Page 90 of Sin and Deception

“Excluding Aetos and Stratos. The consensus is to watch the outcome of your interactions with them. They will follow based on the outcome of that battle.”

“They have no fear for their children or what I might do to them?”

Anthony smiled. “They sat at this table with your father and saw a lot of his style in you, which led them to believe you shared his views on the value of children.”

“As long as they don’t turn against me, they have nothing to worry about.”

“I will pass on the message,” he nodded and stepped back in line with Simon and Nico, nodding slightly.

Nerine's gaze swept across the room, patiently waiting for someone to speak up. It was crucial to allow the two self-important assholes who caused this mess to reveal their agendas.

As the room stayed silent, Nerine walked to the head of the table and took her seat with poise and authority, prepared to address the group.

“I appreciate you all taking the time to be here today,” she began, her voice steady and without inflection.

Whenever she exhibited this level of control, I couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. Today was no different. Yet beneath my want, I stayed vigilant for the tension that charged the air around us. Nothing would deter me from safeguarding my queen.

"Yeah, it's bullshit that you forced us here," Gusto let out a bitter laugh. "What's the fucking point of all this?"

Nerine's eyes blazed as she raised a perfectly shaped brow at his blatant disrespect. My fists clenched at my sides, the urge to destroy these insolent men surging within me.

"You're upset, gentlemen," Nerine remarked coolly. "That's unfortunate but understandable. I am upset as well."

"That's a mild word for what we feel," Gusto spat back. "I don't know who you think you are, taking the children and summoning us here like a queen."

Nerine's calm smile did little to hide her irritation at his words. "Because that is exactly who I am. Why do you always feel the need to be so contrary? I don’t answer to you, and I never will. Do you really believe that just because I am a woman, I am in any way lesser than you?"

"That's absurd!" Gusto interrupted, his face turning red with indignation.

But Nerine ignored his outburst and continued calmly. "Do you really believe my gender diminishes my abilities as aleader? Let me assure you, Gusto, I am just as powerful as you think you are just because the Y chromosome gave you that little mushroom between your legs."

Her sharp words cut through the air like knives, and Gusto fumed in his seat.

"Are you sure it's not your sordid relationship with these two brutes standing beside you that gives you any semblance of power, Nerine?" Tobias spoke up with a mocking smirk on his face. "You're right. It's not what's between your thighs that makes you powerful. It's the people you align yourself with, wouldn't you agree?"

We expected this type of dealing from Stratos. His ego couldn’t accept rejection, so taunting was a way to save face.

Idiot.

Nerine viewed her relationship with Theo and me as an asset, not a weakness. Nothing any of these bastards said could change this.

His eyes glinted with malice as he continued. "And from what I've heard, you've certainly aligned yourself with them more than once." The disgust in his voice was palpable. "So tell me, what does that make you? I can't imagine these two let their little whore have much control behind the scenes."

Around the table, some gasped while others laughed at Tobias's words. I noted how each person reacted and planned their punishment accordingly. Theo stood stoic at Nerine’s side, but I could sense the anger and frustration boiling within him.

Nerine lifted her chin, undaunted by Tobias's insults. I had never been prouder of her.

But the final straw came when Tobias focused on our children.

"And now you have two young boys of your own," he mocked. "Congratulations, by the way. We all wondered where you’d been for the last two years. It turns out you were busy giving birth to the consequences of your promiscuity. Are they even their fathers? How can you be sure when you open your legs for both of them?"

"Enough!" My voice echoed sharply, laced with fury. I stepped forward, poised to tear Tobias apart. Theo matched my movements, eager to join in.

But Nerine held up a hand, halting us both.

"Tobias," she said coolly, her tone laced with disdain. "You were an ugly soul. And just like your friend Gusto here, you think that flaccid noodle in your pants gives you the right to spout nonsense without consequences."

She leaned forward and then lowered her voice to a mocking whisper. "And by the way, I don't know if you've heard the rumors, but there’s some doubt about your ability to produce viable sperm. That’s why you used alternative methods for conception. It seems the mother of your children has started questioning whether the sample used was yours. You know, DNA tests are pretty simple these days. You don't even have to provide anything but spit. Just like you're spitting out those despicable words at me."

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