Page 46 of Sin and Deception

"I accept it. I'm the villain. I understand," I said bitterly, feeling the familiar ache of longing for what we once had returned with full force. "I can't blame you."

"You need to tell us everything, Nerine," Xander said, his tone serious and commanding. Ignoring my tears and evident pain, they demanded answers. Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and wiped away the tears from my cheeks before speaking again.

"I thought I was protecting you," I said, desperately wanting them to grasp this one fact above all else. If they could see things from my perspective, maybe they would find it in their hearts to forgive me. Without that, I feared for what our future might hold.

"From what?" Theo asked, his voice softening slightly. Xander remained silent at his side, still brooding and angry but listening intently.

"The Aetos family debt," I replied with a heavy sigh. "It wouldn't exist if it weren't for your father, Theo."

The burden of this secret had been crushing me for so long, and finally, sharing it with them felt like a slight relief.

Theo’s father, Mik Nephus, was one of Papa’s top enforcers. The Angelos and Aetos families were in territory battles when we were younger. Thinking to negotiate a truce, Papa had given direct orders to all enforcers and soldiers not to retaliate.

But Theios Mik, wanting to induct his older sons into our way of life, decided to attack Castro Aetos’s private car with a bomb. Except, it wasn’t the Godfather who died, but an innocent little boy on his way to school in his daddy’s car.

Theo peered at me, his eyes narrowing and waiting for me to continue.

“When Theios Mik mistakenly killed Castro Aetos’s youngest son, he created a life debt for the youngest Nephus, Onassis, and Angelos families. Any deaths beyond those were unacceptable. He wanted the youngest child for his lost youngest child.”

I shook my head, my mind replaying every detail I had learned since leaving.

“Gusto, Aetos’s oldest son, has now taken over as the new head of the family, as you both know.”

“He’s a total prick,” Xander growled, his disdain for Gusto evident.

“I agree. Unfortunately, he’s also incredibly stubborn. He refuses to let this go and is on an unrelenting mission to avenge his brother's death.”

I watched Theo closely, searching for any signs of how he was processing my words. But he remained stoic and unmoving.

“Even after the tragic loss of your mother, Theo, Gusto continues to act. He doesn’t countTheiaViola’s death as payment. The Nephus debt is still open.”

“Like I said, he’s a total prick,” Xander chimed in again.

“It will remain that way as long as you’re alive, Theo,” I added gravely.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, his anger becoming more visible with each passing moment. His stormy gaze met mine intensely, and my heart ached at the pain and torment I saw within them. “We’re all in danger because of me. Is that what you’re saying? Just because my heart keeps beating in my chest?”

“No, I —”

“This never-ending feud has gone on for far too long!” he roared, his frustration and anguish reverberating through the cabin. “And now I can't even have my sons in my life because of this bullshit?”

His words echoed off the walls, filling the room with a sense of despair and hopelessness. It tore me apart to see him blame himself for everything.

“It’s not your fault,” I insisted, my voice full of conviction. “You were born into this mess, just like the rest of us! We had no control over our bloodline, Theo.”

Even though I felt pain and anguish, hearing him claim both boys as his own gave me a sense of warmth and comfort. To me, they were all part of one family now. I wasn't sure how much convincing it would take for them to see it that way, but I hoped they were already beginning to understand.

“It is ridiculous; I know,” I continued. “But it's not your fault. None of us asked for this, yet we are facing it together.”

“She’s right, Theo,” Xander added, surprising me with his rare display of affection.

He reached out and took Theo’s hand, gently squeezing it before letting go. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Maybe Xander had softened in my absence. Itwarmed my heart to think that perhaps they had found solace and comfort in each other's embrace while I was away.

“No, we didn’t ask for any of this,” Theo said, his head shaking in frustration.

A lock of dark hair fell over his eye, and I had to resist the urge to brush it away. However, he was clearly upset and on the brink of a complete breakdown. Just one touch could set him off.

“But neither did our sons, did they? We can’t let this go on any longer. We can't let this feud taint their lives.”

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