Black Thorns (Thorns Duet #2) by Rina Kent

“Vindictive bitch suits you, Knox.” Daniel jabs him.

“What can I say? I love digging graves.”

I stare at him. “Help me dig one then.”

His mouth moves into a Cheshire cat grin. “I like that. I’m in.”

“Don’t be.” Daniel tsks. “It’s a bad idea.”

“I love bad ideas.” Knox squeezes my shoulder. “What did you have in mind?”

I stare back at where I left Naomi and Akira. She still has an arm wrapped around his as they mingle with the attendees.

She’s still fake-smiling and putting on a show.

The Naomi I knew would never fake anything, but that’s the thing.

I don’t know this Naomi.

And I sure as fuck have no clue why she married Akira. It couldn’t be the money since she must have plenty of her own.

Was it by chance? Did she meet him and not feel suffocated? Did he save her when I fucking couldn’t?

One thing’s for sure, she chose him and I’ll make her unchoose him, even if it’s the last thing I do.

I tip my chin toward them and speak to Knox, “Get me all the dirt on the Mori couple.”

As if feeling my gaze on her, Naomi turns her head in my direction.

Her smile falters and her dark eyes glint, but it’s only due to the lights, not the life that used to spark through her every movement.

Maybe this whole thing wasn’t a coincidence, after all.

Maybe I’m meant to yank that part of her to the surface again.





18





Naomi





I thought the night would never end.

I imagined myself stuck in a loop, stumbling and tumbling out of my depth until my mind cracked.

Whenever I looked at Sebastian, my body shook. Whenever my eyes met his, I could feel my soul being sucked from my body.

Or what remains of it, anyway.

I had to tell Akira I was tired so we could cut the night short. He didn’t mind since we were having guests come over for a late dinner.

If I’d stayed in Sebastian’s vicinity any longer, I have no doubt that my nerves would’ve gotten the better of me.

If I’d watched him any closer, I would’ve lost the control I’ve perfected over the years.

But as we leave, I steal one last look at him.

He’s at the bar, drinking with two other men. I recognize them from the magazines as Daniel and Knox. Both of them are British and probably the closest people to Sebastian nowadays.

From what I read, he’s still friends with Asher and Owen, too.

Daniel and Knox are laughing, but Sebastian isn’t. I doubt he’s even hearing what they’re saying.

The three of them attract the entire hall’s attention and women keep approaching them or trying to make as much eye contact as possible. Something hot and fiery erupts inside me and I squash it before it’s able to burn me alive. .

Sebastian lifts his head and I lower mine before he makes eye contact. I really don’t think I can handle it again. Not that I did the first time—or the second. If I keep getting caught in the maze his eyes create, I’ll most definitely never find a way out.

I let Akira lead me outside and breathe the icy air into my lungs before we get into the back of the car.

Our driver takes us to the outskirts of Brooklyn. Akira owns a house here, although we don’t visit it much.

I don’t, at least.

Akira often has business in the States and comes alone. I prefer to stay in Japan.

Ever since I moved there seven years ago, I’ve made it my mission to stay away. I’ve focused on keeping Mom’s legacy alive and have just played my role so the system can go on.

The car stops in front of the mansion, which has modern architecture mixed with a traditional Japanese style. The entrance to the house has a large black gate, but the inside is laid out in a square way. Wooden panels are situated on every side, and one has to remove their shoes before going in. The large space in the middle has a few rare plants that Akira personally takes care of. There’s even an enormous pond full of goldfish, koi, and other types of fish.

He feeds them himself and takes pride in everything that connects him with his roots.

Akira comes from a noble family with samurai blood that goes back several centuries.

His upbringing was strict and disciplined, and as a result, he’s a conservative Confucianist with a great appreciation for anything traditional, whether it’s plants or green tea done the authentic Japanese way.

However, he rose beyond that and opened himself to the world, which is the reason behind his success as a businessman. He’s achieved things no one else in his family was able to.

They let their traditional ways shackle them, but he didn’t. While he loves his origins and takes pride in them, he doesn’t let them pull him down and can become a chameleon if need be.

He’s in an internal war with his brother, who’s waiting for any mistake so he can turn the tables and become the leader of the Mori empire.

Of course, my jerk husband didn’t tell me anything about his origins or fortune when we used to be pen pals back when I was eighteen and he was twenty-one. Because the sucker totally lied. He was in college when he first wrote to me, not in high school. He’s thirty-one now.

Akira gets out of the car first, without waiting for the driver to open his door, then strides to mine as I’m about to step out. My husband offers me his hand and I take it before we walk inside together.