Chapter 8
Eight
T heo
“Where the fuck is Nyx?” Simon Drakos asked someone from a hallway, making me shift my attention from my laptop as I sat at the long prep table in the kitchen of the Drakos mansion.
This was the space Xander and I had taken over as our workstation nearly every other day over the last few weeks. Since the sunroom or whatever they called it was off-limits, we decided to get as much work done as possible during the three to four hours we spent here.
Something in my gut told me this set-up would be coming to an end.
“Why would I know this? I’m your keeper, not hers. You’re the one who left her unattended for nearly a month and a half. Knowing her, she’s probably running an underground poker game right now in one of your ballrooms.”
I smirked, hearing Drakos’s second-in-command, Kasen Alexandros, answer. The fact Simon hadn’t killed him years ago for giving him shit right and left spoke volumes about the level of their relationship. Beyond being first cousins, they were the closest friends and told each other the truth, no matter how brutal. It was on a level with how Xander and I dealt with each other.
“You’re lucky that you’re still alive, asshole.”
“No, you’re lucky you’re still alive because of me. Ask Nyx, and she’ll back me up. And remember, you’re the asshole.”
As they turned around the corner entering the kitchen, both men abruptly stopped.
“Want to tell me why the fuck you are sitting here as if it’s teatime?”
I glanced at Xander, who shrugged his shoulders, and then back at Simon before answering, “Your wife has Nerine sequestered in the solarium until six o’clock.”
“Doing what?” He moved closer to me.
“Training. The same thing Nyx and Nerine have done every other day for the last five weeks.” Xander closed the lid to his computer and studied Simon.
“Training on what?” The clenching of Simon’s jaw and the flash of concern in his green eyes had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
“What do you mean what? I don’t know—plants, flowers, whatever she needs to learn for the botanical garden project.”
“First of all, the plants she needs work with are at the botanical gardens in the city. Hence the reason for keeping Nerine away from her house if anything went down. And second—” Simon set his hands on the long table and loomed over us. “Are you saying you didn’t even go in the room to see what they have been doing for weeks?”
“Your security team barred us from the room,” I countered. “We don’t need to be with her every second of every day.”
Simon shot Kas a look over his shoulder and then shook his head. “Just once, I’d like for her to let me know she planned to do it her way.”
“In her defense, you probably would have tried to stop her.” Kas’s response garnered an angry scowl.
“Want to loop us in on this plan? And its effect on what we’ve discussed?” Xander’s tone broached no argument, telling me his temper simmered, readying to blow.
If Simon were playing some game behind our backs with Nerine and kept us out of the loop, not only would Xander lose it, I’d punch the motherfucker in the face.
“Keep your shit together. Nothing has changed with what I have in the works for the fake Angelos. We have everyone nearly in place.” He held my gaze. “Could have used your assistance with some of the discussions in Athens, but as you are playing bodyguard, I guess it’s forgivable.”
I held in the urge to tell him to fuck off.
I wasn’t under his umbrella and held no loyalty to his family. Still, his backing and power would give back Nerine her empire.
“So what have you decided to do with the angel behind our backs?” Xander asked, the irritation still very evident on his features.
Drakos lifted a brow in Xander’s direction, giving him the not-so-subtle indication that he needed to toe the line of respect. The shit Xander pulled with Andraius would never work with this one.
Kas answered, breaking the tension. “Nyx believed it was time to teach Nerine how to defend herself. Having Nerine help Nyx with the botanical garden project was a cover. However, his goddess decided to move up the timeline of the plan without telling him why.”
“Let’s go find out what she’s been up to.” Simon continued to glare at Xander, who still hadn’t backed down. “Xander, I understand your feelings about her, but remember who I am. Our history won’t stop me from knocking some sense into you.”
As if the words snapped him out of the haze of anger, Xander nodded. “I apologize.”
“I should let Theios Alex do it. He’d probably have you scrubbing toilets,” Simon said as he strode to the hallway leading toward the solarium.
I noticed Xander visibly grimacing, knowing that was what would happen if Theios Alex got wind of Xander mouthing off to our most prominent ally.
“We’re going to go in through the back. Make sure to keep your voice down. This way, my goddess won’t be aware of our presence until after the session.”
“Stevie will know the second we enter the room,” Kas observed.
“That’s her job. The point is to stay out of the way until they finish.”
Simon led us through a set of double doors leading out onto a terrace and then to a movable glass wall that he shifted to the side.
We all stepped inside and stood behind a lattice covered in thick ivy.
“You’ve gotten damn good with the balance.” Nyx complimented Nerine as they stood in the middle of what looked to be a giant training mat in the center of the room. “Remember to use that to your advantage.”
Then someone else added, “It will give you time to counter an attack because your opponent will be too busy thinking they can get a surprise attack on you.”
I tried to scan the room to see who spoke, but the woman was in the shadows.
