Page 67 of Thorns of Desire

“No.”

I shoved at him.

“Manuel, put me down.” His gaze cut to me and we stared at each other for several beats. My mouth dried as the familiar tug between us roared to life, but I stood firm. “Please.”

“We’re leaving this place.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to argue that very valid idea with him. I knew when it was time to throw in the towel.

“Okay,” I conceded. “But I’m walking out of here.”

He must have considered his options, because he finally gave me a lopsided grin that would melt the hardest of hearts.

He squeezed my hand, warming my chest. “I’ll be right by your side the whole time,amorina.”

I couldn’t help but return the gesture with a soft smile of my own.

“Just admit it,paparino, you like holding my hand.”

His expression turned predatory, much like a wolf poised to devour me.

“Damn right I do, and I want the whole world to know it.” His gaze glittered darkly, promising sinful things that had my heart tripping over itself.

I rushed back into my room, grabbed a bag, and shoved a few essentials into it. I scanned my space one last time and felt a wave of exasperation wash over me at the sight of the shattered bedside table. As if on cue, Manuel appeared at my shoulder and seemed to understand, because he proceeded to gather up the pieces of wood and tuck them deep into my closet. Then, he threw my bag over his shoulder, and we walked out of the tiny apartment.

As we stepped out onto the sidewalk, we ran into my half brother, Danil Popov. The photos I’d seen didn’t do him any justice. He wore beige linen pants and a tight T-shirt, managing to look both sophisticated and non-threatening. Although Danil Popov was handsome in his own right, there was an element of authority and danger emanating from him.

He stood next to a man, likely his bodyguard, considering he was huge and had a gun poking out from under his jacket. He wore a dark suit and stood like a brick wall. The man’s scar running from his left temple down to his jaw did nothing to mar his gorgeous features.

“Well, well, well, what have we got here?” was my half brother’s greeting while every fiber of my being reeled with shock.

I never thought I’d meet my half brother or any of his family. In fact, I didn’t want to meet them, perfectly fine never to cross paths with them. However, it would seem destiny wasn’t as kind because it threw him in my path.

“What are you doing here?’ I blurted, but they all ignored me. Danil’s gaze was locked on Manuel.

“I asked you a question, Marchetti.”

Manuel’s face hardened into a scary expression, one I’d never seen before, even when he learned who my mother was.

“Watch it, Popov, or you might find yourself without a territory.”

Yikes.

The moment stretched as they glared at each other. “And that’s my thanks for clearing out the bodies—your men—off the street.”

My brows furrowed, not following the meaning.

“Nobody fucking asked you to, Popov.”

Cold fury rolled in waves, clashing between the two men. The silence stretched, and I held my breath until Danil’s eyes darted to me.

“You weren’t supposed to get pulled into this fucked-up mafia world, Athena Kosta. Alexandra should’ve done a better job at keeping you safe.”

I stilled.

He knew my name. Did he know I was his sister? And how did he know Alexandra was my mother? As far as I knew, she’d kept me a secret from the world.

However, there was one thing that was clear by my half brother’s tone: he didn’t like my mother.