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Releasing a frustrated breath, I said, “I fucked up, and he can’t forgive me. What do you want me to do? I’d change it if I could.”
Gripping the back of my neck, I paced for a second and continued, “Theo and I aren’t the topic of discussion right now. We’re talking about you and your refusal to see that you are free from the cage of the last five years.”
“I swear to God, you’re delusional.” She threw up her hands. “I’m not free. I’m the Angelos now. I have more on my shoulders than before. You want to know what I was doing?”
I folded my arms, waiting for her to say her piece.
She pointed to the laptop behind me. “I was responding to a message from Tobias since my conversation with him at the funeral wasn’t enough to get it through to his thick head. You’re lucky I pressed send before you snatched my laptop.”
I hated admitting when Theo was right. Stratos was going to be a problem.
“What did you tell him?”
“What do you think I told him? I told him in as friendly a way as possible without starting a war that just because I don’t have a dick doesn’t mean I can’t handle the organization Papa raised me to run. I don’t need the help of any fucking Stratos. They’re the reason we’re in this mess in the first place.”
“So, in other words, you told him to take his offer and stick it up his ass.”
“I said I was friendly, dammit. My words were curt but to the point. Apparently, I wasn’t clear at the funeral, so I had to emphasize that I have things under control and plenty of advisers I trust. And considering the circumstances in which a Stratos murdered my father and brother, I will not now nor ever require assistance from any Stratos.”
I closed my eyes and then just shook my head before I started laughing.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“You are more like Theios Peter than you even know. Well, except your approach is a bit more refined. I wouldn’t say nice. But more along the no-nonsense business way of handling things.”
The irritation on her face turned into a murderous scowl. “Would you rather I told Tobias to fuck off with his offer and that the only allies I need or want are the ones who aren’t backstabbing pieces of shit?”
I lifted my hands as if in surrender. “No, you handled it the right way. But don’t expect the dickhead to give up. He doesn’t understand eloquent conversations.”
“Then you will deliver the follow-up message.” She lifted a brow. “I’m sure he will understand your methods of communication.”
“Flexing your power?” I gripped her hips again, bringing her body flush to mine.
“I know when to pull out the big guns.” She set her palms on my chest, then glided one hand between our bodies to my straining cock, cupping it in her palm. “This isn’t the first offer of assistance I received in the last few days, Xander. I refuse to show any weakness. Once I convey a message, the second one will come through my people, meaning you and Theo.”
“You don’t have to prove anything.”
“Of course I do. All of the powerful families are circling and testing me. When we meet at the end of the month, they will all know I’m not someone they can fuck around with.”
She stroked me through my jeans in perfect, measured movements, causing precum to weep into my boxers. All these years without her, and now all I could think about was bending her over the nearest surface and burying myself inside her.
“Does that mean you trust us?” I looked down into her mesmerizing eyes.
“Of course I do. It’s only ever been the two of you.”
“Then what was all that about it moving too fast?”
“I get scared. Worried. I don’t want anything to fall back on the two of you because of me.”
I narrowed my gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“How have you not heard the rumors? You and Theo have your fingers on the pulse of everything.”
I’d heard more than my share of rumors, from Nerine hiring international assassins to do the deed to Andraius dying in bed with one of his mistresses and Theo and I staging it to look like a hit.
“Why don’t you fill me in?”
“Rumors are swirling that you and Theo took out Andraius for me because you are my lovers and wanted him out of the way so you could have me.”
