Page 129 of Thorns of Silence

“What happened?” I mouthed so only she could understand me. I kept my expression soft, not wanting her to clam up. “You had two million dollars. You should be able to afford more than this.”

She remained quiet and I reached for her hand, entwining it with mine. To my surprise, she let me, and my heart shuddered in my chest. It. Fucking. Shuddered. I relished the moment, inhaling her spring rain scent into my lungs.

Fuck, I’d missed her scent. I didn’t give a shit what Cesar had to say about my stalking or Dr. Freud said about unhealthy habits. I felt normal… right… around her. In body and soul.

“Just let me help you, Nix.”

She looked away and shook her head, but the subtle tremble of her lip didn’t escape me. Then she pushed against my chest and took a step back.

“I don’t remember anything about two million dollars,”she signed, and I knew she was lying. I didn’t know how I knew it, but I did. “I have to change out of my bathing suit. Do I have time for a quick shower?”

“Go ahead,” I told her, reluctantly giving her some space. I could see that she didn’t trust me yet, and it wouldn’t do me any good showing up and taking her independence from her.

She began hustling around the small bedroom, shoving what she had into her suitcase and helping her daughter along the way. I pulled out my phone and took the opportunity to type a message to Cesar.

I need you to stock up my closet in the castello with women’s clothing. Casual. Formal. Send someone into her Paris apartment and grab her stuff. Get some clothes suitable for a five-year-old girl. And set up a room, the one closest to mine is perfect for a little girl’s room.

I flicked a glance at my girls and smiled. They were perfect. It didn’t matter who the father was—I’d eliminate him and Skye would be mine. She already owned a piece of my heart.

“Skye, what’s your favorite color?” I signed.

She grinned. “Pink.”

I chuckled. Somehow it didn’t surprise me. It had to be in her blood, taking after Reina. I quickly typed Cesar another message.

Get lots of stuff in pink for a five-year-old girl. And find a nanny. Marchetti mentioned a nanny whisperer to Illias not too long ago. See if you can find her.

My phone buzzed shortly after, and I slid the message open.

I don’t even want to know. Just don’t cry to me when you get shot again.

Why in the fuck did I put up with Cesar? He was annoying and completely unsupportive. If he wasn’t so dependable and faithful, almost to a fault, I’d have given him the axe a while ago. My father hired him, thinking he’d be loyal to him, but Cesar’s allegiances were always to me. He was six years older than me and a wiseass, but there was nobody I trusted more, aside from my brother.

A thought struck me and Cesar was immediately forgotten. I knew exactly where I’d take Nix and Skye.

Send a message to the property manager to stock up the cabin in Lake Tahoe.

We’d have our wedding in Trieste and honeymoon in Tahoe.

I’d show her she could depend on me. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse.

FORTY-NINE

PHOENIX

Dante was a goddamn liar, but then again, so was I.

So here we were, both playing a role. How in the fuck did he find us? Did Lykos know who I was all along? It was dumb using Skye’s real name and the nickname that Dante had given me with Lykos. I did it to preserve some normalcy for Skye, but it got us caught.Damn it.I let out a heavy sigh.It didn’t really matter now. Dante had found us and we’d deal with it.

In fact, it might be a lucky break, because I’d never stand a chance against Sasha Nikolaev alone. With Dante, I might be able to actually keep Skye.

Fiancée,I scoffed silently in my head. He really had some nerve.

After we packed up, he got us on the plane and brought us to Trieste. It was better than going to Scotland. Wild horses wouldn’t be able to drag me close to my grandmother. I wouldn’t put it past her to try and take Skye away from me, but I’d never allow her to make decisions for me again.

The little castello by the sea was where I first laid eyes on him at eight years old. It looked just as I remembered.Magical.

Minus one evil king.