Page 106 of Thorns of Death

My flats were silent against the marble floor. Ambient lights were everywhere—presumably in preparation for the holidays. The lobby buzzed with life. But the man’s eyes couldn’t care less what decorated the fancy lobby. Everything might be glittering, but his eyes were locked on me.

I thought I saw recognition flickering in them, but I had to be mistaken. I had never met this man before. Trepidation buzzed to life in the center of my heart. I couldn’t quite understand why, but something about this man had me on edge.

It only hit me when we all came to a stop.Cortes.This man had the same last name as my mother, and the same name as Louisa Maria Cortes’s father. I refused to believe it was a coincidence.

“Piccolina, are you alright?” Enrico’s voice sounded distant. Distorted, far away. Like I was at the bottom of the sea. “Isla, look at me.”

Swallowing a lump in my throat, I met my husband’s gaze. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

He bent down, his mouth brushing against my earlobe and sending goose bumps across my skin. “Your fingernails are digging into my hand.”

I lowered my eyes and found my knuckles white, my fingernails buried in his flesh.

“Sorry,” I muttered, forcing my grip loose. “I’m so sorry.”

He studied me for a moment before returning his attention to the man whose eyes were locked on me.

“Kian, this is my wife. Isla.” Enrico’s voice was formal. Almost dark. “Isla, this is our head of security here in Russia. Kian Cortes. He will ensure your safety at all costs.”

Tension seeped through my veins, my muscles knotted. “Who are you?” I needed to know who he was in relation to my mother. “And who are you to Louisa Maria Cortes?”

The man suddenly smiled warmly, his eyes never wavering from me. “I am… was… her brother.”

My eyes darted between the men. “So you are my—”

“Uncle.” He shook his head, disbelief clear in his eyes. “You are the spitting image of my baby sister; I can hardly believe it. I thought she—” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “When Marchetti called me earlier and provided details on this assignment, I didn’t dare believe it.”

My breath caught in my lungs. Enrico knew he was my uncle and called him. He was following through with his promise. My heart picked up speed at this gesture. Enrico pulled me closer to him, bringing his hand down my back and settling it on my hip.

“I’ll be better at keeping promises,amore,” he whispered into my ear. “Te lo prometto.”

Emotion swamped me. I studied my husband, his broad shoulders stretching the fine fabric of his suit. Emotions bloomed. Fragile and new, but strong.

“Thank you,” I rasped. I wanted to show him exactly how grateful I was, but I needed to talk to this man first. My uncle. It was incredible to even think it.

I turned my attention to Kian who waited patiently. We didn’t look alike. I was short; he was tall.

“Is your hair red?” I blurted out. “Or was it?”

He shook his head, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Louisa was the only one who had red hair.”

I inhaled a shuddering breath.

“Illias, my brother, says the same thing.” Contempt flashed in Kian’s eyes. It pulsed through every pore of him, hot and heavy. I took a step closer to Kian, straightening up and fixing him with a look. “You won’t hurt him. He’s my brother. The only one I have left.”

A sardonic breath left him. “You are your mother’s daughter in appearance, but I see you have Konstantin’s spine.” While I debated whether he meant it as a compliment or an insult, the corners of his mouth lifted. “That’s probably good.”

I had so many questions. I wanted to know everything, but at the same time, I feared the truth.

“I have a meeting room reserved for us,” Enrico chimed in. “Let’s discuss this in private.”

The guests rushed all around while we made our way to the back of the lobby and into a lounge. The moment the door clicked behind me, questions began to pour out.

“I want to know everything,” I burst out, unable to hold back anymore.

Uncle Kian—how odd to think of him that way—extended his hand, motioning for us to sit down. Enrico and I took one sofa, while Kian lowered himself onto the chair with utter confidence. He studied me, and it was then that I saw it. His darkness. His ghosts.

Silence stretched. History haunted us. But somehow it left me in the dark. Only Enrico and Kian knew what was coming.