Page 119 of Thorns of Lust
And I knew exactly how, or rather who, would settle that debt.
A commotion sounded somewhere behind me, but I ignored it as Amon Takahashi Leone approached. We shook hands, neither one of us speaking. He didn’t bother with niceties. It was the reason I liked him. It was the reason I’d support him whole-heartedly against his cousin who ran the Yakuza. After all, it was his birthright. All he had to do was claim it.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.” Amon’s dark eyes flickered behind me to the source of the commotion and amusement passed his expression. I turned around to find Tatiana standing there arguing with her bodyguards.
She wore a black Gucci dress with white polka dots, the dress clinging to her curves. It fit her like a glove, but I’d have to seriously refresh her wardrobe with other colors. Fuck, anything, but the black. That had to go.
I headed towards her, not sparing anyone else a glance and my eyes locked on her angelic features. She might appear soft and innocent but Tatiana Nikolaev was a force to be reckoned with.
A queen in her own right. Protective. Fierce. Loyal.
It was what we all craved but not many found.
“Illias…” she murmured.
“I thought I said to wait for me at my place.” My tone was low and firm. Maybe a tad bit too sharp.
“Tatiana–” Yan started, putting his body between her and me as a shield.
Tatiana let out an exasperated breath. “Yan, move or I swear, I’m going to kick your ass.”
When he refused to move, she put both her hands on his back and shoved him out of our way.
“Unless you want poor Yan dead,” I warned dangerously low, my eyes flashing angrily at Yan. “I suggest you remove your hands from his body.”
Tatiana immediately raised them up in the air.
“Not touching. See, not touching.” She shook her head. “You’re mental, you know that.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re both mental,” Yan muttered. “At this point, I’m losing my job sooner rather than later.”
“No, you’re not,” Tatiana said firmly, then met my gaze. “I know this is odd considering the circumstance of your brother’s death.” She cleared her throat, her eyes flickering behind me to where Maxim’s tombstone lay. And so did Adrian’s. “I thought I could give you a ride home.”
I raised my eyebrow but remained quiet and waited. Watching. Her delicate neck moved as she swallowed, but her gaze never wavered from me. It burned into mine, blue flames stroking something inside of me.
Something foreign. Something wild. Something only she could tame.
THIRTY-SEVEN
TATIANA
My brothers would blow a gasket if they knew I was here.
They declared war on the Pakhan, and here I was in front of him, the day of his brother’s funeral, offering comfort. But I knew the raw pain of loss. I wanted to offer him comfort.
Sasha found his love match. He was happy; I could see it in his eyes. I used to have the same look in my eyes. Not anymore. Now all I saw was emptiness. Envy. I hated it. I hated this loneliness that clawed at my chest, stealing my breath away. But around Illias, I didn’t feel any of those ugly feelings. I felt hope and something warm, like the comfort of a baby blanket.
So I’d follow this feeling. It seemed to always lead me to Illias. I didn’t want to die alone, surrounded by cats. I owed it to myself to see where this thing with him ended. Even if it was temporary. If I didn’t open myself up, I’d end up alone.
The men who were clearly part of the underworld drifted through the hundreds year old cemetery and watched us tensely. My gaze traveled over them. Every single one of them was extremely well dressed like models in a magazine. But all their eyes spoke of the darkness that only members of the underworld exhibited.
My eyes roamed over them until they stopped at the tombstone.
Son.
