Page 123 of Thorns of Death
“She couldn’t possibly have another daughter. She only had the one, Winter Volkov, and she married the old Brennan and died in childbirth.” I had no fucking idea who those people were. “After all, it was the reason Sofia started on this warpath against everyone in the underworld.”
“And seized the power for herself,” Enrico pointed out. “Maybe this secret daughter is the reason for it.”
“Where did you hear about this?” Manuel questioned. Enrico’s fingers played with a strand of my hair, twisting it over and over again.
“Isla ran into Sofia and Donatella in a compromising position when she was in Moscow with her friends. That’s where she saw Sofia’s daughter.” Silence followed and I held my breath, tempted to peek through my lashes. “Isn’t that right,piccolina?”
Damn him.
I slowly opened my eyes to find both men watching me, so I shifted into a sitting position. “What gave me away?” I asked, annoyed.
“You snore when you sleep,” Enrico said.
I gave a dignified scoff. “I do not snore.”
Enrico chuckled. “It’s an adorable snore. Soft and cute.”
I scrunched my nose. “I do not snore,” I repeated.
“Of course you don’t,amore.” Clearly, he was just placating me now. “Now tell us about Sofia’s daughter.”
I set my chin stubbornly. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t pull her into this.”
“She’ll give us leverage.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “You won’t get any help from me to do that.”
“Isla, now is not the time to be stubborn.”
“You promised, remember?” I reminded him before I deepened my voice. “Te lo prometto.” I imitated his voice and accent. “A man is only as good as his word.”
“I keep my promises,moglie.” His tone turned icy and his expression thunderous. “You would be wise to remember I’m the head of the Marchetti family and the safety ofourfamily comes before any fucking stranger.”
My jaw fell open as anger flared to life in my chest like a match had been struck.
“Let me guess,” I gritted. “Because your life is so much more important than hers.”
“I didn’t say that.”
But something about all of this didn’t sit well with me. If he could use this information against Sofia Volkov, could he use what Reina had done againsthertoo? I’d be damned if I ever gave myself the chance to find out.
The words that the Nikolaev men uttered to me earlier in the hospital buzzed in my ears on repeat.
Burn the body and discard the ashes if you want to erase all traces of a dead body.
I gagged at the idea of digging up a dismembered body. But we’d have to do it if we were to ensure nothing could pin that murder on Reina. Because I didn’t trust my husband to do it.
I opened my mouth to say something when the pilot’s voice came through the speakers.
“We have started our descent. Please buckle up.”
I reached over and nudged Enzo awake. He swatted his hand through the air.
“Wake up and put your seat belts on.”
He didn’t move, so I shoved him harder. He peered at me through one eyelid. “Ma dai,Isla.Go back to sleep.”
I shook my head. Would any member of the Marchetti family ever listen to me?
