Page 122 of Thorns of Blood

My wife had endured some shit, but what she failed to see was that while those events had shaped her, she wasn’t the villainess. She was an actress, hiding a heart of gold and light that shone so bright underneath her porcelain skin. But if you looked closely, you would see cracks that she endured for those she loved.

Her twin. Her brother-in-law. Her protégé. And for me.

She lovedme.

There’d be no going away from her now. I was hooked for life. I knew she needed more time to heal—physically and mentally—but I’d be here with her every single step of the way. And if anyone even attempted to harm my wife in any way, they’d have me to deal with.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my phone and went through a thread of messages. There was a potential lead to where Liana’s son ended up after he was sold via the Marabella Agreements, but it was too soon to tell Liana about it. I didn’t want to give her false hope until I was certain the lead was legit.

There were two messages. Two leads.

Opening the first message, my eyes scanned the words and shock rolled through me.

Jesus fucking Christ!Twins.

Liana had twins. Mother bribed Santiago’s doctor and convinced him not to share that little detail with anyone.

If there was any doubt my mother wasn’t a cruel, lying bitch, it was erased at that very moment. Despite facing death, Julia lied to my face, almost as if she wanted to send one lastfuck youto my wife.

Moving on to the next email, it was no less startling. It wasn’t good news by any means. Fuck. Fuck.Fuck!I stared at the message, gritting my teeth at the only one word in the title and body of the message.

Albania.

It would seem dealing with the Albanian mafia would be the next chapter of our lives. Fuck! Those motherfuckers were crazy, there was no telling what in the world they’d do with a child.

“Giovanni?” The soft whispered voice brought my eyes back to my wife. “Is everything okay?”

I smiled. “What makes you think something isn’t?”

“The frown on your face and a look that promises murder,” she cracked, trying to shift on the hospital bed.

I wiped my expression clean, hiding my troubles behind a mask. For now. Until Lia healed. Then we’d go after them together.

“It’s nothing that can’t wait another day,” I assured her, shoving my phone into my pocket then taking her hand into mine and pressing my lips against her skin.

She shifted on the hospital bed, patting a spot next to her.

“No fucking way,” I muttered. I shot her a look full of disbelief, making her chuckle softly and another piece of my heart ripped from my chest and flew to her.

“We can fit.”

“Yeah, and the hospital staff might kick us out.”

She shrugged, still smiling. “That’s one way to go home.”

Fuck, how I loved seeing a smile on her face, that golden heart shining through her golden eyes. How could anyone think she was as cruel as Sofia Volkov? She was nothing like her.

Despite common sense, I slid next to her with my hand wrapped around her waist carefully and holding her close, the hospital bed protesting under our weight.

“Where is home for you?” I asked her.

“Wherever you are,” she murmured, her beautiful smile making my chest heavy. I closed my eyes for a split second at those words, still in disbelief that she was mine. “Now tell me what’s worrying you.” As if she could see my struggle, she added, “Remember, equality.”

“I wanted to wait until you’re recovered.”

She tensed in my embrace. “That doesn’t sound good.”

The cat was out of the bag, and there was no sense in keeping this secret. Her mind would conjure worse things than my words ever could.