Black Thorns (Thorns Duet #2) by Rina Kent

But I didn’t.

He had to see that she only belongs to me.

That she fucking loves me.

That he’ll only ever be a phase in her life. A fucked-up one at that.

She’s mine, neither he nor anyone else will take her away from me again.

After the way she broke down last night, I swore that I’d never leave her to battle the pain alone. I’ll be with her every step of the way.

Until last night, I’d been suffocating with each passing second. I’d been dying and she was the only air I could breathe.

She was taken away for years. Seven. And she spent them by this fucker’s side.

“I’m sorry, should I be clapping right now?” said fucker asks. “Maybe shout a bravo or two.”

“Get the fuck out of here.” I hold on to my calm while wrapping a hand around Naomi’s waist.

“I’m afraid I didn’t come just to leave. As much as I appreciate the voyeuristic shows my wife and I keep giving each other, it’s not the reason I had her followed and came here. We need to go, Naomi.”

“Like fuck she will.”

“We promised to have breakfast with your father, remember?”

Naomi stiffens at the mention of her dad and I stroke my thumb on the wrists that I’m still holding.

“I’m not going,” she whispers.

“Really now? Hitori-san will be upset, and I suppose Mio-chan will have to pay.” He steps closer, then brushes past me to the house. “Come inside whenever you’re ready, Nao.”

Her lips twist when he disappears through the door. “Let me talk to him.”

“I’m going with you.”

She sighs but says nothing as I slide out of her and carry her. Her frail arms wrap around my neck and she buries her head in the nook of my shoulder, releasing a satisfied sound.

I want her to make those sounds for the rest of our lives.

Instead of following the path Akira took, I walk around the house and slip inside through another back entrance.

We go upstairs and I clean her and then myself, making sure the fucker waits until we’re both fully dressed.

I even sit her down in front of a vanity and brush her hair, letting the thick black strands slip through my hands.

Naomi smiles at me through the mirror. “We have to go down, Sebastian.”

“Or we can stay here until he gives up and leaves.”

“Akira? Give up? Those words don’t exist in his perfectionist vocabulary. He’ll just pester us and even come up here.”

“Or I can pummel the fucker’s face against the wall.”

“No. Don’t. He’ll take it personally and make sure you pay ten times worse.” She turns around, forcing me to release her hair as she stands up and strokes my cheek. “Let me do the talking. I’m used to his stupid antics.”

I grunt, but I lead her out of the bedroom.

Akira has made himself at home and has sat down on the sofa as he checks his phone. Naomi stands on tiptoes to see what he’s focused on as a small smirk lifts his mouth.

Upon noticing us, he tucks his phone away and smiles in that fake, political way. “There you are. I thought you went for another round.”

Naomi sits on the chair across from him, but instead of taking the other available chair, I sit on the armrest and wrap an arm around her slender shoulder. Her breathing slows for a bit and she flashes me a small smile.

“We would’ve if you’d left,” I tell Akira.

“So it appears I cockblocked you just like my wife did not so long ago. Now, where was I? Right. Naomi. Have you forgotten our deal?”

“No, but I also don’t want to do this anymore. I won’t be accompanying you at public events either.”

I stroke her shoulder but remain silent. I understand her need to personally do this, so I just support her through it.

Akira leans forward in his seat, intertwining his fingers. “The point of keeping an image is to appear in public together.”

“We won’t need to, because you’ll divorce me.”

“And if I say no?”

“I already made my threat. I won’t repeat it.”

“You don’t want to stand in the way of my plans, Naomi. I can and will crush you both. It wouldn’t feel so great if Weaver here dies of an accident similar to his parents, would it?”

I stiffen. “How the fuck do you know about that?”

“Because I have connections. Don’t make me use them.”

Naomi lifts her chin. “Don’t make me use what I know either.”

“Is this your final decision?”

“Yes.” She doesn’t hesitate.

“I hope you’re ready for the consequences.”

I jerk up, march over to him, and grab him by the collar. “Threaten her again and I will fucking kill you.”

He merely smirks as he shoves me away, then looks at her. “Making an enemy out of me is a grave mistake and you know it, my dear wife.”

“Get the fuck out.” I motion at the door.

He nods at her and leaves, walking as slowly as physically possible.

After the door closes behind him, Naomi slumps in her chair, holding her head in her hands.

I go to her and gather her in my arms. She doesn’t fight as her trembling body snuggles against my chest. “It’s going to be okay, baby.”