Page 123 of Thorns of Love
“You and me,” I murmured. “Together.”
“Together. Forever.”
THE END
For a preview to the Thorns of Omertà Series, Book Two, Thorns of Death, make sure to keep reading.
PREVIEW OF THORNS OF DEATH: PROLOGUE
Isla
I caught him looking at me before the show started.
Dark eyes. A sprinkling of silver in his jet black hair. A thin layer of stubble.
The air caught in my lungs, feeling his eyes on me like a cool breeze against my heated skin. Usually men watched me with a single purpose. To get me into bed. But this guy looked at me like he wanted to consume me.
And I’d let him.
He was older, but definitely not old. Maybe double my age or so.
I inhaled deeply, but there wasn’t oxygen to loosen up this knot in my chest. His black eyes burned through me, tracing down my body and studying my every curve. Did he like what he saw? Arousal shot through me, sending a shiver down my spine.
I should look away. I should turn my back on him. But I didn’t.
Instead, with a thundering heart against my ribs, I blew him a kiss and winked playfully.
“Isla, are you ready?”
Athena’s voice pulled my attention away from the stranger. I turned to find her staring at me, right along with Phoenix.
“Ready for what?” I asked, confused.
“We agreed you’d play before Reina’s fashion show starts,” she muttered. “I swear, is everyone losing their minds?” I didn’t get to answer because she continued with her ranting. “I know I have good organizational skills but the least you could do is follow directions.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. Athena was a control freak. She hated any mess. And broken schedules sent her over the edge. It had to be part of her disorder but it worked well for all of us because the rest of our group was a mess.
“Where is your violin?” she squealed, snapping her fingers to get my attention.
I lowered my eyes and realized it wasn’t in my hand. Then I remembered. I never grabbed it. The handsome stranger captured my attention and I’d completely forgotten about it.
“Let me grab it,” I said, rushing to where I had left my violin.
As if pulled by a force, my eyes flickered to the spot where the dark stranger had stood, but he was no longer there. Disappointment washed over me, which made no sense. I didn’t even know him. He could be a complete douche for all I know.
“Okay, I’m ready. What was the first song we’re playing?” I asked, signing in ASL at the same time so Phoenix would understand me too. Phoenix was deaf. When I first ran into her in my music class, I marveled at the thought of someone playing the piano while not being able to hear a single note. Yet, she taught me so much.
And her dedication put mine to shame. Her sister, Reina, and Phoenix were super close. Two years apart, Reina took extra classes in high school to graduate alongside her older sister. Whenever a professor argued about having a deaf child in their music class, Reina stepped in like a little firecracker and argued until they accepted Phoenix, even at the cost of sacrificing her own time.
It was how we all ended up in the same college. Reina wanted Phoenix to get everything she wanted - namely, the best music college in the world. But none of us were ready to let Reina give up her passion. Fashion design. So we all settled for the best of both worlds.
The Royal College of Arts and Music.
After all, it allowed us all to remain together.
“Okay, let’s get this party started!” I exclaimed enthusiastically, taking my violin out of its case. “Reina Romero, mere human, today. Fashion goddess tomorrow.”
We rushed around the large podium. It was hectic, everyone making last minute changes to arrange for everything to be perfect. The venue was magnificent. I had no idea how Reina got so lucky to have Enrico freaking Marchetti let us use it. He even extended an invitation to some of his key contacts.
