Page 111 of Thorns of Blood

Pain pierced my chest at the sound of his name and I swallowed, focusing on now. “Yes, yours and Killian’s.”

Her eyes held mine, a look I couldn’t decipher in them. “And yours. I recognize that I owe you… we owe you her life. She wouldn’t have survived if not for you.”

My gaze lowered to her now, the greatest thing to ever come out of my life’s most painful events, and found that she was smiling up at me, her cheeks flushed. She looked so happy and healthy. A bright future was ahead of her. I could see it in her beautiful blue eyes. I could see it in her parents’ gazes that they would damn well ensure nothing—nobody—got in the way of her happiness.

“No, it was I who wouldn’t have survived without her,” I rasped, my voice breaking. “She saved me as much as I saved her. More so, probably. Because I would have given up a long time ago if not for this beautiful girl.”

I took a deep breath in then exhaled, my sister’s words finally registering.

My brow furrowed. “What do you mean you were working on alliances?”

“To kill that motherfucker, Giovanni,” Lou hissed, anger flashing in her eyes.

I stiffened, locked eyes with my twin, and my next words were like a whip against sensitive skin.

“You won’t touch him.” She flashed me a surprised look, and I took another step. “Promise me.”

Silence reigned in the room, the echo of Louisa’s breath catching in her throat as she watched me.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say or how to explain it all.

But finally Lou smiled, although slightly strained.

“You have my word,” she said. “If that’s what you want, he won’t be hurt.”

“Thank you.”

After that, the tension eased. Amara pulled me forward, making a beeline for the sofa, and we sank down, Emory on the other side of her.

Lou and Kingston sat with Lara between them, a girl they rescued from a trafficking ring. The DiLustro kingpins were strategically placed at each door and window, their wives close-by.

There was no point in taking offense. After all, I deserved it, my actions over the past few years were not exactly honorable.

I chose not to focus on the bad but instead memorized every line of Amara’s glowing face. I studied my sister’s happiness and the love that shone in her eyes. So many families and couples stood around here, their happily-ever-afters attained, and I felt grotesquely out of place. It cut too deep seeing them thrive in their love. The kind that I would never have.

With a deep breath, I jumped to my feet, startling everyone. The kingpins’ hands flew to their weapons.

“Umm, I have to go,” I muttered. “I just wanted to see Amara before—” I took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. “I just wanted to make sure the surgery went fine.”

“Stay, Mother Liana.”

My eyes lowered to the little girl who was my entire world. “I can’t, my treasure. But I hope—” I flicked a glance to her parents. “I hope I can visit you again.” Emory nodded, although judging by her husband’s expression, he wasn’t thrilled. “Thank you for taking care of her. Be good to her.” It seemed silly to thank her parents, but I couldn’t help it. I still thought of her as mine.

I lowered to my knees and wrapped Amara in my arms, agony searing me. I didn’t want to leave her behind, I didn’t want to spend any of my days without her, but I didn’t know what fate had in store for me. It killed me to admit it, but this was where she belonged.

“You’re so loved, precious. Just as I knew you would be. Be strong and happy, Amara.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Whenever you need me, you call me. Okay?”

Amara nodded somberly. “How will I call you?”

I gave a resigned chuckle. I would miss this clever little thing.

“That’s right. I’ll give your mamma my number.” I looked up to Emory and Killian. “Is that okay?”

“Yes, of course,” Emory agreed before Killian could say otherwise.She dug into her pocket and handed me her phone. “But Killian and I want to remain in touch with you too. I want to know everything that has happened to my daughter for the past five years.”

It would be a difficult, painful conversation, and not one that we would have now or around Amara.

So I just nodded my head, punched my number in her cell phone, then offered it back with a small smile. “There you go, now you can message me anytime.”