Page 136 of Thorns of Silence

My heartbeat fluttered, suddenly understanding the meaning. I had hoped he’d forgotten, but it was foolish to think that.

“Whose name?” Cesar asked, and I shrugged while Dante ignored him. “How is your sister doing?” Cesar tried to change subjects, watching me with an amused expression.

Guilt slithered through me. The truth was that I had no idea. I hadn’t spoken to my sister in months. I hadn’t asked Dante about her and Amon in fear he’d figure out I was faking this whole amnesia thing. I was starting to think it wasn’t the wisest move on my part.

Finding Skye had eased some of my pain, but it wasn’t enough to take away from how much I missed her. I was desperate to share the news of her niece with her and tell her everything I’d kept from her. But I couldn’t. Not with the knowledge that it could potentially put her in danger with the Nikolaevs.

“Phoenix has amnesia,” Dante answered on my behalf, as if that explained everything.

Cesar stared at me in outright disbelief. I was on edge, waiting for him to call me out, and after almost a full minute of silence, he finally broke it.

“So now we have two with the same problem, huh?” He turned his attention to Skye. “You and me, kiddo. We’ll have to fix this shit. Mark my words,” he said slowly so she could read his lips.

Two people with amnesia?That was the most bizarre comment. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask what he meant, but Dante shot Cesar a dark look that promised retribution, and I knew I’d get nothing else out of either one of them.

So I did the only thing I knew how to do. I remained silent.

FIFTY-TWO

DANTE

Last night’s dinner was a close call.

Cesar almost revealed my amnesia to Phoenix. It made me want to shoot him on the spot. I wasn’t ready to divulge it. There’d be questions that would follow, and I wasn’t ready to go down that path.

Cesar stood by my side in the little family chapel on the estate that married the last five generations of my mother’s family.

I stood at the front of the chapel, waiting for Phoenix and Skye to show up, while Cesar droned on, apparently unaware of my growing irritation with him.

“Should I keep your funeral a secret too?” Cesar asked casually, tilting his head pensively as if contemplating something before he continued. “Maybe I could get plastic surgery to look like you… All I would need to do is act like an ass and voilà! I’m Dante Leone.” He raised his hands up to midair and wiggled all of his fingers dramatically.

I gritted my teeth, wishing the priest wasn’t already here so I could punch Cesar. He could still serve as our witness with a black eye.

Fuck, it could be that I was nervous. My exchange with Nix last night rubbed me the wrong way. But when she suggested she could run, agitation flared in me and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

It was a mistake. I came off too strong. The last thing she needed was me suffocating her. Except, I’d tasted her. We were so close to making it official and I couldn’t risk losing her.

I rolled my shoulders. We needed to get to that “I do” momentright the fuck now.

Cesar sighed and ran a hand through his hair, continuing his idiotic rambling.

“Bedroom duties might be difficult though. Phoenix is beautiful, but not my type.” I tensed, red-hot fury rushing through me as I turned to face him. He took in my expression and smirked knowingly. “What?” he challenged.

I had no fucking idea what he was going on about, but I knew I wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Fuck off,” I snapped. “And not another word or I’ll shoot you.”

He chuckled. “Wait until I fulfill my best man duties first.”

I turned to face forward, ignoring him. As if on cue, music started to play. Three years led to this. Toher.Yes, there had been bumps along the way in the form of a gunshot wound and a worldwide manhunt and a surprise child… but who was I to let minor hiccups hold me back?

The doors swung open, everything faded away, and I pulled in an anxious breath.

Phoenix appeared at the end of the aisle with Skye in front of her, and I pushed all the air out of my lungs. She was perfect. She paused mid-step, her eyes finding mine, and I forced myself not to move when all I wanted was to rush to her.

The wedding dress was beautiful because she wore it. It was difficult, but not impossible, to procure a designer gown in the matter of two days, but I could be quite convincing when I wanted to be. Vera Wang learned that firsthand.

I took Phoenix’s palm in mine as Skye took the spot beside her, both of them smiling. I wrapped my fingers around Nix’s hand and held on to her tightly, my eyes trailing over the delicate lines of her face.