Page 55 of Sin and Deception

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 hadlittle 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.”

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