Page 104 of Thorns of Silence

We shall see about that.

FORTY-ONE

PHOENIX

Ididn’t look up from Skye’s face as I felt a presence behind me.

A woman fell to her knees next to me, hugging Skye frantically and checking her as if there were a possibility she might be bruised under her perfect little designer dress. Truthfully, there wasn’t even a wrinkle in it, and little girlsshouldhave wrinkles in their dresses.

“Are you okay?” she, who I assumed was Branka, signed in slightly unpracticed hand movements.

Sasha lowered to his knees on the other side of his wife, narrowing his eyes on me before he turned them to my daughter, and I watched, mesmerized, as his expression and those frightening pale blue eyes softened. “We talked about the dangers of sneaking away. You nearly gave us a heart attack.”

The vise around my heart squeezed, gripping me brutally.They loved her.I could see it plain as day. It was the way my sister and I loved each other. How was I going to break them up?

“I’m fine. Phoenix kept me safe.” Skye gave me a blinding smile and I returned it.

Branka and Sasha faced me. Suddenly, the sun felt heavy and hot as sweat trickled down my spine. I had their full attention, but I refused to look athim. Sasha Nikolaev’s pale gaze was what nightmares were made of, and I was terrified he’d read the intention in my eyes.

Branka started speaking too fast for me to read her lips, though I caught athank youin between all that ramble.

“She speaks like me,” Skye explained, signing, and Branka’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

“What are the chances?” Branka exclaimed as she signed.

“What a coincidence indeed,” Sasha signed with a sarcastic look in his eyes.

Fuck, he was scary. Inquisitive eyes. Broad shoulders. MMA build.

“Nice to meet you,” I signed, then stood up to my full height and forced a smile on my face, meeting both their gazes. “She was lost, so we just chatted.” While I debated how to steal her away from you. “I’m Phoenix.”

I valued my life, which meant I’d have to take a moment and rethink my plan.

I turned to look at Skye, every fiber of me rebelling at leaving her. I knew there’d be no snatching her from Sasha Nikolaev though. Even if by some miracle I succeeded, his family would catch up to me before I left town.

I’d need an actual plan.

“It was nice meeting you, Skye. And I’ll be sure to look into a new version of my iPhone.”

Branka chuckled, but I couldn’t look away from my daughter, memorizing every line of her face.

Swallowing a lump in my throat, I met Branka’s and Sasha’s eyes and forced another smile.

“You must forgive Skye. She’s fascinated with electronics,” Branka signed and mouthed at the same time. My muscles hurt from the attempt to keep smiling when all I wanted to do was scream at them—at the world—that Skye was mine.

“She has a point. It’s time for an upgrade.” I kneeled down to meet her eyes one more time. My nose tingled from the tears I was holding back. “Be good, Skye.”

I will see you soon, I thought to myself.

She nodded seriously, and before I could break down, I rose to my feet and gave a terse nod before rushing out of there with a silent sob and tears streaming down my face.

* * *

Meghan and Lola Bergman—our fake identifications.

Excitement sizzled under my skin as I stared at the two fake passports. After leaving her behind, I was able to snap a photo of her from a discreet distance. A tech wizard made do with it and adjusted it to fit the necessary guidelines. It ended up serving a dual purpose, because now I could admire it anytime I felt like it.

Hope simmered with every passing minute, bringing me closer to my goal.