Page 71 of Thorns of Death

“Where is the chip?” Tatiana asked.

Enrico let out a sardonic breath, his frigid facade terrifying. “We all hoped you could tell us.”

“The Yakuza,” Tatiana murmured. “Maybe—”

But Tatiana’s voice faltered when Enrico shook his head. “If they had it, they’d come down demanding all our territories and give up on chasing you. They don’t have it either.”

Tatiana removed the gun from my back, sighing heavily. Her shoulders slumped as she met my gaze.

“What’s on that chip?”

Enrico scoffed softly, shaking his head. “You really think I’d hand you information that could destroy my family?”

I had a suspicion I knew what could be used against the Marchetti family. It had something to do with his dead wife who was not-so-dead. But what did these people—or Tatiana’s dead husband—have that could be used against my brother?

“What’s on there that could destroy Illias?” I heard myself ask while the lead weight in the pit of my stomach grew heavier. My sixth sense flared in warning, and the way Tatiana’s eyes widened promised the answer wouldn’t bode well for me.

Tatiana shook her head, her lips moving around a soundlessNo, no, no.

Enrico’s answer came as swiftly as an executioner’s blade. “Among other things, video footage of Illias killing your mother.”

I reeled backward. The silence stretched. Tatiana’s eyes found mine, guilt in them screaming at me. Her knowledge stared clearly back at me and the realization slammed into me like a tsunami, tearing through everything in its path. My brother killed my mother. Betrayal. How many times had he told me she died in childbirth? How many lies had he told me?

“You knew,” I accused, my voice hoarse. It hurt to talk, even more to breathe. The pain in my chest swelled until I felt like it’d explode.

The ache throbbed.My brother killed my mother. How? Why? I didn’t understand anything.

“Isla—” Tatiana’s voice cracked, but I couldn’t feel nor hear anything beyond my anger. My fury.

“How could you not tell me?” It felt like a double betrayal. My brother’s. Hers. “I thought we were—” Friends.Sisters.

“We are,” she croaked, her pale blue eyes shimmering. I could see the regret in her eyes. Except I wasn’t sure whether it was there because she was truly sorry, or because she’d been caught.

But then determination entered her expression and she straightened her shoulders. Her gaze held mine, her affection glimmering in them.

“I can’t give you your story. That’s for your brother to tell. But I’ll give you my story.” I watched her swallow a lump in her throat. “In recent months I found a video of my own mother when going through my late husband’s things. I knew she killed herself. What I didn’t know was that she was going to kill me too. To get back at my father for not loving her. Sasha, my crazy brother, who was only ten at the time, took me from her and saved me.” My lips trembled, and I didn’t trust myself to say anything. All I could hear over and over again were Enrico’s words.Illias killed your mother.Tears streamed down Tatiana’s face while pain clawed its way through my chest. For her. For me. I didn’t know. “My brothers still don’t know I learned that truth. And I don’t want them to. They’re finally happy. They’ve earned it, and the last thing I want to do is give my mother more power. After all she did.”

I clenched my teeth, unwilling to forgive right away. I was sorry she learned the painful truth, but unlike hers,mymother didn’t kill herself. My brother killed her. Why? I needed to know why.

I tilted my chin stubbornly. “He should have told me.”

“I’m sorry.” I had no doubt she was. “Let’s go back to the hotel. I’m sure he’s there waiting for us now; we can make him explain.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t see my brother right now. I knew I’d say things that I would regret later. “No, I’m going to crash at my friend’s house.”

“I don’t think so.” Enrico’s voice startled me. For a moment, I forgot he was here. I turned to find him pointing a gun at me, his expression dark. My eyes widened. What the fuck?

“What are you doing?” Tatiana screeched. “Drop that gun before I shoot you.”

It might turn into a full-blown war… if Tatiana actually had bullets in her gun, but luckily she didn’t. The smile Enrico gave her told me he knew, and it sent ice down my spine. It was ruthless and so fucking cruel, that my heart fluttered with trepidation.

“Before you even move, she’ll be dead.”

Tatiana’s eyes darted my way, worry swarming her blue eyes before flashing back to Enrico, only to end back on me. I didn’t think Enrico would hurt me, although I wasn’t willing to stake my life on it. But if I sent Tatiana away, she could go get my brother.

The irony of the situation didn’t escape me. I just learned my brother killed my mother, and still I counted on him to save me.

“I—I’m fine.” My nonexistent confidence was evident in my voice.