Page 40 of Thorns of Lust
I smiled and grabbed my knife. His tongue was the first thing he lost, but certainly not the last.
By the time I was done, he had no blood left in his body. It poured out all over the warehouse floor.
The last move was cutting out his heart.
“I’m going to ship this to your boss,” I said to the dead corpse.
He didn’t object.
FIFTEEN
TATIANA
Alcohol still in my veins, my steps faltered as I passed the threshold of the penthouse I used to share with my husband. Shutting the door behind me, I leaned against it while my heart still pounded against my chest.
I slumped against the door. It was only then that I let out a relieved breath. My eyes traveled over the desolate penthouse. There was furniture throughout the penthouse, but the little things that made it a home weren’t. Photographs in frames were stored away; somewhere where they wouldn’t stare back at me, reminding me of what I had lost. But memories weren’t as easily erased. Every memory lurked in the corners of my mind, telling me it was time to move on. Maybe let go of some things.
Like this place, I thought silently.
This place no longer felt like home, but it was safer than out there. Jesus, that was intense.
Yakuza.
Was that who killed Adrian?
What the fuck was going on? Adrian got wrapped up into something that he shouldn’t have and I had yet to learn what.
Somehow it felt like I didn’t even know him. Maybe we weren’t as good of a fit as I thought.
This place for example. Adrian preferred his place outside the city. I didn’t. I preferred staying here. This penthouse was in the middle of the city. The French Quarter could be seen from the windows. There was some comfort in knowing there was the buzz of the city right outside the window. It made me feel not so desperately alone.
Or maybe it was even lonelier to be amongst millions of people, laughter, and music and this was my way of torturing myself.
Crap!
Yan and Yuri were still out there somewhere. I should go look for them. I couldn’t look their families in the eyes if something happened to them because of me. Just as I debated whether to go back out in danger, a soft knock on the door sounded.
My whole body stiffened and I stopped breathing. Did the Yakuza have more men and they followed me home?
Scared to even breathe, I kept my hand on my racing heart to calm it down.
“Tatiana.” A swish of air left my lungs. That was Yuri’s voice. Then just to be sure I wasn’t imagining things, I peeked through the peephole. Yes, it was Yuri.
I unbolted the door and opened it, then threw myself on him.
“I thought they killed you,” I whimpered, my voice shaking. My nerves were shot, although the alcohol might have something to do with it.
“No, they just gave me a lump on my head,” he grumbled. “It’s more important that you’re okay.”
“Don’t say that,” I scolded him softly. “My life isn’t worth more than yours. Just ask your family.”
He smiled and my eyes darted behind him. “Where is Yan?”
“He’s downstairs. Coordinating a check around the building, ensuring there aren’t others around.”
“Please tell me you haven’t said a word to Vasili.” My brother would put everything into overactive protective mode. He was as lovable as he was overbearing.
“Not yet, but we must.”