“For the love of God,” Simon muttered and gripped the back of his neck. “She has her involved in this? Fuck me.”
“Your idea of jumping in to help her is screwed, cousin,” Kas responded in a hushed tone and patted Simon on the shoulder.
I looked between the two men. Who was that woman? And why was she a problem?
As if hearing my thoughts, Kas whispered, “Devani King.”
He couldn’t be serious. Was he even aware of the woman’s true identity? Yeah, she may have married into the notorious King brothers’ underworld family. However, she was deadlier than anyone around her. Devani was a trained child assassin who proudly wore her reputation of eliminating anyone who got in her way without a backward glance as a medal of honor. I’d only discovered the tidbit of information while visiting an underground poker club in New York.
If Nyx was going to find someone to train Nerine, of course she’d bring in a woman classified as a deadly weapon.
Simon shook his head. “I swear, I’m going to tan Nyx’s ass red.”
“Did you forget you’re the darkness to her night? She likes all that kinky shit you throw her way.”
Simon glared at Kas.
I glanced at Xander and resisted the urge to laugh. Simon rarely, if ever, showed a less-than-serious side. Well, except when Nyx or Kas was around. And even that had its limits.
“What the fuck are you two smirking at?”
Xander answered, “The fact you two sound like us. It’s refreshing.”
“I’m surrounded by assholes.” Simon stepped around the ivy and leaned against the wall, making it so anyone who looked in our direction would catch sight of him but keeping it from being obvious.
“Let’s go through another round, and then I have a present for you.” Nyx rubbed her hands together before picking up a wooden box and lifting the lid.
“You’ve already had a turn with her. I’m up.”
“Are you kidding me, Devani?” Nerine exclaimed. “You’ll kick my ass. Last time I could barely sit and had to make up some bullshit about missing a step on a ladder and landing on my butt.”
Devani came into view, wearing a pair of workout shorts and a fitted top, the same outfit Nerine had on. Both women were barefooted, and they circled each other.
“You did land on your butt quite a bit. You kept forgetting height isn’t always an advantage. It’s the way you handle your body.”
“I was trying to keep you from stabbing me. It wasn’t a death match, and you acted like it was.”
“The best way to learn is if you feel the fear, causing the adrenaline spikes, which forces you to conquer it. I don’t want you to freeze if someone attacks you.” Devani shrugged and then pivoted. Nerine seemed to expect it and shifted her movement to counter Devani’s.
“My two bodyguards knew I was lying through my teeth.”
Xander nudged me with his elbow and said in a low tone, “Told you. I even said she was walking as if she had some sparring injury.”
Devani pursed her lips. “I’m going to need to teach you how to lie. Fuck. You’re too damn pure to be a mob princess.”
“Mob wife,” Nyx corrected.
“With any luck, that’s only a temporary situation.” Devani tapped her chin. “Okay, young one. Let’s see how this knife wielder has done with your training.”
“Well, at least I know from the beginning that you’re going for a death match, so I’m ready for pain.” Nerine took two weapons from the box Nyx held, inspecting each blade.
Devani selected her deadly instruments. “I’m happy you’re thinking ahead.”
When the match started, they went straight at it. No preamble, no “go,” no nothing. Just a straight-on attack.
Devani charged for Nerine and slid to the floor, ready to slice at her shin. Immediately, Nerine pivoted and jabbed to the left, barely missing Devani’s shoulder as she made some backbend-like move to avoid the hit.
“Holy—” Xander attempted to charge toward them, but Simon grabbed his forearm and covered his mouth.
“Quiet, asshole,” Simon whispered. “You’re going to stay right here.”
When Xander relaxed and made it clear he’d keep his ass with us, Simon released him and spoke in a hushed voice. “For some reason, Nyx has involved people outside our circle in Nerine’s care. My wife always has a reason for everything. Devani King is one of the most dangerous women in the world, and if she is willing to take Nerine on as a pupil, she is vested in her. So don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Meaning?” I asked, matching my tone to Simon’s.
“First, answer this question. Why are you doing all of this? What is it you want after we dethrone the imposter? Are one of you planning to take the helm?”
My temper flared. “You know damn well that’s not the plan.”
“Then clarify it. The two of you are too invested in Nerine for it to be just about putting the true heir in the seat.”
I kept quiet and stared at Nerine as she trekked all over the mat with Devani, countering and then attacking with various offensive moves. She was no match for the assassin but had some basic skills down to keep her from being an easy target.
“Do you think I haven’t picked up on the truth by not verbalizing it?” Simon pressed. “All the clues say the two of you had something with her. And for all of your sakes, no one better catch wind of it.”
“Nothing is going on. We watch out for her best interests. She will take the helm.” Xander’s words may have come out quiet and almost low enough to be a whisper, but the way he held Simon’s gaze as he spoke, he was daring Simon to challenge his statement.
“She can’t take anything if those around the table see her as weak. It doesn’t matter if you are her muscle. Everyone would believe the two of you as the true heads behind the face.”
