces told me they understood my concern. Xander relayed my information to the person on the phone, and they began a back-and-forth about the position of soldiers and calling in allies.
How could my entire family disappear like this?
I called Mama and Fiona again, but there was still no answer. Tears sprang to my eyes as my heart filled with worry.
“Fuck,” I muttered, shaking my head, searching my brain.
If Solon was involved, it meant someone figured out where we were quickly and easily. Devani and her team spent countless hours and more money than I could imagine orchestrating this new life she’d forced on me to ever compromise me.
Fiona’s book may have helped our enemies locate me, but it made no mention of the boys or where they lived with Mama. Fortunately, she also excluded any reference to my pregnancy or information about the twins' colleges. None of this added up.
Solon preferred to stay in the shadows, and very few people knew the group's existence. Their message clearly indicated that they intended to undermine any plans Theo and Xander had to protect me, the boys, Mama, and my sisters.
I still couldn’t wrap my head around how they figured out something had gone wrong when no one knew we were going to Phoenix.
I reflected on everything from when I opened the door to find Theo and Xander standing there until just a few moments ago, reviewing all that had transpired.
Then it hit me.
“It was the fucking flight manifest!” I shouted to Xander. “At least that’s a possibility.”
He cocked his head to the side as if not understanding what I was talking about. “I’m not following?”
“Remember when I told you I studied flight patterns from my apartment?”
He nodded.
“I used flight manifests to help me track the directions of different flights. They are easy to look up. I never told you to file a false one for our trip.”
“Shit,” Xander nodded. “What was the point of changing aircraft if we left a paper trail?”
Theo walked out of the bedroom in the back of the plane with a tight, drawn expression of worry.
Xander explained my theory, and he nodded in agreement.
“Right. Just one more thing to add to our list.” He paused, a crease forming between his brows. “Wait. That still doesn’t explain how Solon has information we don’t. It still doesn’t explain who alerted anyone to look for a second manifest out of LAX. We covered our tracks. I ensured that decoys resembling us left the hangar in a car and headed to a nearby hotel.”
“I know Devani wouldn’t betray me. She wouldn’t go as far as she has if she were just going to turn around and stab me in the back.” I had to defend her.
None of us would have survived the last two years if it wasn't for her.
“She’s trustworthy, but what about her team? Do you know who she has on you? From how it looks to me, they’ve done a piss poor job of protecting you.”
I’d never questioned any of it before, but now it made me feel like a fool.
“Someone who works for her organization isn’t loyal.” It hurt my heart to see this. “They are setting us up for something.”
I had to contact Devani, but how could I know if my phone was safe?
“I’m over Solon fucking with my life,” Theo stated, his anger unmistakable. “Here are the facts: Solon contacted you, saying they are waiting for us to arrive. They refused to give you any details about what they want. At the same time, three enemies of the Angelos family have arrived in Vegas searching for you. Fiona’s book stirred up trouble, but some must have been in town long before the novel went viral.”
“I see that now,” I agreed. “Months ago, I kept feeling like people were watching me. At first, I thought it was just my paranoia, but it kept happening repeatedly. It wasn’t until I recognized some of Stratos’s men that I realized something was off.”
“And you didn’t think to protect yourself?” Xander asked with an edge of irritation.
"As I mentioned, I thought I was letting my imagination run wild. It’s not like I was going out to hang with my girls every night or anything. My routine consisted of waking up, going to work, coming home, making dinner, eating, and sleeping.”
“We don’t know what we will face when we land.” Xander gripped the back of his neck. “We need to prepare for anything.”
“If they meant to kill us, we’d never see them coming, let alone receive a call to expect them upon our arrival. The organization’s purpose is assassinations.”
“I’d rather prepare than find myself holding my dick.” Theo sprang into action, pulling a few duffel bags from the overhead bins and laying them on the floor.
When he unzipped the first one, dozens of firearms came into view.
“Are we going to war?” I exclaimed as he started pulling them out and laying them on the floor.
“Yes,” was all Theo said as he tossed weapons to Xander, and both of them equipped themselves with as much gear as possible without looking overly bulky with firearms.
“Buckle your seatbelt, Angel. We’ll land in a few minutes.” Xander positioned himself across from me and tossed my way a pistol, two blades, and a thigh rig. “I believe these belong to you.”
