Sin and Deception (Sin and Lies #2)

Chapter 19

Nineteen

N ERINE

I sat at the head of the large wooden table in the safe house, with Theo and Xander beside me, absorbing everything Solon discovered about Fiona's abduction.

Nothing seemed to make sense about the information coming in, and perhaps the exhaustion creeping into my mind made it difficult to concentrate.

Forty-eight hours of nonstop stress fucked up a girl’s ability to function.

I glanced at my sides, taking in the room around me and shaking my head. We were in a fucking mansion. I couldn't understand how this was considered a secure location.

After leaving the airport hangar, it took a little over an hour to reach a small, sleepy town outside Phoenix. The property designated as the safe house seemed like just a small single-family home on a vast expanse of farmland.

However, as we navigated the long, winding road leading to the house, a large, sprawling farmhouse emerged, hidden behind a canopy of dense trees and an iron gate.

I quickly realized Solon’s definition of a safe house was vague. We were at a camouflaged estate, pretending it was a safe house.

As if sensing my unrest, Theo picked up my hand and kissed my knuckles, and Xander repeated the gesture with the other hand.

I was incredibly grateful for these two men. It took having them back in my life to realize how well we fit together and how much of a unit we really were. We were a team that thrived on each other's energy.

“It’s going to be okay,” Theo reassured.

I wasn’t so sure, but I nodded.

Behind us, Solon agents stood guarding the large living room, and though it should have felt reassuring, a traitor stood among them, so the comfort wasn’t there.

Mama and the boys were in a nearby wing of the house, under the watchful protection of Angelos’s soldiers, who had arrived in Phoenix shortly after us. The people Theo and Xander called in were the group I refer to as the Originals. They were part of the guard who had protected me and kept my secrets during my years with Andraius. I trusted them and knew they would risk their lives for my family .

“I promise we are doing everything possible to get your sister back.”

I narrowed my gaze, not caring if I came off rude or not. “Agent Davenport, considering one of your people handed my sister over to our enemy, I find your words less than reassuring.”

“Understood.” She gave no outward reaction to my response and continued her report. “We made a second sweep of your mother and sister’s homes. We found both ransacked. Everything indicates they are looking for your mother.”

My heartbeat kicked up.

“They're protected, Angel,” Theo whispered.

Xander squeezed my fingers. “Your Originals are with them. They won’t let you down.”

“I want to kill everyone involved in this mess. Not a single one of those fuckers deserves to live.”

“We understand. You’ll have your revenge, but first, we need to bring Fiona back.” Theo placed my hand on his thigh and leaned forward with his elbows resting on the table. “You still haven’t updated us on your search for Fiona. You mentioned a lead. Can I assume it didn’t work out?”

“The first one wasn’t as fruitful as we had hoped," replied Davenport’s assistant, Agent Deluca. “However, my team is pursuing a few other leads.”

The two agents sat side by side, embodying complete opposites in build and demeanor. Agent Davenport reminded me of a tall, graceful ballerina poised for performance. Everything about her was meticulously arranged, from her dark blonde hair styled in a no-nonsense bun to the crisp, wrinkle-free fatigues draping her frame. Her expression remained neutral throughout each interaction. Yet, her delicate, petite stature and features seemed to overshadow her serious personality. No one would ever suspect she posed a threat to anyone.

On the other hand, Agent Deluca smiled warmly, disarming everyone around him. He was a large, rugged man with dark brown eyes and a thick, gray goatee. His voice was low and soothing, cutting through the seriousness of the situation, much like an uncle aiming to reassure those near him.

As I reflected on it more, I realized he was such a nice person that no one would consider him a threat. The fact that I knew they were both deadly assassins, despite their underestimated appearances, made them the perfect sleeper agents.

Suddenly, my thoughts returned to the information about Mama’s house. “Please tell me you swept the house before Aetos’s people entered.”

“No, we never had the chance to finish that part of the plan.” His brow furrowed with concern. “We discovered the break-in when the operatives arrived to carry out their footprint elimination protocol. We have already spoken with your mother. She confirmed our suspicions. They took personal documents, family memorabilia, photos, and other identifying information. Since Fiona’s apartment was in the same condition, we assume the same happened there.”

I swallowed the acid bubbling in the back of my throat. “ The Aetoses want to clarify that they know about our boys.”

“It appears so, Ms. Angelos.”

“I see,” I said, my head spinning.

Despite receiving this information from the Solon agents and the fact that they had saved my mother and the boys before anyone else could arrive, something felt off.

What were they holding back?

My gut screamed I was missing a large piece of the puzzle.

