Page 75 of Sin and Deception

My chances of survival were slim to none.

“Fine, I concede. Only in my imagination could I take you in a fight. Happy? Now tell me where my sister is.”

A smirk tipped the corner of her lips. “Fiona is safe and sound, tucked away in one of my properties."

"She's what?" I jumped up from my seat. "Start from the beginning."

"There was no abduction. When Aetos's men came for her, she had the foresight to hide in the panic room in her closet. At least one Angelos knows how to follow instructions."

"If only she had been smart enough not to write that damn tell-all romance novel," I grumbled, folding my arms across my body. "Go on."

"She called me as soon as she found a safe location. She told me that she had just returned from a run when the security system notified her of a break-in at the back door of her townhouse. Without hesitation, she quickly retreated to the closet and hid."

I could only imagine the fear and panic that coursedthrough her when she saw Aetos's men. They were notorious for their lack of civility and their imposing size.

"While in the safe room, she listened through the speaker system and overheard them discussing using her as leverage. Then they received a call mentioning something about your boys and that Fiona was no longer important. Their new objective was to take Charis and Hayes."

A shiver slid down my spine. "Oh, dear God!"

"She knew she had to get a warning to you, but they stayed in the townhouse for hours searching the place. Once they finally left and she felt safe, she grabbed whatever cash she had and snuck out through a bedroom window. Since she was too scared to use a credit card, she paid for a hotel room for a few days with the cash before contacting me."

"Why didn't she contact me?"

"She was worried they had tapped your phone and were watching you. That’s the same reason she didn't reach out to your mother. The next day, when she sneaked into your mother's house, she found it ransacked and searched, which only increased her fears. She didn't know if anything had happened to you or the boys or if you were hiding together. She finally bought a burner phone."

My heart raced, and my hands shook at the thought of what could have happened.

"I can't believe this!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with pent-up emotion. "Thank God she's alive. These fuckers will stop at nothing for revenge."

I couldn't shake the image of Xander's face when I revealed the truth about how Zoe had died. The pain andanguish etched into every line of his features haunted me, even now. And now they were targeting my sons; it was almost unbearable.

But in this life, there was no space for weakness or mercy. I understood the cruelty of my enemies all too well. They had taken my father and younger brother.

They showed no regard for targeting innocent children. To them, Zoe and Linus were not enough. The coldness and brutality of their actions no longer shocked me.

It left me feeling disgusted.

Still, it wasn’t about my feelings or how much I hated the way things had to unfold. The only way to defeat them was to play by all of their dirty and despicable rules. Anything less would mean certain death in this game.

My heart skipped a beat as I thought about Fiona's safety. Was she really being guarded well enough? The idea of any harm coming to her because of this book made me want to scream.

"Are you sure she's safe?" I asked Devani, my stomach twisting in knots.

"She's fine, Nerine. You don't need to worry," Devani assured me, running a hand through her wild curls.

"All of this over a book," I muttered with a sigh and then shook my head in disbelief.

"But it was a damn good book." Devani laughed, winking at me playfully. "You have to admit that."

I couldn't bring myself to agree. "No, not at all," I argued.

"Come on, Nerine! That double penetration scene? It was delicious!" she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Devani, please ... never mention those words again," I pleaded.

"What about that one scene where the heroine was tied up and pleasured by her two lovers at once? Oh my god, it was pure fire!" Devani continued, ignoring my discomfort.

"Stop!" I cried, covering my ears with my hands. "Please, no more!"

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