I grasped the hilt of one of the daggers, unable to tear my gaze away from the decorative handle that made the stiletto-style knife seem deceptively delicate.
Memories from two years ago overwhelmed me. I found myself in the library of my family home, consumed by anger, vengeance, and a deep hatred for the man I married to save my mother and sisters.
There was pain, so much pain.
And the blood, hot and sticky. It covered my body. All of it belonged to the monster who’d tried to destroy me.
I touched the tip of the double-edged knife and smirked. Andraius learned his lesson when I sliced his belly from one side to the other.
I opened my hand and spun the blade over my palm, and for the first time in so long, the sense of control, the power I once felt, bloomed inside me.
“This saved me that night. It allowed me to reclaim my life.”
“No,” Theo countered. “You saved yourself that night. That was just the tool you used to regain your life. ”
I met his stormy gaze. “Don’t forget that you and Xander cleaned up my mess.”
“We protected our queen, as we’re supposed to.”
I couldn’t help but swallow, feeling the back of my throat burn with emotion.
"Aren't you tired of fixing all the messes I make?"
“In which organization do the Seconds sit around and do nothing?” Theo asked. “It’s our job to clean up whatever situation the family head puts us in that week. Your situation with Andraius was nothing compared to what Theios Alex handled with your dad.”
“From the stories, Pops told me,” Xander said. “When Theios Peter took over the organization, he got into territory wars over stupid shit, caused rifts with allies, and even killed the wrong asshole or two. As his second, Pops had his hands full cleaning up the situations and ensuring all was right with the world.”
I shook my head. “It’s difficult to view Papa as anything other than the calm, rational man I remember."
“We’ve got your back, Angel.”
The cabin pressure fluctuated, signaling our arrival at the airport.
“Can we pause this for now and focus on what’s going on with our family?”
“For now,” both men said in unison, and I sighed in relief.
A few moments later, the plane landed and slowly taxied down the runway toward the hangar. With each second that brought us closer, my heart raced faster and faster .
We all looked out the window as the plane glided into the hangar, the light streaming inside gradually fading to darkness as the building blocked the sun.
I searched the hangar and initially saw nothing until a swarm of people in black military fatigues surrounded the plane.
“Here we go,” I muttered, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Stay calm.”
Theo and Xander followed my gaze.
“I can’t make out that little logo. What is it?” Xander asked.
I replied, having seen the uniforms up close and personal more than once. “Red scorpion. Solon’s insignia worn on the upper left arm.”
The group stood in formation, waiting for the stairs to descend. They didn't try to hide the fact that they were armed to the teeth with automatic weapons.
I studied them as uneasiness settled in my stomach.
“This isn’t my usual Solan team. I don’t recognize any of them.”
“Well, let’s find out what they want, shall we?” Theo raised his eyebrow and stepped toward the door.
He signaled for the attendants to release the latch. Gradually, the stairs unfolded until they reached the ground.
In a flurry of movement, the cabin filled with agents. They shoved Theo back, positioning him next to me.
I tried to jump up, but Xander kept me in place.
“Stay right here,” he commanded. “I didn’t find you just to lose you again.”
My heart raced in my chest, and I could only hope we would survive whatever happened next.
“Is Devani here?” I asked.
No one replied.
I attempted to stand again, but Theo and Xander restrained me this time, staying by my side.
“What’s going on? I want to know why you’re here,” I demanded. “Where is Devani?”
They responded by dividing and at the very back stood Mama.
It wasn’t just Mama, but Charis and Hayes were in her arms.
“Oh my God.” I rushed to her, unsure if I was imagining what I saw, until I wrapped my arms around them. “Mama.”
Relief washed over me, and the next moment, both boys grabbed onto me, eager for my attention. “Mama, Mama, Mama.”
I took them from my mother’s arms, holding them close. Their tiny bodies felt so warm, and they smelled amazing.
“You’re safe,” I whispered, kissing their foreheads.
Mama ran her hand down the back of my hair. “They’re safe."
Tears streamed down my cheeks. There was no way I could repay her for always protecting my babies. This woman had sacrificed everything for me.
"Thank you, Mama. Are you okay?”