I knew that someone involved in this operation was currently working with Aetos. However, the Angelos soldiers here provided an extra layer of protection for my babies. Yes, they were all assassins, but many of my people had the same skills.

Aside from Devani and me, only a few agents knew of my family’s presence in Phoenix. I recognized just one or two of the agents present today. What happened to the others? I couldn’t afford to trust any of these unfamiliar faces. Solon’s training focused on turning recruits into master manipulators and deceivers. This was how they blended in and integrated seamlessly into any group worldwide.

For now, they seemed to be on my side. But all I had to rely on was their word. At this point, I had no idea whom to trust, which was unsettling.

Theo, Xander, and Mama were the only people I could count on.

At this point, my faith in Devani wavered.

“There’s more,” Davenport said, placing a tablet before us. “You need to take a look at this. ”

“What is it?” Theo asked.

“Surveillance photos," she said, tapping the screen. “This first one shows the Stratos estate in Chicago. Do you recognize this gentleman? That driver is a long-time employee of the Aetos family."

I examined the image. Parked in front of the stunning mansion was a massive armored SUV. Outside stood an older man in a dark suit, his salt-and-pepper hair contrasting with the very visible sidearm tucked beneath his jacket.

He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

Then, from my side, Xander said, “That’s Jayco Pakos, Gusto Aetos’s driver. He’s worked directly for him since he was a kid.”

The agent flicked her finger across the screen to show another picture.

I immediately recognized the place from a blueprint tucked away in Papa’s desk years ago.

“That’s the Aetos estate."

Next to my ear, Xander whispered, “How do you know this? You’ve never been there."

“I’m nosy and love to snoop,” I said, pointing to a vehicle before asking, “Whose car is that?”

“It belongs to Tobias Stratos.”

I clenched my jaw. “Asshole refused to take no for an answer and now is going to pretend it’s about family honor or some other bullshit.”

“He is Andraius’s nephew. You can’t expect anything but a similar response to rejection,” Theo reminded me. “Both are sore losers and play dirty. ”

I cocked my head to the side and asked, “Does that still mean the two of you plan to serve him up on a platter for me to enjoy?”

“Yes,” Theo stated. “In my opinion, you deserve every Stratos bowing at your feet for what they allowed to happen to you.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Xander smirked, then shifted his attention to the agent. “When were these taken?”

“Last week.”

The agent’s eye no longer displayed the complete look of professionalism. They had softened, and if I noticed correctly, there was an amused glint.

Interesting; she found the ridiculous banter with Xander, Theo, and me humorous.

“Is there anything else we need to know?” I asked.

“Yes. The tail we have on Gusto Aetos photographed him at dinner.”

She swiped the tablet again, and the exterior of Vinnie’s Greek restaurant, an old favorite haunt of my father’s, appeared.

“I love the food there,” I said. “They make the best desserts.”

I zoomed in on one of the restaurant windows. Nothing had changed in the two years since I’d left. I wasn’t sure why I thought it would when it looked just as it had since I was a little girl.

The decorations remained the same, from the red and white tablecloths and fake grapes hanging from the ceiling to the giant wine bottles perched in the corner, with those little red glass candle holders flickering on each table and bowls of olives ready for guests when they arrived at the tables.

In my mind, I made a note to take the boys there when they were a bit older and could sit for a meal without a meltdown.

A pang of grief washed over me as I realized Papa would never get to meet my boys, and Linus wouldn’t ever get to run around with his nephews.

I refused to allow their memories to fade away. I planned to do whatever I could to teach my boys about the two people who’d sacrificed so much for our family.

I peered down at the photograph. Gusto and Tobias dined together. “They sure look friendly. I can almost guess what they are celebrating a toast to.”

“Assholes,” Theo stated. “Well, this confirms they’ve banded together against us.”

I looked over at the agents. “Is there more?”

“This is the latest for now.”

“Thank you for the information. It’s invaluable.” I glanced toward Theo and Xander, waiting for them to speak.

“My estate—our estate, the Angelos estate—is on high alert. My teams have prepared for every eventuality. We’ll stay safe if we return there,” Xander’s words conveyed confidence, indicating he’d implemented protections that far exceeded what was in place before my kidnapping.

Given that Solon orchestrated my abduction, I doubted anyone anticipated Xander or Theo sharing information about the security and protection upgrades implemented for our organization and property .

Xander and Theo had never trusted Solon. This sentiment was evident during my training with Devani two years ago. I expected their suspicions of the organization to lean more toward corruption than trustworthiness, especially now.

“Once we’re safe and sound back home,” Xander continued, “I recommend storming the compounds owned by the Stratos and Aetos families."

