Page 136 of Thorns of Death

Lowering onto my lounge chair, I leaned back, crossed my legs, and turned my head their way.

“Do you know who Ghost is?” I asked casually.

“He’s the killer for the Omertà,” Enzo answered. “And the best tracker.”

“Nobody can escape him,” Amadeo added.

Nobody but Donatella and Sofia apparently.

FORTY-SIX

ENRICO

The sun was just falling over the vineyards outside my office windows. The sight was magnificent, but it never quite pleased me as much as it had since Isla moved in. Life was better with her. Views were more beautiful with her. The home was fuller with her.

The only thing amiss was Donatella on the loose and Isla’s brother’s booming, raging voice threatening to blow up the speaker.

“You married my sister?” Illias’s voice roared over the line, and there was no chance that the entire first floor hadn’t heard him.

“I did.”

There was no sense in denying it. It was better for him to know she was mine now. Honestly, I was surprised it took this long to get wind of the news. In fact, I had to push it his way through the grapevine. That was how much Illias was wrapped up in his own wife.

“I’m going to fucking kill you, Marchetti. You’re a dead man,” he bellowed. He was being way overdramatic.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise to you,” I drawled, leaning back in the chair. Manuel kept throwing worried glances my way. Of course, he didn’t want me to antagonize the Pakhan. “I usually get what I want.”

“She’s my sister.”

“And now she’s also my wife.”

“I’m going to kill you with my bare hands. You forced Isla into your fucked-up, cursed family. There’s no way she would ever want to be with you.” The pang in my chest was uncomfortable. I didn’t fucking like his words at all. He was lucky he was on the other side of the world, or I’d have shot him. “Put her on the phone now,” he demanded.

My ears buzzed with my own fury, but I refused to let it take me over. Instead, I remembered the words she told me back in Russia, over a week ago now.I’m falling for you too. I love you.I would keep her safe and with me until my dying breath, because the alternative was unbearable.

“Remind me, Konstantin. How did you marry your wife?” I switched tactics. The fucker didn’t have a leg to stand on. Not after he kidnapped his own bride.

“That’s not the same!” he barked.

“You’re right,” I agreed. “It’s not the same. You kidnapped your bride. I simply had a conversation with mine, and then she walked down the aisle of her own free will. Even put the dress on by herself.”

With a little persuasion, I added silently. But he didn’t need to know that.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I really wished the fucker would just accept it. His baby sister was mine now. My wife. My life. And I’d never let him take her from me. “All the women that marry into your family get murdered.” He must have slammed his fist against his desk because a rattling sound came through the speaker. “I’m coming for her, Marchetti. And you will give her an annulment.”

“The fuck I am.” It was my turn to slam my fist against the table. “Try and take her from me, and I’ll come for everythingyoulove.”

I ended the call, my blood burning hotter and searing the wordmineinto my chest.

I didn’t give a shit if he knew how much his sister meant to me, or how far I’d go to keep her with me. She was my weakness. I’d go all the fucking way.

“That wasn’t wise.” Manuel spoke for the first time since the phone rang.

I gritted my teeth. “I don’t give a fuck.”

Manuel frowned at me. “Konstantinwillstart a war.” He pinched his nose, suddenly looking as tired as I felt. “We cannot go to war over this. We have too much shit on our plate already.”

He was right, but it didn’t matter to me. If I lost her, all the years of sacrifices and living in the underworld were for naught. I deserved her.