Page 75 of Thorns of Desire

I pulled around the circular drive in front of the castle where four men dressed in black were waiting.

They opened the car door, but before they could touch Athena, I hissed, “I’ll get her.”

“Certamente,” the guard, Adriano, answered, bowing slightly and taking a step back.

I came around the car and scooped her sleeping body up, then made my way up the steps and inside. A cook was already hard at work, despite the fact that I hadn’t been here in weeks. She always kept everything ready for me, and she fed the local men who worked on the property year-round.

“So nice to see you,” she greeted me, her eyes falling on Athena. I had never brought a woman here.

“You too,SignoraFiore. Something smells delicious.”

“Should I prepare you a plate?”

I lowered my eyes to the sleeping woman in my arms. “We’ll be down later. It was a long night.”

I was on the second-floor landing in no time, snaking through the familiar corridors toward my wing of the castle. Once I entered the master bedroom, I lowered her onto the bed.

Cazzo, she looked good in my bed. In my house.

Ourhouse.

It was where she was meant to be and there was no doubt in my mind that she was the one I’d been waiting for.

Athena

Blinding sunshine and birdsong roused me from a deep sleep. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a spacious room with large French windows that were wide open, inviting the daylight.

I jerked into an upright position, my eyes darting around in confusion.

“Where the hell am I?” I muttered.

Jumping out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom, finding it stocked with luxurious toiletries—all high-end Italian brands. And suddenly, the events of last night came rushing in.

The attack. The doctor. The pregnancy.

I met my reflection in the mirror, my bewildered eyes filled with panic.

“No,” I scolded, waving my finger. “Keep your shit together. You’ve survived worse shit.”

My words shattered the silence, bouncing off the walls, while a heaviness flooded me.

I wouldn’t let what happened last night swallow me. Instead, I rushed back into the bedroom, my gaze darting around.

“Thank God,” I whispered, finding my duffle bag seated on the little chest.

I started rummaging through it until I found my cell phone. My first inclination was to call my mother, but I thought better of it and scrolled through my contacts until I landed on Raven’s name. She answered on the second ring.

“Where the hell are you?”

“The better question is where the hell were you last night?” I demanded. “And where is Phoenix?”

A moment of silence passed before she answered. “She took off.”

“What? Why?”

“I guess to look for Reina. Amon kidnapped her.”

I gasped. “Jesus Christ.” Then I remembered my original question. “Where were you last night?”