She nodded, smiling at me. She pulled me to the nearby sofa, pushing me and the boys down. She brushed my hair from my forehead, tucked it behind my ear, and then cupped my cheek to wipe away my tears.
I couldn’t help but find solace in her mothering, even while I held my children.
I shifted my attention to Theo and Xander.
They stayed in their original spots, even though I knew they wanted to get closer to me and the boys.
I wouldn’t keep them waiting long. “I tried to call you,” I told Mama. “I tried to call Fiona, too." My mother's eyes darkened at the mention of my sister’s name, and her expression fell.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, as the relief from moments ago vanished and dread resurfaced, hot and raging.
She shook her head, the bleakness in her blue eyes reflecting sheer devastation.
Before Mama could say anything, a woman about my height stepped forward. “Ms. Angelos, we need to talk. I’m Agent Davenport. Director Devani Patel-King said you would understand the message.”
“I see,” I said, placing the boys on the ground, where they immediately clung to my legs and stood up.
Devani never used her official title. Technically, she was retired and had relinquished her director position. However, in her world, no one really left the job. For her to invoke her position and dispatch a team with an agent meant we were in an extraction protocol.
She prepared us for this, but I never expected it actually to happen. Something occurred, but what exactly? “Thank you for bringing my family back to me. ”
"Certainly, ma’am. We’ve made additional arrangements, which include Mr. Nephus and Mr. Onassis.”
“What the fuck is going on, Angel?” Theo asked. “Updating us would be a great idea.”
“First, I need to know why Fiona isn’t with Mom and the boys.” I fixed my gaze on the agent.
From my peripheral vision, I saw Mama wipe tears from her eyes, and I realized that someone had taken her.
“Your sister’s whereabouts are unknown. We believe the Aetos family has taken her.”
Everything inside me froze. No, no, no.
“I don’t understand,” I said, shaking my head. “Why Fiona?”
“To pay the debt they think your father owes them for his inability to control his men,” Mama said.
“That’s absurd.” There was no logic to any of this.
Mama nodded. “I didn’t say it made any sense.”
My heart broke at the thought of Fiona with our enemies.
“We have to find her before they put her through the same nightmares I endured with Andraius.” White-hot anger surged through my blood, replacing my fear.
I vowed revenge on the Aetos family for this bullshit. I would destroy them.
They touched my family. I sacrificed so much, and now these fuckers used some convoluted beliefs to justify their actions. I planned to gut them just like Andraius.
“I want their blood,” I stated, knowing how unhinged I sounded .
“So do I. I’m sick and tired of these bastards hurting my babies. I’m a respectable grandmother now. Otherwise, I’d tell you to bring me one to test if my skills have gotten rusty.”
I blinked, seeing my mother in a completely different light.
“What?” Mama tilted her head to the side. “Do you think you’re the only one who went into the Caves during interrogations or knows how to use a blade?”
Papa taught me everything I could about interrogation and discipline in the room of his facilities, which he called the Caves. There were rooms for everything, from training areas to interrogation and extraction spaces. Xander was the king of the Caves. No one wanted a visit from him while locked in a cell, but Theo was the truly unhinged one. When he visited a prisoner, it was always a mess.
“You helped Papa in the Caves?” I couldn’t hide my confusion. “Why didn’t I know about this?”
“It wasn’t any of your business. A husband and wife can have secrets. You inherited your blade skills from me. Peter was better with his fists, and of course, he loved his firearms. Theo wasn’t the only calm one people feared back in the day.”
I glanced up at Theo, who pressed his lips together, trying not to smile. This was information overload, and I wasn’t sure I could handle it at the moment. I placed a hand on my chest, my mind spinning. “Mama, we need to set this topic aside because I’m not sure I know you right now.”
“Bring me back, my baby girl, Nerine.” The intensity of Mama’s gaze made me nod .
As if Theo and Xander could read my mind, we said in unison, “We will.”
For months, I’d felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, carrying it all by myself. I’d spent two years protecting everyone I loved, expecting the worst to happen.
Now, we were in that situation, but everything was different. I wasn’t alone.
Theo and Xander were with me. We would fight this battle together.
Fiona was the priority.
And if it all worked out, I would bring Mama a gift to test her old skills.