Page 79 of Thorns of Desire

I answered my phone without checking who it was.

“You think you could have given me more notice,vecchio?” was Enrico’s greeting, speaking in Italian.

I chuckled at his jab, responding in Italian too. “I know you can make it happen.”

Ever since Athena entered my life, I felt like I’d been rejuvenated. Being around her made me feel like a younger, better version of myself. Yes, she turned me into a caveman, but it was so much more than that. We were so good together and I finally understood my father’s and brother’s obsession with their women. I suspected Enrico did the same.

“Your trust might be misplaced this time,” he answered in a quiet voice. “It seems every girl is missing except for Isla and Athena.”

“What happened?”

“Well, if my assumptions are correct, Reina was kidnapped by Amon. Nobody has any fucking idea where Phoenix is. And Raven… Let’s just say Aiden has a vested interest in her.”

I didn’t know why I was surprised. “What kind of interest?”

“Fuck if I know,” he muttered. “Isla’s staying tight-lipped.”

I angled my face toward Athena. These girls sure kept a lot of secrets, and I was certain if I asked Athena, she probably wouldn’t share them with me either.

“Anything that could interfere with business?” I asked.

“Who the fuck knows? At this point, would it make a difference?”

“Probably not,” I agreed. “Alora, ci vediamo a presto?” Will we see you soon?

“You will, but why the rush?”

“È incinta di sei settimane.” She’s six weeks pregnant.

He chuckled. “So while I was running after Isla, you were running after her friend?”

“Something like that.”

He laughed. “Remind me to never play poker against you.”

“Why do you keep speaking Italian?” At Athena’s question, I said goodbye and ended the call.

“Because we’re in Italy,amorina,” I teased, running my fingers along her arm.

“I really need to download that app,” she muttered under her breath.

“What app?”

“Duolingo.” She leaned in, her green eyes twinkling mischievously. “So I can learn some Italian and spy on you.”

I closed the distance between us, cupped her face, and kissed her. I groaned as my lips crashed roughly against hers. Athena’s hands hesitantly slid over the back of my neck, her fingers threading through my hair as she moaned against my mouth.

Cazzo, I was head over heels for this woman. There was no fucking denying it.

THIRTY-TWO

ATHENA

The picturesque town of Ischia on the island of the same name in the Campania region of southern Italy was surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its vibrant colors blended with the azure colors of the sea, and I’d never seen anything so beautiful. Locals were busy working their shops, chatting animatedly with their neighbors.

We’d been walking the town’s cobblestone streets for hours, Manuel’s men making trips back and forth to the car with our shopping bags.

“Why do I need so much?” I asked for the hundredth time as we stopped in front of yet another store. “Your closet was already stocked with new clothes for me.” A thought occurred to me and I stiffened. “Unless those were meant for someone else.”