Page 71 of Thorns of Deceit

“I’m assuming he wasn’t an American,” I remarked with a smile, still catching my breath.

She rolled her eyes. “No, Italian. I realize now that rodeos are probably not a thing over there.”

“Apparently not.”

Athena tilted her head, studying me with her keen gaze and probably seeing more than I wanted her to. She reached for my arm and squeezed it gently.

“Do you think it’s smart to get involved with the head of the Callahan mafia?” she asked somberly. “Trouble follows themafiosos wherever they go. And we all know how things ended last time.”

She didn’t know exactly how it ended, except that I was heartbroken. Aiden was my first love, although I wasn’t quite sure I could call it love. Maybe great affection? I didn’t know, but I knew there was no chance in hell I could admit all that. And I certainly couldn’t tell her that he forced me to leave the bar with him. Not that I resisted him much, and fuck, I couldn’t muster the energy to regret my night of sex with him.

I poked her in the side and grinned, eager to pivot topics. “You’re supposed to be the romantic one.”

“I am, but you need to ask yourself whether Aiden Callahan is a man you can have no-strings sex with.”

God, it was too fucking late for that.

“I won’t fall for him again,” I murmured, then waggled my brows. “I can’t help that he’s obsessed with my golden pussy.”

Athena grinned. “Yeah, what is it with these mafiosos being obsessed with us?”

I bit my lip, unable to resist pulling her leg. “It’s probably all your talk about riding a donkey.”

She snorted. “I didn’t say donkey.”

I waved my hand, dismissing her words. “Minor detail.”

She snort-laughed. “Last time I checked, there were no donkeys at the rodeo.”

“There are plenty of asses frequenting it, though.”

She grinned. “Don’t tell me you have something against cowboys.”

I shrugged, shaking my head, and she shot me a smug look. “You prefer mobsters.”

“Apparently so do you,” I remarked pointedly. “From the way you look properly sexed up, I bet you’d go another round with your Italian mobster.”

We laughed, although I had a feeling those mobsters would have the last laugh.

Phoenix, Athena, and I were huddled on the couch, still in last night’s clothes, yawning like survivors of a too-good time. The only one still missing from last night’s festivities was Isla.

A soft jingle of keys broke the morning haze, and all our heads snapped toward the door, half expecting her to just materialize in the living room and shift Reina’s motherly focus away from us. No such luck.

Instead, Reina—looking way too responsible for her age and despite her shorts and tank top—pushed herself off the couch and went to answer it. We watched as she swung the door open wide and came face-to-face with Isla.

“Where have you been?” Reina demanded, glaring at our roommate.

It turned out that all of us but Reina had made ourselves scarce last night.

“Oh, hey.” Isla’s somewhat sheepish voice was the result of Reina’s worried expression.

Our youngest friend-slash-roommate had taken to mothering us, and while we all appreciated it, we missed her former rebel self.

After what had happened with Amon, she’d changed. We held out hope that the carefree, perpetually smiling Reina would return, but as days, months, and years passed, I’d resolved to face the reality: the Reina of before might be gone for good.

“What is it with all of you disappearing one by one last night and then strolling in one by one at dawn?”

“Phoenix too?” Isla’s surprise was hard to miss.