Page 55 of Thorns of Love
I shrugged. “What can I say? I prefer snow and Siberian temperatures.” Especially when my woman was there.
The two of us sat down. Amon’s face betrayed none of his feelings nor thoughts. He could contemplate mass murder on everyone in the Omertà and there’d be no signs on his face.
“I can’t help you with the Yakuza,” he said, breaking the silence. My eyes flickered to his hand on the armrest and noted his knuckles turning white.
“Maybe we can help each other.”
His piercing stare turned to me and his lips curved into a cold smile. “And how do you figure that?”
I could taste the fury on my tongue. He was steaming, despite his cold exterior. I recognized the signs. I lived through this same moment when I learned of Tatiana’s identity, only to find her married to Adrian. Except, his woman wasn’t married to his brother. Yet.
“How about we cut the bullshit?” I said. Amon watched me silently, his face a cold mask.
“Be my guest,” he drawled, annoyance flaring in his eyes.
“I got my hands on the agreement Leone and Romero drafted, to tie their families together.” If I thought his face was a cold mask beforehand, it had nothing on the expression that stared at me now. “I found a loophole and I have a plan B that will ensure Reina never marries your brother.”
A sardonic breath left him. “Really? And let me guess, in the midst of it all, you’ll get me killed. If not by Marchetti, then by my cousin.”
I locked eyes with him. “I’ll kill your cousin. You’ll take over as head of the Yakuza. You’re aiming for it anyhow. I’m probably speeding it up by a few months.” His expression remained impassive. I’d wager none of it meant anything to him without the youngest Romero daughter. “Romero is dying. I’ll make his passing more bearable and expeditious. You’ll take his seat at the table.”
It was that easy. Kill your enemy. Kill your partner. Save the woman you love.
“If Marchetti hears this, you’ll be dead before you get back to Russia.”
I let out an amused breath. We both knew very well this conversation would never make it back to Marchetti.
“He’s never going to get wind of it because thanks to me, Reina Romero will marry you, not your brother.” I pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table. “And this is the reason that will make Marchetti change his mind.”
I watched him open the envelope.
His mask cracked. His eyes flared. And I feared the Bitter Prince might have turned into a wrathful king.
NINETEEN
TATIANA
It had been days since I’d seen my husband. Almost a week since I remembered that night.
The memories filled every single second of the day since I awoke that morning. Konstantin should have told me. I gave him every chance to come clean and he hadn’t.
I felt played. Betrayed. Bitter.
My mood reflected the winter storm that raged outside. It had been snowing since the morning I woke up to Illias gone. As if he knew I’d be trapped with the memories and no way out of this place.
The air was chilly inside the castle. The wind whipped against the windows, a constant reminder that going outside in this weather was a bad idea. Not that I had anywhere to go but home.
The damn chip was still a mystery. So was the next clue.
“You hate being trapped inside, don’t you?” Isla's voice startled me.
We’d gotten to know each other well over the last week. There was nobody else to keep us company but the guards, and they had a clear order to keep their distance from us.
“I hate being cold and trapped inside,” I remarked dryly.
Thank fuck she was here. Otherwise, I’d have gone nuts alone. We’d binged all the seasons ofGame of Thrones,The Originals,Emily in Paris. I hadn’t watched that much television in all my years of life put together.
But the part that irked me the most was not having my phone. I was a grown-ass woman and he’d get a piece of my mind when he returned. The. Worst. Honeymoon. Ever!
