Page 102 of Thorns of Death

Uh-oh.

“Alexei.” The man nodded, and I swore the temperature in the room plunged a few degrees. No wonder Tatiana claimed her brothers were scarier than Illias. “And Sasha. The latter is always in trouble, so you’re to keep away from him.”

“Why does that make me want to go talk to him?” I grumbled.

Sasha grinned. “Because you have more sense than your brother.”

I let out a strangled laugh. I’d stake my life on Sasha being the slightly unhinged member of this family.

“Are you all, like, MMA fighters or something?” A blank look. I took that to mean no. “Mobsters, then, huh?”

“Isla, I don’t want you around that kind of life,” Illias growled. “Sooner or later, everyone ends up dead.”

I kept my eyes on Tatiana’s brother as I answered. “Everyone ends up dead eventually, brother. Or should I call you Pakhan, since that’s what you are.”

I sensed tension rolling off my big brother in waves that could have resulted in a tsunami. I ignored it. He’d have to stop sheltering me. Once he learned I married Enrico Marchetti, he’d realize I was in this life and he couldn’t judge me for it.

“Fuck, did Tatiana tell you?”

“Nope.”

A growl vibrated. “Marchetti. That fucking bastard. If he laid a finger on you—”

I raised my palm and stopped him.

“Wrong again.” Although the man had put a lot more than a finger on me. “Like I said, later. Now what can I do to help?”

All the men looked at me confused. “With the mafia?” Sasha asked suspiciously.

I rolled my eyes. “With Tatiana.”

A round of relieved breaths circled the room, and I couldn’t help another eye roll.

“The knife was plunged in her abdomen.” I gasped, my eyes flickering to Tatiana’s flat stomach. It was a miracle that she was still pregnant, then. “Dr. Sergei said we just have to wait,” Illias muttered, returning back to his chair and taking Tatiana’s hand in his.

“Shouldn’t you shower or maybe change your clothes?” The moment I said those words, I wanted to kick myself. If he left this room, he’d see Enrico. We didn’t need conflict right now.

“When she wakes up.”

He was either lying to himself or me, because every person in this room knew he’d remain by her side until he took her home.

THIRTY-FIVE

ENRICO

Iwaited in front of the hospital room for hours in one of those cursed chairs. I’d wait days if need be.

Except, I fucking hated hospitals, and not just because of the uncomfortable furniture they provided for visitors. While Isla was on the other side of the wall with her family, I had plenty of time to remember my family, and the source of my hatred of these sterile spaces.

My mother died in one.

Mamma was laughing, her dark eyes twinkling with delight. The breeze swept through her hair, blowing it around her like a dark halo. The sounds of the waves rode the wind.

Father and brother were building a stone castle that flooded with each wave. Their laughter carried through the breeze. It was a perfect day.

No sooner had the thought left me than a loud bang echoed through the air.

My gaze darted left and right, looking for the source of the noise. When my eyes returned to my mother, I took note of her white dress that was now stained red. Her face that glowed with happiness barely a moment ago now portrayed sheer horror.