Page 99 of Thorns of Death

Cazzo, I didn’t hear her say anything after crawling.

“Repeat your question,piccolina.”

Her gaze flashed with that green fire I loved so much, but this time, I kept my bodily response in check.

“Stop calling me that,” she stated, her voice bleeding with annoyance. “I asked you whether we areallgoing to Russia?”

When I nodded, she continued. “Okay. Then we need a game plan. First, stop shoving this mother thing on your sons and me. We just met and need to get acquainted.Capisce?” Manuel choked out a laugh, and when my gaze found him, he wiped a hand across his mouth in a poor attempt to hide his amusement. “Second, Illias will kill you and your family if he learns of the marriage, so we will keep that on the down-low.”

My gaze darkened, conveying my refusal to hide our marriage—and the fact she was mine—from anyone, let alone her brother.

“No.” She was mine, and I needed the world to know. “Besides, I didn’t know you cared enough to protect me.”

She shot me a glare, her hands coming to her hips as she widened her stance. “Yes. While I’m okay to let you two go at each other’s throats and let the best man win, I’m not okay getting Enzo and Amadeo caught in the crossfire.”

I paused. Fuck, Manuel was right. She’d already warmed to them and was already thinking about their safety. No wonder it was so fucking easy to love her. My uncle’s eyes snapped to me and he cleared his throat, warning me that my feelings were painting my features no doubt. Of course, Isla took that wrong and shot him a guilty but unapologetic look.

“I’m sorry, Manuel, but you’re a big boy and on Enrico’s side. So you’re on your own.”

Enzo and Amadeo burst into a full-blown laugh. The kind that I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“She likes us more than you, Papà, and you, Zio Manuel.” Amadeo really liked to poke the bear. If I wasn’t so fucking thrilled at the idea she had their safety at heart, I might have growled at him.

“Anything else,piccolina?” I asked her, keeping my voice even.

“Yes. Illias is going to be distraught over Tatiana. So no upsetting him. This might be your territory, but Russia is mine.”

There she was! The Russian mafia princess that I sensed all along.

“D’accordo,” I heard myself say. “For now, we’ll do it your way. When we get to Italy, we’ll do it mine.”

THIRTY-FOUR

ISLA

“This is ridiculous.”

Enrico and I argued in the parking garage of the hospital, both of us locked in the bulletproof Land Rover. He refused to let me go upstairs alone; I refused to go with him.

Five of Enrico’s men were in the two cars behind us. Apparently, another security detail was coming later. Manuel and the boys were back at the hotel with their own security. Enrico’s obsession with security superseded Konstantin’s tenfold.

“It is ridiculous,” he agreed. “But it wouldn’t be if we just walked up together.”

“You agreed we wouldn’t break the news of this marriage to my brother here.”

“And I intend to stick to that, but I didn’t agree to let you roam the hospital alone.”

I let out a frustrated growl. “If we go together, it’s no better. He’ll lose his shit if he sees you with me.”

Enrico’s jaw tightened, and I heard his molars grind. “This is non-negotiable. I’m going with you or you’re not going at all.” I opened my mouth to protest when he cut me off. “Knowing your brother, he’s probably tied to Tatiana’s bed. I’ll walk you to her hospital room and remain right outside.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. My temper protested at his controlling asshole ways, but I recognized stubbornness when I saw it. I’d seen the same look plenty of times on my brothers’ faces growing up. He wasn’t going to let up.

“Fine,” I muttered, reaching for the door handle. “I honestly don’t know why I ever found your ass attractive. You don’t even keep your promises.”

One second I was pulling on the door handle, the next a hand grabbed me by my nape and pulled me back.

“Don’t push me, Isla.” Enrico’s dark eyes glimmered like the pits of hell. “This might be your home, and your brother might be the Pakhan, but there are still threats lurking. I won’t fucking lose you to them. Regardless of your bratty attitude,piccolina.”