“Seriously?” I spun around sharply and glared.

“Yes. Fuck yes. End this shit, once and for all. It’s gone on way too long,” Xander replied, his eyes fiery with violent passion. “We have too much to lose to keep putting up with their threats and violence. Especially now.”

“I agree, one hundred fifty percent,” Theo said, nodding solemnly. “Everything has changed now. The stakes are a million times higher with the boys involved. We will protect our future. They are our future.”

“So that’s the plan? Storm both compounds simultaneously?” Davenport asked with a definitive nod. “I can have my men in place in days. It won’t take long.”

“We can take them out simultaneously, so they won’t be able to warn each other,” Deluca said.

I looked over at them, wanting to punch all of them in the face.

First of all, they hadn’t considered my input. And second, their plan was fucking ridiculous.

They carelessly threw around half-baked solutions without considering their actions could have catastrophic effects.

Naturally, I wanted to conclude this game that had lasted for decades. We all wanted it to end, especially me. The thought of living in peace and raising our boys without constantly worrying every time we left the estate felt like a dream.

It wasn’t possible with a strategy like this. Oh, it was so simple to go in guns blazing.

Sure, why not? Let’s go storm the castle and have our heads shot off.

Idiots. Idiots with guns and no sense surrounded me.

Had any of them considered what would happen if Fiona was there? She could become collateral damage.

I refused to allow any of them to fuck this up.

Plus, there was a matter of knowing if we could trust Solon.

Right now, I wasn’t so sure.

But everything in me screamed that Devani was the last person to betray me. She had gone out of her way to protect me and keep me safe. She had taken me under her wing and treated me like a sister. Then there were the countless hours she spent training me, molding me into what she liked to call a “ruthless assassin.”

If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have survived the night, Andraius attacked me. No, Devani wouldn’t betray me. There was genuine loyalty and trust between us.

However, I wasn’t comfortable with the Solon team before me.

I needed to find a way to contact Devani. I had to find a way. There was no other choice .

Xander looked over at me, and I narrowed my gaze. He lifted his hands in surrender.

He cleared his throat. “The Angelos has something to say.”

Everyone grew quiet as the energy of my agitation filled the space.

“It’s interesting how you’re making decisions for my family.” I stood, placing my hands on the table, and glared at the agents across from me, including Xander and Theo. “Let’s get this straight—nothing happens without my approval. These are my sons. It’s my sister who is missing. I have the final say on any plans that are put in place.”

“Are you objecting to what we have laid out?” Deluca asked. “We are trying to find your sister.”

“I object for several reasons. First and foremost, you have no idea where Fiona is. Storming anyone’s compound puts too many people at risk and increases the chance of innocent casualties. Second, we want to maintain our allies, not drive them to our enemies. Strategy is the way to defeat Aetos and Stratos. Is that understood?”

“What action do you suggest we take, Angel?” Xander asked.

I held Agent Davenport’s gaze. “I think it’s time to talk with your spies in the Aetos and Stratos families. Once you confirm Fiona’s whereabouts, we’ll decide on a solid course of action.”

“What makes you think we have anyone on the inside?”

“All you’ve done since we met is trickle information to us. That’s basic Solon 101.” My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I ignored it, knowing only one person called me on that device. And the only way to read the message was to finish this discussion with Agent Davenport.

“And that tells you we have someone inside other families?”

“No, it tells me you are stringing us along as you gather your intel. I spent a lot of time with your director. She’s taught me a thing or two.”

Davenport’s lips tightened a fraction. “Give me one hour.”

“Thank you. I am going to stretch my legs and check on the boys.” I pushed back from my chair and strode toward the hallway leading to Mama and my babies.

As soon as I turned the corner, I lifted my phone to glance at the incoming message.

DEVANI: Fiona isn’t on either estate but in Boston. Find a way to get back home without being detected. Keep your family close, especially the boys.

I took a deep breath and replied, trying to keep my racing heart from bursting out of my chest.

ME: Want to expand on that last part? It’s not like I’m stressed or anything.

I already anticipated what she would say. Just messaging me on the encrypted phone confirmed it. The hair on my neck stood up, and a wave of unease washed over me.

DEVANI: A few bad apples spoil the whole barrel, so I need to clean it.

Well, good luck to whoever fucked her over. They were going to have a painful end-of-life experience. Devani wasn’t the forgiving type. And if they ran, it would only get worse. From the things I’d learned, Devani cleared her first assassination assignment at fourteen by sneaking into a military compound and slicing a general’s throat.

If she could do that as a teenager, God knew what she could do as a seasoned director for a whole continent.

