Page 53 of Thorns of Lust
Was it smart? No, it wasn’t. I passed with flying colors, but those four years of studies were enough to drive a saint to become a devil. The only good thing that came out of that degree was Isabella. My best friend.
I loved her and she had made our family richer. She made Vasili happy. The happiest I’d ever seen him.
Taking a seat at my husband’s executive desk, which I knew he rarely used, I pulled his laptop closer. It sat in the same position as the last time he came to work, frozen in time for over six months.
I snickered silently. I could totally relate. I have been in limbo just as long.
My fingers hovering over the keyboard, I stared at the screen.
‘Blood and Thorns’ stared back at me as a user ID, reminding me of his morbid niche plate. There have been so many strange discoveries, I didn’t know what to think of it. I reached for my necklace, twisting it left and right.
It was the strangest user ID I had ever encountered, but Adrian had a weird logic sometimes. I mean, just look at the way we finally ended up together.
I sighed. It was the wrong time for memories so I pushed those thoughts away.
“I just need a password,” I grumbled. If the user ID was any indication, it would be a difficult password to guess. “Just a tiny obstacle.”
Could the password be the same as the one on his home computer? It seemed too simple, yet maybe…
My brain registered the scent of citrus and sandalwood before I heard his first word.
“Indeed a tiny obstacle.” A voice came from behind me, and I shot out of the chair. In the blink of an eye, I reached for the gun in the drawer and pointed it at the intruder.
Broad shoulders. Black suit. Expensive watch. He didn’t seem concerned with the fact I held a gun pointed at him.
And then it clicked.Pakhan.
The stranger who saved me wasn’t a stranger at all. I’d heard of him. I might have met him too. Somewhere. Oh shit. I couldn’t remember where I’d seen him nor his name. I stared at the same dark eyes. I knew he wassomebody. Name. What was his name again? I cursed myself for forgetting his name. It was dumb to forget the names of your friends, but even dumber to forget names of your potential enemies.
He must have seen recognition cross my eyes. The corners of his lips barely curved, but his expression sent chills down my spine. Like he was pissed off.
And while I wracked my brain, he leaned against the door frame, looking quite like a villain himself. Maybe a devil in D&G. I snickered silently at my clever title.
My eyes traveled over him and his strong frame. His tailored suit must have cost him a small fortune.
“Dolce & Gabbana?” I asked, lowering my gun, then putting it away before I sat back down. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead already.
His eyebrow shot up. “No. Illias Konstantin.”
That’s right!
How could I forget! I kept my expression blank. Konstantin. There were two of them. Twin brothers. There was a rumor about a sister, but it was just a rumor. What was he doing here?
“The suit,” I said, rather than asking him a question. “Dolce & Gabbana suit. I don’t care whoyouare.”
The corners of his mouth barely tipped up but I saw it. “Now, that’s not the way to talk to your savior.”
“How presumptuous,” I grumbled. “I told you. I could have handled it.”
He didn’t believe me, but he let it go.
“I have no idea who made the suit,” he answered honestly. Then his eyes traveled over me and suddenly my cheeks flamed. Still wearing Adrian’s sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt that was five sizes too big. The clothes hung on me, making me look like a rag doll. Then to finish the look, I wore a pair of plastic crocs in baby diarrhea green.
Lovely!
I looked my worst, and he looked like one of the best dressed men I’d ever known. I narrowed my eyes on him, daring him to say anything. It was always the day you dressed down that you ran into someone you didn’t want to.
“Well, it’s D&G,” I grumbled, wishing I had at least put on jeans. “Your suit,” I added.
