Page 107 of Thorns of Desire

I cast a glance down at my bare feet, only now realizing I’d lost my shoes at some point.

“What did my father do? What happened to set everything in motion?” I asked, focusing on keeping him talking. I had to buy time. Manuel could be looking for me already.

He let out a sardonic breath that pulled my eyes back to his face. “Not your father, yourmother.”

I gave him a confused look. “What do you mean?”

“Your father’s indirect actions led to your mother setting his house on fire, along with my baby sister.”

My lips parted as a gasp tore from my lips. “Wh-what?”

He studied my face while the tense silence stretched. “You didn’t know?”

I swallowed. “N-no. She said she burned the money, not a?—”

I couldn’t say the word, not comprehending her actions. Did I know my mother at all?

“Why would she do that?” I rasped as tremors started in my hands and quickly spread. “And why would you let her get away with it?”

He tilted his head pensively. “Hmm, interesting.”

“What?”

“Are you saying I should kill your mother?”

I closed my eyes, putting a hand to my chest as I dragged in a breath. Could I tell him he should kill my mother? I believed in justice, and she’d already betrayed me in the worst way.

“I’m saying I understand now why the Triads have been after us and that I’m surprised you let her live.”And that it took youthis long to find us, I wanted to add, but it was best not to egg him on.

In the criminal world, my mother’s death would seem like a fair punishment. Or maybe I was more bloodthirsty than I thought.

“You’re more like your father than you know,” he stated.

“Somehow I don’t think that’s a compliment,” I muttered.

His mouth curved slightly, barely reaching his humorless eyes.

“Don’t worry, Athena Marchetti, your mother won’t survive her betrayal,” he said softly, menace threading through every word.

I couldn’t speak, staring at the stranger who’d just tilted my world on its axis. My own mother… How could I have been so damn blind and trusting that I missed it?

“So you’re going to kill her?”

He smiled coldly. “I won’t have to, because if your husband doesn’t kill her, Danil or Atticus will.”

I felt a smile tug at my lips. It turned out this man was right. I was born into this life of crime—bloodthirstiness, violence and danger ran through my veins. There was no changing that. Maybe I was fucked up all along for not admitting it to myself.

Or maybe you don’t want to risk your baby being hurt by your mother’s actions like you were,my brain reasoned. Yes, I liked that explanation a lot better.

But before I could ponder any further, Qian darted toward me and clasped a meaty hand around my wrist.

“Where are you taking me?” I said, struggling against his hold as he dragged me down the deck, his fingers biting into my flesh. Pain jolted from my wrist to my shoulder, but I ignored the pain.

“We’re going to finish what we started eleven years ago.”

Terror shot through me. I dug my heels in, my survival instinct kicking in in full force. I couldn’t die, not like this. I swung my fists and legs, clawing at him and even managing to slash my nails across his face.

He grunted, but rather than smash my skull in, he had me subdued within seconds so I couldn’t move, his arms trapping my back against his chest.