Page 42 of Sin and Deception

As we stepped outside through the revolving doors, the darkness of the parking lot surrounded us, hiding any potential danger lurking in the shadows. The tension between us remained tangible, our senses heightened and on alert.

"Where's the car?" I asked, my voice revealing my anxiety.

Xander responded with a grunt and a tug on my forearm.

We passed a long line of vehicles before turning a corner and approaching a man in a sleek black suit, quietly smoking as he scrolled through his phone. My heart skipped a beat; it was one of Aetos's men.

"Aetos, too?” The question barely left my lips before Theo covered my mouth with his hand.

He shook his head. “And we have a set.”

“That doesn’t comfort me.”

I might be dead right now if it weren't for Xander and Theo. Those three families were so close to finding me, all because of clues in a damn book.

There was no denying that I was now with Theo and Xander after we walked through the casino and hotel together. They attracted attention wherever they went, whether they meant to or not. And with my outrageous outfit, it was impossible for anyone not to notice the tall, quirky girl strolling beside two handsome men.

"Follow me, Angel," Theo whispered, taking my hand and pulling me away as the man by the car turned his back. We rushed past the first row of vehicles, navigating through the parking garage to avoid detection before reaching Xander's car at the end of the lot.

My companions unceremoniously shoved me into the backseat among the duffel bags, making me scowl as they closed the door in my face. Theo took the passenger seat while Xander slid behind the wheel and safely drove us away.

I couldn't shake the feeling of unease as we drove away.With so many scouts from rival families lurking around, it seemed almost sure that one of them would spot us. But to my relief, we arrived at a private hangar at McCarran Airport just a few minutes later.

"We have our own private plane now?" I asked incredulously.

"We've had some profitable ventures while you were away, Angel," Theo smirked.

As we settled into the plush seats of the luxurious plane, I felt tension rising in my chest. My two companions sat across from me, their eyes fixed on mine as if daring me to speak. Taking a deep breath, I finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been burning in my mind.

"Can you please tell me where we’re going now?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Xander and Theo exchanged glances before responding, their stern expressions sending a chill down my spine.

"I guess you'll have to figure that out alone," Xander replied cryptically.

Confused and increasingly uneasy, I turned my full attention to them.

Leaning forward, they seemed to loom over me with their combined presence.

"Now you decide," Theo's voice was low and menacing. "Where have you hidden our sons, Angel?"

Fourteen

XANDER

My heart raced in my chest as I perched on the edge of my seat, awaiting her answer. The photo of the two boys—our sons—had dominated my thoughts since I saw it. It shocked my system, a reality I had never thought possible.

However, amidst these swirling emotions, I had overlooked two potential threats that Nerine had perceptively noticed at the hotel. Anger bubbled up at my carelessness, fueled by the fear and anxiety that now seemed like a persistent presence in my life.

Was this to be my future? A life filled with constant danger and the unrelenting need to protect my family at all costs? The thought sent shivers down my spine, like a nightmareworse than any I had experienced in the past two years. And now, with answers to my questions finally within reach, I struggled to accept the possibility that everything I knew could change in an instant.

A part of me resisted, holding on to the past and denying the reality of my newfound fatherhood. Yet, another part of me overflowed with immense love for these two beings I had never encountered—my sons.

I turned to Nerine, taking in the sight of her as she squirmed in the seat before us. Defiance flickered in her sapphire eyes, but beneath that, I noticed her trembling fingers and quivering bottom lip. She was afraid, despite her efforts to maintain stoicism. If I touched her thigh, it would shake under my hand.

But she needed to stay composed. We all did. Lowering our guard would be deadly in this moment of uncertainty and danger.

So we pressed on, pursuing the truth and nothing but the truth. Surviving in this world required that we confront and fully expose our fears, no matter how bloody or painful they may be. Our ultimate aim was to protect those boys at all costs.

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