Page 73 of Thorns of Death

“Shit’s happening outside.”

The man held a gun, and instantly, Enrico’s big body sheltered me as if he expected someone to start shooting at any minute. He refused to let go of me, his hand clutching my forearm. It was ridiculous, considering he himself had just held me at gunpoint.

“Who is it, Manuel?”

Manuel shook his head. “You’ll think I’m crazy, but it's a blast from the past. Adrian Morozov.”

Tatiana’s dead ex-husband?The crazy maniac who used her for revenge against the Konstantins… against my brothers? It couldn’t be. The guy was dead.

“I have to go tell my brother,” I hissed, attempting to jerk my arm out of Enrico’s firm grip.

“Are you sure?” he barked, ignoring me and his entire focus on Manuel. “I saw the man executed with my own eyes.”

Jesus Christ. Enrico just admitted to being part of a man’s murder. I needed to get out of here.Now.

“Yes. I saw him on the street cameras.” I rolled my eyes. If the man had street surveillance, he probably saw Tatiana and me coming toward his house, discussing the best way to point the gun at me so that it looked believable. “He snatched Tatiana Konstantin. She fought him tooth and nail, but he overpowered her. Shoved her into the trunk.”

A gasp tore through my lips. Adrian, the dead ex-husband, kidnapped my sister-in-law.What a shitshow.

“Enrico, I have to go help her. Tell my brother.” Yes, Illias wronged me. He killed my mother. But that didn’t mean I’d leave him in the dark about the danger his wife was in. I didn’t want anything happening to her. She made my brother happy and—

“She’s pregnant.”

Enrico ignored me, his focus on Manuel.

“Take guards with you and neutralize him.” I was fairly positive “neutralize him” meant “kill him” although if it came down to my sister-in-law or this horrible ex of hers, the choice was a no-brainer. “Konstantin won’t be far behind if I had to guess.”

Enrico’s fingers, still wrapped around my forearm, tugged me forward. We moved down the hallway instead of going downstairs.

“What are you doing?” I gritted. “Let me go and I’ll be on my way. I want to help Tatiana.”

“Even after her betrayal?” he questioned, his steps never faltering.

“She doesn’t deserve to die for it.” I attempted to elbow him in his ribs. Unsuccessfully. “Now let mego.”

“No, this conversation isn’t over.”Oh, yes it is. “Leave it to your brother to save his wife. You are my responsibility.”

I was about to scream at him when he abruptly stopped in front of a large steel door.

“What the fuck is this?” I hissed, my eyes widening as he punched in a code. It started to slide and I watched it swing open. “You better not put me in there or I swear to God—”

I cut myself off as my eyes adjusted to the scene before me. Two teenage boys who looked suspiciously like Enrico sat there—no, the better word waslounged—playing games on their phones. Their eyes flicked up and I reared back. Jesus, they appeared to be as dark as Enrico’s. Maybe even darker.

I turned to Enrico, then back to the boys.

A movie I didn’t recognize played on a mounted television alongside dozens of framed posters. Along another wall sat an assortment of recliners and couches and—was that a popcorn machine in the far corner? Jesus Christ, what was this? Children-in-the-attic type of situation, except replace the attic with a creepy, steel-reinforced room? Unease slithered through me.

“It’s a safe room.” What in the fuck was a safe room? “You’ll be inside until the dust settles,” Enrico ordered. I didn’t move, too shocked at seeing the boys in here, locked up. Maybe this guy was crazy. And I’d hooked up with him.Lovely.

Such great taste in men, Isla.

Enrico said something to the boys in rushed Italian. Of course, it didn’t matter if he spoke slowly. I wouldn’t have been able to pick up a single word.

“Bene, Pàpa,” both boys answered. I blinked. I thought that one meant “Okay, Dad,” but what the heck did I know?

Enrico gave them a terse nod, his attention returning to me.

“Get inside, Isla,” Enrico ordered. I shook my head. “Isla.” His tone was full of warning.