“Is that what all of this is about? You went behind our backs to train her to give her credibility?”
“That was the original intent.” Kas spoke this time. “However, it looks as if Nyx went behind all of our backs and brought in someone better suited to accomplish this goal.”
That’s when I noticed Simon and Nyx were holding each other’s gazes as if they were amid an unsaid conversation.
Then I caught Xander staring at me, and he lifted a brow and mouthed, “Let’s get out of here. We need to have a chat.”
I nodded but turned to watch the women sparring for a few moments more. Then as Nerine reset for another round, Devani King lifted her focus up to where we stood and cocked a brow.
It looked as if the only one unaware of our presence was our Angel.
She was in good hands. And these women could give her everything we couldn’t—a connection, friendship, belonging.
I thought about everything I knew about Nyx. She’d grown up with a father and four brothers who treated her as an equal, and according to rumors, she’d learned her skills with weapons from her eldest brother, Tyler.
Then there was Devani King. Outside of the fucked-up assassin thing, which I’d yet to figure out the origin story behind, she ran a cutthroat billion-dollar diamond and precious gem conglomerate. If there was anyone who knew how to wheel and deal in a world dominated by misogynism, she did.
Releasing a deep breath, I turned and walked out of the sliding glass door, not caring if anyone followed. But of course, Xander had, and to my surprise, Simon and Kas trailed behind him.
We remained quiet until we returned to the kitchen, then Simon said, “Gentlemen, as of this moment, our business dealings have concluded. Our original plan will go forward. You keep the Angelos women alive and their organization operational. I will do my part to keep others from encroaching on their interests.”
“And we will continue to play interference while the Angelos Angel gains her wings back using the Assassin Squad,” Xander stated.
“Oh, that was a very astute guess on the name we call ourselves,” Devani cooed as she strolled through the hallway leading from the solarium with Nyx and Nerine with her.
The women wore their workout gear and hadn’t changed into their day clothing, making it clear that all were aware of our imposing on their training session.
Simon moved directly toward Nyx, stopping right in front of her. “Goddess, we will discuss this.”
“I’m sure we will.” She lifted a brow and then set a hand on his chest. “How was Greece?”
I shifted my attention to Nerine, who stood behind Nyx. Her focus teetered between Xander and me. The intensity in her dark blue gaze as she clutched an ornate box under her arm completely different from the one with the weapons from her training session. The way she held it made me wonder what was inside.
The apprehension and uncertainty radiating from her pulled at something in me and made me want to shake her and demand how she could still doubt us.
We’d settle this on our way back to the compound.
“Are you ready to head home?” I asked her.
She wiped the sweat from her brow and licked her lips. “Yes.”
“Before you take my pupil away, I want a word with the two of you.” Devani approached us, handing me a paper. “Here is her schedule. To keep the charade of the botanical garden, Nerine is well-versed in the terminology and will take care of her studies. As for you, gentlemen, your assignment is to supplement her learning with your specialties. Those details are also listed.”
Xander pulled the note from my fingers and read.
A crease formed between his brows as he turned to Devani. “Mrs. King, this is quite a bit of knowledge you’ve procured about us. May I ask who provided it?”
“I never reveal my sources. All you need to know is that you wouldn’t have made it back stateside if the intel provider didn’t like you.” The deadly glint in her black eyes held a warning mixed in with the information.
It looked as if she wielded a lot of power in the organization that had turned her into a living, breathing weapon.
During my year in Europe, I learned that these institutions worked deep underground and recruited their members at a young age. They used an indoctrination of sorts, similar to a cult, where they trained in every combat and mind manipulation possible.
“We don’t need threats to protect Nerine.” Xander’s ability to remain calm had utterly disappeared, and I knew it was time for me to step in.
“Mrs. King, we will do our part and play interference with all necessary parties. Thank you for your time with the Angelos Angel.”
A smirk touched Devani’s lips. “Very diplomatic of you, Mr. Nephus. You’re good at playing interference.”
“He’s had years of practice,” Xander said. “What agency do you work for, Mrs. King?”
“She’s the Queen of Diamonds. She runs a gem empire. Everyone in the world knows this,” Nerine answered from behind me, and the smug satisfaction on Devani’s lips had me shaking my head.
This was just great. In a matter of weeks, she’d managed a master level of influence on Nerine.
“If I were you, I’d get ready for her to do everything in her power to push your buttons, gentlemen.”
I resisted the urge to glance in Nerine’s direction.
Instead of giving Devani my thoughts on her perdition, I inclined my head. “It is time to return Mrs. Angelos home.”
We walked silently to the car, with Nerine between Xander and me. She kept her gaze forward, saying nothing. The steady stream of tension radiating off her said she expected us to demand an explanation.
Once we started our drive back, I waited for Nerine to begin the conversation. However, when I glanced in the back seat, I found her fast asleep, clutching the ornate box against her chest.