Red Thorns (Thorns Duet #1) by Rina Kent

What am I doing here anyway? I should go and bug Mom about leaving work and resting.

It really feels as if she’s bringing her death date sooner at the pace she’s going.

I’m respecting her every wish, so the least she can do is give me her time.

Or what’s left of it.

My chest aches at the reminder and I briefly close my eyes to chase it away.

For the past couple of weeks, all I’ve done is try to make her comfortable. I even gave up on searching for my father indefinitely.

And I meant it. If he hurt her, betrayed her, I have no interest in making his acquaintance. Like Mom, I know exactly what it means to give someone my all, to be naively genuine, just to be stabbed in the back by the one person I thought was closest to me.

Mom said I met my dad and I don’t remember, but she refused to divulge anything else. I only let it go because the subject matter seemed to have bothered her.

I’m about to turn around and leave when something rustles across from me.

It couldn’t be…

My pulse thumps in my throat as I squint. There’s nothing visible in the bushes, but I know there’s someone there.

Waiting…

Lurking…

Did Sebastian follow me from campus? It’s possible with the way his aqua eyes promised mayhem when we were practicing across from each other.

My legs itch for a run, and I know, I just know that if I do run, I won’t stop.

And neither will he.

If he chases me, we’ll just fall back into that black hole that I’ve been desperately trying to escape, to no avail.

Even with all the bitter emotions, the snap decision in my brain is a lot easier than I thought.

I want to run.

I want to be chased.

Even if it’s for one final time.

Just when I’m sucking air into my lungs, a figure appears from behind a tree.

I freeze.

He’s wearing black army fatigues and a baseball cap that falls low on his face. He’s a bit taller than me and definitely not Sebastian.

Then another taller black figure appears. There are two of them.

I don’t think as I turn around and run.

For real this time.

For my life.

Thudding footsteps come from behind me, sounding almost too steady as I sprint the fastest I can.

The hardest I can.

Oh, God.

Who are those men and why are they chasing me? I want to ask that, but I don’t trust my voice, not with the amount of panting I’m doing or how hard my chest is rising and falling.

Besides, who cares? They could be one of the freaks who are always in this forest waiting for their next prey.

Someone like me.

I deviate through the narrow paths I used to take when running from Sebastian. I slide down shortcuts that I know will get me to my car faster.

A shadow appears from the side and I shriek as it closes in on me.

I’m about to hit and kick when the familiar bergamot scent fills my nostrils.

My movements come to a halt as I stare up at him. “Sebastian…?”

“What is it?” He removes his white hoodie and grabs my shoulders. “Are you okay? What are you doing here and why were you running?”

“There are…there were two men…they…were wearing black…and they were chasing me…and…maybe they’re from the black van that followed me or maybe…they don’t even…know me…”

“Hey.” He strokes my shoulder. “Deep breaths, baby.”

I nearly sob at the sound of that endearment coming from his mouth. I didn’t know I missed it so much until now.

“Now, repeat what you said. Slowly. Who was chasing you?”

“Me. Told you we’d meet again, Hitori-san.”

I shriek as one of the dark figures closes in on Sebastian from behind. He doesn’t even have time to turn around as the man’s gun glints and he aims it at him.

Bang!



To be continued…

Sebastian & Naomi’s story will conclude in the second and final part of the duet, Black Thorns.





Curious about Reina and her fiancé mentioned in this book? You can read their completed story in All The Lies.





What’s Next?





Thank you so much for reading Red Thorns! If you liked it, please leave a review.

Your support means the world to me.



If you’re thirsty for more discussions with other readers of the series, you can join the Facebook group, Rina’s Spoilers Room.



Next up is the conclusion of Sebastian and Naomi’s tale in Black Thorns.



Blurb



A lie turned into a nightmare.



She broke my heart.

Broke me.

Broke us.

Only one thing could mend the gaping wound she left behind.

Her.

Naomi.

All mine for the taking.

All mine for owning.

All mine.





Also By Rina Kent





ROYAL ELITE SERIES

Cruel King

Deviant King

Steel Princess

Twisted Kingdom

Black Knight

Vicious Prince

Ruthless Empire

Royal Elite Epilogue



LIES & TRUTHS DUET

All The Lies

All The Truths





THORNS DUET