Black Thorns (Thorns Duet #2) by Rina Kent

When it closes behind her, I release a roar that reverberates through the silent room.

The image of her with another man cuts me open like a thousand knives. I can’t stop picturing his hands on her, touching her, worshipping her body. I’m the only one who’s supposed to do that.

The only one who gets to see her. Both physically and emotionally.

Only me.

But what kills me further is the fact that she’s doing this for me.

She’s letting someone else fuck her so she can save me.

For the first time since my parents’ deaths, bitter moisture gathers in the corners of my eyes.

Fuck!

I attempt to sit up. In my mind, I’m running after Naomi and killing every fucker who looks in her direction. In my mind, I’m spilling their blood and kissing her in the midst of it.

I barely move and I’m reared back to the ground as a burn explodes in my shoulder and my lungs suffocate.

Black dots condense in my vision and I gladly surrender to them.

I might as well fucking die now.

Because there’s no way in hell I’ll ever forgive myself for putting Naomi in this position.





9





Naomi





The loud creaking sound of the door closing behind me shakes me to my core.

The courageous façade I put up in front of Sebastian cracks and crumbles all around me.

I lied.

It’s not going to be fine.

It’s going to be anything but fine.

My chin trembles and it takes all of my strength to keep from bawling my eyes out.

I want to get back in there and snuggle into Sebastian’s side. I want to hold his hand and take care of him. It doesn’t matter if we’re locked up or kidnapped or whatever as long as we’re together.

But I saw him.

I saw how his wound has turned into angry shades of violet and blue. Not to mention his fever that’s gone up, then down, then up again with no clear pattern.

He’s lost weight and his proud shoulders have sunken. His once-mesmerizing eyes have hollowed and dimmed as if he’s getting ready for death.

If I didn’t agree to this, I’d lose him.

This is only to save him, I tell myself. To save both of us. I meant what I said the other day. If he’s gone, I have no interest in life anymore.

Swallowing the onslaught of tears, I stare up and shiver. The hall I’m in is even more freezing than the room I just left. I wrap my arms around myself to ward off the biting lick of cold on my bare skin. I’m still in only my sports bra, despite Sebastian’s endless feverish attempts to have me wear his jacket.

I’m weak and hungry. My stomach stopped screaming for food after some time and is just clenching on its emptiness now.

The only thing that’s kept me strong and kicking is the need to save Sebastian and get him out of here.

I’ll make sure he’s safe, even if it’s the last thing I do.

Aside from the dimmed light, there’s not a soul around.

Hope blossoms at the base of my stomach. Maybe I can find an exit and get some help—

“I wanted Quarterback to watch, but he lost consciousness.”

I startle at the sound coming from right behind me and I whirl around, my heartbeat skyrocketing.

Ren stands in the shadows not far from the door and must’ve been there all along. Or at least, since I came out. A smirk tugs at his lips as he pushes off the wall and strolls over to where I’m standing.

Ren is exactly as I remember him from the first time I met him in our house a few weeks ago. Tall, lean, wears a black suit with no tie and snake tattoos peek from around his neck as a subtle translation of the anger he can possess. His black dot earrings give him a rebellious image that contradicts the rest of him.

Back then, he seemed like a mischievous person out for trouble, like the kids who plot a riot, then hide to watch it unfold.

The same sentiment hits me again. Only, this time, it looks as if he wants to be there to witness the action himself.

He circles around me as if I’m his latest prey. My limbs stiffen and my breathing becomes harsher.

I got off on being treated as prey in the past, but only as part of my games with Sebastian. Only because it was on both of our terms. Not once did I feel I was in danger, no matter how out of control he got or how rough he treated me.

Because he’s Sebastian, and deep down, I knew he’d never hurt me.

This situation is entirely different.

Ever since I met Ren, all he’s done is hurt me. The fact that I have no clue about his motives and goals is keeping me on my toes.

“Maybe I can douse Quarterback with water so he can watch you bouncing off my dick.” He grins. “What do you think?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat and adopt my firm tone. “You said you’d get him a doctor.”

“Bossy. Why am I not surprised?” He has a subtle accent when he speaks in English, one that’s similar to Mom’s. Which probably means that he’s originally from Japan.

But that barely tells me anything about him.

I widen my stance and stare him in the eyes. “You promised to get a doctor.”

“Only after I fuck you while you moan and scream. Especially the latter.”

The sick bastard is smiling at the thought of making me scream.

He reaches a hand out and when he touches a strand of my hair, I flinch back like I’ve been electrocuted. “Why are you acting so disgusted when we’re about to have fun?”