Page 79 of Thorns of Love

Marchetti’s eyes darkened to midnight storms and a shiver ran down my neck. My heart faltered as he took a threatening step forward. I barely blinked and his own gun was pointed at me.

Suddenly, I understood why Marchetti didn’t need guards. He’d easily kill anyone who threatened him. And I’d bet my life that he’d do it without a second thought.

I swallowed. Maybe we should have thought this plan through a bit more.

“I wouldn’t,” I said coolly. Thank fuck my voice didn’t portray the turmoil inside me. “Not unless you want to see Isla’s guts scattered all over your white marble.”

Sasha would have been so fucking proud.

His movement stilled, something crossing his face. It was barely a flicker but I saw it. This guy had it hard for Isla. Good, we might get out of this alive yet.

“What do you want, Tatiana?” His voice was like a cold whip against my skin.

I met his gaze head on, keeping my shoulders straight. I wasn’t scared of him. If I whispered it silently enough, I’d give out that vibe.

“I told you I’d come after you when you killed my husband,” I said grimly. “Here I am.”

Marchetti didn’t seem perturbed. He smiled, cold and cruel. “But your husband is alive. In fact, he just landed in Paris. My guess is he’s headed here.”

I should have known a storm wouldn’t keep Illias away. The raging snow storm has plagued Russia since we left the castle. Honestly, I was surprised he hadn’t shown up sooner.

“I guess it means we only have a short time to get this over with then,” I drawled, pushing the gun against Isla’s back. “Don’t even try to move,” I warned her, glaring at her.

Her green eyes flashed with humor but she quickly schooled it. Fuck, she was having too much fun with this.

“Now, Marchetti, unless you want to see your blood or Isla’s stain on these floors, you’re going to give me some answers,” I started, hiding all my anxiety behind my bravado. Fake it till you make it. It was what Sasha always told me. Well, he actually said ‘Fake it until I come to save you’ but I didn’t think my brother could save me from this one.

“Are you a cold blooded killer?” Marchetti drawled.

I shrugged. “Aren’t all Nikolaevs?” I answered with my own question. “Kind of like you and the men you work with, huh?”

He put his gun away. I would have taken offense to it if my gun was loaded, but instead, I felt relieved. I couldn’t shoot him with an empty gun. He slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall, looking like a picture of a bored businessman.

“Men?” he asked. “What men?”

I narrowed my eyes on him. They always thought they were so much smarter than women, but I didn’t have time for this shit. Not with Illias on his way over.

“I don’t give a shit about your men,” I spat, glaring at him. “I want to know what happened.”

“A lot of things happened,” he retorted dryly. “You’re going to have to be a bit more specific.”

I narrowed my eyes in annoyance. “Why did you kill him?”

My heart clenched and my voice cracked slightly. It still fucking hurt to think of it. I’d known Adrian since I was five. Maybe we weren’t the right lovers but we were friends before. For over two decades!

Compassion passed Isla’s expression. It was exactly that which made her innocent in all this. She had a good heart. She cared about others. She fought for them. Defended them. Helped them.

“What had he done to put him on your hit list?” I asked.

He studied me, that dark expression reminding me of Illias. I could see these two men being either hardcore enemies or reluctant friends. I wondered what they’d be after today because the way Marchetti watched Isla told me the man would keep her.

I wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about it. I guess if she was happy, so was I. Yet, I couldn’t shake off the fear that his darkness would swallow her whole.

“You sure you want to know?” Marchetti asked, pulling me out of my worry for Isla’s well-being.

“That’s why I’m here,” I retorted dryly.

“Fine.” He extended his hand. “Please, enter.”