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I assessed Mama’s and my sisters’ faces as they scanned through the folders in their hands—each one containing detailed information about Angelos Shipping, from its finances to its organizational structure. I’d never hidden anything from them, and I never would.
They’d known what I’d done the day of the coup. Hell, they’d watched me do it. But after what Andraius pulled with my forged signature on his bank accounts, I needed them to understand I wasn’t making this decision lightly.
After a few minutes, Mama looked up.“Every day, I see more and more of my old Nerine again. It makes me so happy. You laugh and joke. It’s been so long since I saw the silliness inside you. That hard shell is cracking away.”
My throat burned hearing her say that. I felt the change, too. Not having to hold everything in, not having to be on guard, was so freeing. At least in my home, I could be myself.
“All of this.”She lifted the folder.“It is because of you and what you want and has nothing to do with Theo and Xander. Is this correct?”
I’d expected this question and prepared for it.
“No, and yes. No, because I feel I have to fix this. I know I can fix this. I’m going to make mistakes. There is no way around it. I don’t have Papa’s experience or patience, but I’m not so stubborn that I won’t listen to advice.”
“What about the yes part?” Fiona probed.
Her sapphire gaze speared me like an inquisitor preparing to extract information. She was right. The baby in her had disappeared. I guessed watching the horrors she’d witnessed as a preteen could do that to a girl.
Now she assessed me with eyes so much older than her fifteen years.
“Since all of you know about us, I’ll give you the truth. I love them.”
“You can’t marry both of them. Massachusetts is progressive but not that progressive,” Ariana stated.
“She’s barely been a widow for over a week. Give a girl a chance to play the field.” Christina jabbed Ariana, who shoved her back.
“As if those two would let her play with anyone else.” Ariana glowered. “Do you even see the way they watch her?”
I broke into the twins’ argument. “I wasn’t finished, so you two can stop discussing me as if I’m not here.”
“Sorry,” they both said in unison.
Then Christina muttered, “You still can’t marry both of them.”
“Duh, you’re so dumb.” Ariana rolled her eyes. “Nerine will marry one and have special benefits with the other. Win-win.”
I looked at the ceiling, shaking my head. I’d committed one murder in this room. What was two more?
Mama rose from her spot next to Fiona and strode toward the twins.
“No more talking from either of you. Is that clear? You two are eighteen, and Fiona, has more sense than the both of you put together.”Then, Mama pointed at an armchair across from her.“Christina, over there. Ariana, I’m sitting next to you now.”
They both opened their mouths to say something, and Mama cut them off. “I said no talking.”
They both gave identical glowers, folding their arms. Christina settled into her new spot, muttering something under her breath, her gaze shooting daggers at Ariana.
“Did you say something about welcoming the chaos?” Fiona asked me with a smirk.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You must have imagined it.” I grinned back at her, then a giggle bubbled up, followed by laughter.
Once I started, Fiona joined in.
Mama chuckled next, and then I heard one of the twins snort or something, and we all lost it.
For the next few minutes, we allowed ourselves to enjoy the ridiculousness of this simple sibling stupidity.
I had missed this so much. Mama. Fiona. Christina and Ariana.
If only Papa and Linus were here. Then our family would be complete, the way it once was.
