Page 135 of Sins and Virtue

“Third cousins.” Blair finally spoke. “If we go that far back, we’re cousins then.”

“To be more technical, yes.” I agreed.

“But your father—”

Just at the mention of him— that man who gave me life but took away my freedom— my veins were poisoned with anger and frustration as I snapped my head at Konstantin. “I did not choose my father nor the family I was born into. You as well as I know that family is a life sentence; we must carry the burden of dealing with it.” I alluded to his messy family history that involved betrayal, secrets, and deception.

Kon’s lips lined with irritation, his lack of response detailing my point.

The past was a tragic history that was written in the stars and sewn into our souls. The future, however, was yet to be determined.

“But even then, I will do anything and everything to keep my family safe. No matter the cost.” Sincerity honed into my words, my heart only filled with the purest of intentions, and my mind afflicted with the worst torments. Because after being sacrificed, degraded, abused, maimed, violated, and having survived, they will never know what I went through. And I would do it all again for them. “I swear it to you. I will never bring any of you harm. I'd rather die.”

Kon parted from his chair. “I don’t believe a word you’re saying—”

Blair placed a hand on his hair, stopping him. “She’s being truthful.”

His gaze intensified like a wildfire consuming a forest, cruelly and fiercely. “How do you know,kotyonok?”

She looked at him and then back at me as if she could see what I kept hidden deep, deep inside. “I just do.”

Discomfort chafed my skin; I hated when anyone saw my weakness.

“Fuck,” he gritted, shaking his head as he turned around, pacing the room. “I don’t know.”

“She freed you from prison. Why would she do that if she went through all that trouble to save your lazy ass?” Another grave, emotionless voice entered the room as my eyes wandered over to my best soldier, one of my protectors.

“Who the fuck do you think you are calling me…” Kon trailed off when he turned around to be met with his own twin.

At six-five, he had eyes that were more steel gray than blue, black hair that slicked around his nape, a shadow of a scruff on his jaw, and black ink tattooed on his arms that served more as life’s story than art. He wore a gray short-sleeve shirt, army green combat pants, and boots; he was the spitting image of an experienced bloodbath soldier.

Rhys leaned his side against the door, folding his arms and crossing one leg over the other. His features neither surprised nor conflicted since I advised him about this meeting beforehand. “Amused yet, brother?” The apathy in his voice trained from years of silence and experience.

Kon blinked incessantly. “What. The. Fuck?”

Blair leaned forward in her chair, asking. “Are they twins?”

“Yes, but there’s one missing.”

“Triplets?” Blair and he exclaimed.

Konstantin rubbed his temples in increasing disbelief. “Someone needs to explain what the fuck is happening.”

“Babe, it’s kinda obvious. Our parents did a lot of fucking.” Blair blurted.

“That’s the short story,” Rhys added, his eyes lingering on Blair for a moment too long not to notice. But that was not the sister he wanted.

“Then tell us the long version.” Kon demanded.

“I can’t.”

“You don’t remember.”

“Do you?”

Konstantin shook his head.

The family reunion wasn’t as expected, as the tension grew to an uncomfortable start. Neither one knew who they were, and they wouldn’t imagine the power they had either.