Black Thorns (Thorns Duet #2) by Rina Kent

“I’m not helpless. I can kill the bastard anytime I want.”

“And be killed by my father in return?”

“Maybe it’d be worth it to get rid of the vermin.”

“Maybe you’re lying to yourself, because if you wanted to kill Akira, you would’ve done so already.”

“Or maybe I’m biding my time.”

I place a hand on his shoulder and lean close enough to make his eyes widen and his mind probably question what I’m doing.

“I pity you for gaining Akira’s interest, Ren. I really do. But if you get in my way or threaten me and Sebastian again, whether solo or under your bosses’ orders, I’ll destroy you like you did me seven years ago. I fucking promise you that.”

“Am I included in that threat?” Kai’s suave voice cuts through the tension between me and Ren. I step back, but only after I know he’s gotten the message loud and clear.

Ren stiffens, probably wondering how much Kai has heard. I can tell he’s ashamed of his unorthodox liaisons with Akira. And on top of that, he’s aware that if my father’s second-in-command learns about it, he’ll definitely cut him to pieces.

“I don’t know.” I face Kai and cross my arms over my chest. “You saved my life, but you stole it away from me later, so it’s always a gray area with you. But if you get Sebastian involved again, I won’t hesitate to bury you, just as I will Ren.”

“You’re wise, Ojou-sama, but you might want to save that talk for the one who matters.” He motions at the door of the office.

With a deep breath, I knock, then go inside without waiting for approval.

The office is done in shades of green and brown. There are bookshelves stuffed with more antiques than actual books, and countless paintings and calligraphies decorate the walls. Kai once told me that my father got those priceless paintings from the black market and sometimes uses them as transaction money instead of actual cash.

Some of them have values that go into the hundreds of thousands. As a wedding gift, my father gave us calligraphy that cost millions of dollars.

I don’t know where Akira put it or if he even kept it. I’ve sure as hell never asked about it.

My father and my husband sit around the coffee table, drinking tea and talking animatedly in Japanese.

When they notice me, their conversation comes to halt. A bright spark shines in my future ex-husband’s eyes. He probably thinks I came here for him and to honor the deal we made seven years ago.

Well, he has another thing coming.

“Breakfast was half an hour ago, Naomi,” my father reprimands.

“She had an emergency, Hitori-san,” Akira lies on my behalf.

“Not really. I just don’t see why I should have breakfast with you when I hate you, Father.”

His cheeks redden and he grips the teacup tighter. If there’s anything Abe Hitori despises more than being defied, it’s being disrespected, especially in public where it’s considered a humiliation. Due to his control-freak tendencies and role in the Yakuza, he’s used to having his demands met.

“Do you have a death wish?” he grinds out.

Maybe that’s exactly what I have, because right now, pressure is building inside me. Or maybe it’s been festering there for years. Either way, it needs a release.

I need a release.

I need to finally drop the mask and be me again.

I need to be the Naomi who didn’t let anyone walk all over her, because that’s what her mom taught her.

“Akira and I need to talk,” I say.

“We already talked, dear wife, and you chose to disobey me, so I had Abe here send for your lover. We don’t want her to ruin our partnership, do we, Hitori-san?”

“Indeed, Mori-san.” My father glares at me. “You should’ve known better than to test us.”

My legs shake and it takes everything in me to not fall to the ground. “S-send for him? What do you mean by send for him?”

“It means he’s in our custody.” My father reaches for a remote and turns on the TV. I cease breathing when a cell comes into view.

And not just any cell.

The same cell that Sebastian and I were locked in seven years ago.

Only, this time, I’m not there. Sebastian is. Alone.

On the ground.

Unmoving.

Oh, God.

No, no, no…

For years, I had nightmares about this same scene every single night. In my dreams, I would miss him so much and have a moment of weakness and go to him. I would kiss him, touch him, sleep in his arms, but then my father and Akira would always kill him.

Right in front of me so I would learn a lesson.

The reason I had to resist Sebastian was for this exact reason. I preferred breaking and stomping all over my own heart so he wouldn’t end up in this position again.

I foolishly believed I could change things. That I could finally be with him despite everything.

But I’m late.

Too late.

My hands tremble and my eyes sting with unshed tears as I stare at the screen. A burning sensation rushes to the surface, threatening to spill over.

No. Please.

Please, Sebastian. You can’t leave me now after I finally found you again.

“He’s not dead,” Akira announces. “But he will be if you don’t keep your part of the deal.”