Page 106 of Thorns of Silence

Branka let out an exasperated breath. “TMI. Seriously, Tatiana, TMI.”

I cleared my throat and was about to abort my plan and sneak out of the store when a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

I slowly turned around to find Tatiana’s eyes shining like sapphires, her eyebrows meeting her hairline. “Phoenix?” My heart thundered wildly while I stared at her with my target standing right next to her. My identity would definitely be known now.Fuck.“What are you doing here?”

I forced a smile and pulled out my phone to type a reply.I always wanted to visit New Orleans.It was such a bold-faced lie.Just sightseeing.

This was not how I envisioned retrieving my daughter going. Not that I had much of a plan.

Her smile widened. “Oh my gosh, you should have told me.” She glanced at Branka who was watching me with interest. “Branka, this is Phoenix Romero.”

I smiled with reservation, fully expecting a shoe to drop. Tatiana would call her husband, who would in turn call Papà, and I’d get hauled home.

I typed a note.Where’s your husband? Have you talked to Isla?

“Illias has some urgent business, but he’s keeping tight-lipped about it. Isla has been busy.” She rolled her eyes. “You probably know what about. She refuses to tell me. Both her and Illias think I’m fragile because I’m pregnant,” she complained with an exasperated breath. “I’m dying from boredom here. You have to spend the day with us. Spill some secrets.” She nudged Branka’s shoulder. “Right?”

I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Tatiana didn’t know anything about my escapade.

“This is the woman who kept Skye safe. Of course,” Branka signed while speaking at the same time. She extended her hand. “Nice to meet—”

Her words cut off when two masked men stormed in waving guns.

Black spots clouded my vision as I struggled to draw a breath from the panic crawling up my throat. I didn’t think twice before I flattened myself to the ground. My eyes darted around as my heart attempted to pound right out of my chest.

And my thoughts? They bounced all over the place before the world paused for a moment. Commotion around me played in slow motion. Images of my brief encounter with Skye flashed through my mind. Those nine months I carried her in my belly. Dante, and those too-short, happy months. My sister. It was all suspended in the air in the middle of New Orleans while I cowered on the ground of a junk shop.

I gripped my head, making myself as small as possible with my knees pulled up to my chest. I met Branka’s and Tatiana’s glances, both of them on the ground too, Tatiana holding her belly.

I blinked and focused on dragging air into my seizing lungs, willing my racing pulse to slow down. I needed to see my daughter grow up.

My survival instincts kicked in and I braced myself on a shoulder, lifting my head slightly. I fought the panic and my eyes darted to Tatiana who was watching the whole scene with annoyance flaring in her expression. Like this was just another normal, everyday occurrence.

Branka, on the other hand, watched the two masked men and their chaotic robbery with her mouth wide open.

Then a vibration shook the ground, almost as if the whole police force were storming the store. The blur of dark suits. Glimpses of shiny metal. Before my brain could process what was happening, it was over.

My eyes roamed to find Tatiana and Branka staring at me.

“You okay?” Branka signed while Tatiana stared at me like I had two heads.

I swallowed. “What happened?”

Branka signed, but I couldn’t quite grasp what she was saying. Noting my confusion, she mouthed, “It was a robbery.”

“We’re safe now,” Tatiana mimicked the speed of Branka’s speech. “My brothers always come to the rescue.”

She flashed me a soft, reassuring smile, and it felt like a slice through my heart. Maybe it was the knowledge that I’d betray her and her family, my sister, everyone. Or maybe it was the fear that I would fail. Days, weeks, months of trying to remain strong finally caught up to me, and fear threatened to swallow me whole. A tremor started in my hands and moved up my arms; my lungs tightening with every breath I took.

Black spots swam in my visions.

I squeezed my eyes closed, tears escaping through my lashes. I couldn’t keep my strangled gasp behind my lips.

I had to be strong and banish all those feelings out of my chest. I was doing this for my daughter and myself.

A cool hand tapping on my cheek forced my eyes open. Through blurred vision, I met two pairs of pale blue eyes. Black suit. Broad shoulders. Straight lines.

I blinked, convinced they were playing tricks on me. But still they stared back at me.