An unsettling thought crossed my mind. I hoped she never considered recruiting one or both of my boys for her organization. That was the last thing I needed to worry about.

I approached the room with Mama and the boys. The six soldiers stationed outside inclined their heads.

Seeing them eased some of my tension, and then I felt Theo and Xander’s presence behind me.

“Let’s go inside, and you tell us what’s wrong.” Theo settled a palm against my lower back.

Quietly, I opened the bedroom door and stepped inside.

I found Mama and the boys sound asleep on the king-sized bed. Charis slept with his head on Mama’s belly, and Hayes napped against her other side, curled up in a little ball.

I couldn’t help but sigh, seeing them so peaceful. Theo and Xander seemed to have the same sense of calm as they stood next to me, taking them in.

After a few seconds, Xander nudged us further into the room. “Let’s go to the other side. Who messaged you, and what did it say?”

“You felt the vibration?”

“Your butt was right at my face. It’s hard to miss.”

Once we reached the far end of the room, I scanned the area and took a deep breath before saying in Greek, “ We need to go back to Boston immediately. ”

Their gazes bore into mine with my language change, and then they nodded their understanding of the need to keep things private.

“Are we taking Theia Delia and the boys with us, Angel?” Theo asked, also in Greek.

I took a deep breath, frustration filling my soul. I wanted to keep Mama and my babies far away from Boston, but at this point, it was safer to have them with us.

“We don’t have any other choice. The only people we can trust are each other.”

“Understood. I’ll get everything packed up,” Xander said, walking away.

“Wait,” I said, putting out a hand to stop him, lowering my voice to a whisper. “ We can’t let anyone know our plans. Keep it to yourself.”

“Yes, Angel,” Xander assured me. “ You don’t trust them either. I saw it in your eyes earlier. One of them is a mole.”

I nodded.

Theo took my hand and kissed my palm, his eyes peering into mine. “Are you okay?”

“I will be,” I nodded. “ Eventually. Once I know we’re safe.”

“We’d never let anyone hurt you or our sons,” he whispered, planting another kiss on my palm.

It was a rare moment of gentle affection that was more precious than he could know. Everything was changing between us, but he was a constant. The dynamic we’d lived with for so long—the bickering, the electric tension, the push and pull mixed in with a tender, pure, unadulterated love.

“I know, Theo,” I nodded, offering him a soft smile.

We turned to look at the sleeping boys together, and he put his arm around me, pulling me close.

“You made some beautiful babies.”

“The three of us made them together,” I whispered, leaning into his chest.

The boys' small chests rose and fell as they slept. They were completely at peace, unaware of the chaos surrounding them and the life they had been born into.

I desperately wanted them to have a life of safety and warmth, not chaos and competition. Unlike Theo's dread and regret regarding his heritage, I wanted them to grow up feeling deep affection for their family.

Papa and Mama had given me and my sisters everything I dreamt of for my babies. But nothing was guaranteed in our world, especially with its violence and rivalry. The best I could do was give them a normal upbringing for as long as possible.

I shook my head at that thought.

“ What are you thinking?” Theo rested his chin on the top of my head.

“How impossible it will be to give Charis and Hayes a normal childhood when they have two enforcer fathers and a mother who is the Godmother of the Night for the Angelos Syndicate.”

“ It’s not as if some suburban mother and an accountant father raised you. Your parents brought you up in the middle of territory battles and all kinds of fuckery.”

“Are you using me as the example of a model child?” I tilted my head to the side to peer up at him. “If I recall, you hated my guts and would have thrown me off the nearest bridge if there was any way to get away with it.”

“It was hate-love, and once you weren’t jailbait, I could fuck you into behaving.”

“You’re not even four years older than me. Jailbait, my ass.”

All of a sudden, my mood shifted, and my heart clenched. “Theo, I’m worried about Fiona.”

“Don’t forget. She’s the meanest and smartest one out of all four of you. If there is a way to fuck with someone, she’ll do it.”

“But what if they…” I trailed off, not wanting to describe the horror I imagined.

“Then we collect each of them and serve them to her in the Caves to exercise her rage.”

I turned to face him, lifted onto my toes, and kissed him.

When we pulled back, Theo said, “We have to prepare. Davenport will come looking for us soon.”

I nodded, and Theo exited the room.

I stayed in place for a few more seconds, aware that I couldn’t escape my legacy or role in the family.

For those boys, Fiona, and my future with Theo and Xander, it was time to reclaim my role as the Angelos, Godmother of the syndicate. I’d destroyed my enemies once through calm, cold calculation and would do it again.

But this time, I would claim their power as collateral.