Page 91 of Thorns of Silence

Fuck taking the high road.

I was a woman scorned. He kissedme,but he was marrying my sister. I was good enough to fuck, but nothing else. What was the deal with that man? He must enjoy taunting me and making me feel like shit. My heart has been gouged. I was bleeding fire and lava and I needed an outlet.

Thankfully Isla’s husband got a move on, or I might have done something stupid with witnesses all around me.

We said our goodbyes and I did my best to ignore his unflinching gaze as we made our way out of the venue. I’d gotten used to his eyes looking at me from the shadows, but out here in the open, it was a novelty.

The moment we stepped outside, the cold December air hit my heated cheeks. I’d thought it’d cool me off. It didn’t. If anything, it made my fire burn hotter.

Manuel, Athena, Isla, and her husband walked in front of us while Raven and I fell slightly behind, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

A slick black Bugatti caught my eye and I halted in front of it. The tags readLeone, and I knew it didn’t belong to Amon. I’d caught Dante following me in the flashy vehicle enough times that I’d recognize it anywhere. Even without the tags that broadcasted who was in it.

The Marchetti group and my girlfriends turned the corner, my eyes locked on the car. I imagined grabbing a baseball bat from somewhere and smashing the car windows.

My lips curved into a smile when an even better idea penetrated my intoxicated brain.

“Hey, you fell behind.” Raven found herself next to me, following my gaze. “Is it Amon’s?”

I grinned and shook my head. “Do you have a lighter?”

While she dug through her little clutch, I ripped a large piece of fabric off my dress. It was safe to assume I’d never wear it again.

Raven eyed me curiously but handed me the lighter without another word. I made my way to the Bugatti and unscrewed the cap of his gas tank.

Raven’s eyebrows arched. “Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

I nodded.

It was good that it was Raven who fell behind. Athena would scold me, and Isla would try to stop me, worried about her husband’s reputation. Raven would enjoy every minute of this. I shoved the fabric into the gas tank and told Raven to step back.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Did I? Hell no. I just hoped producers knew what they were talking about when these scenes were played out in the movies.

“Step back.” Once she was five feet away, I flicked the lighter and hovered it under the ripped piece of cloth. For several seconds, I watched the fire consume the rag until Raven yanked me back.

“Let's get out of here,” she mouthed.

We didn’t waste any time. We got to Isla and her husband just as they were loading into his car.

“Tell your husband to haul ass out of here,” I signed, hoping the boom wouldn’t occur until we were long gone.

Once we were in our apartment, Raven and Athena retreated to the kitchen. I followed, debating whether I should say anything to them, when my phone lit up.

My brows scrunched when I saw it was Isla. She’d only just dropped us off, officially living in her husband’s luxurious Paris home now.

I slid the message open.

There was an explosion after we left. Know anything about it?

I typed back my response.

No.

I rushed to Reina’s bedroom, needing to talk to her. We were going to go over our plan again, although I didn’t see the need. We just needed to get the fuck away from this city and the Leone brothers.

My steps halted at her open doorway.She’s not here. Everything in her room looked the same as it had when we left. Before I could wonder about what was going on, my phone vibrated again.