A High so Sweet (Thornes & Roses 2)

She wanted me that night, and I could have taken her, claimed her, made her mine. But then I would’ve paid dearly. That still didn’t stop her from spreading a rumor, which was as dangerous as the belief her folks already had of me. They never did approve of me because they blamed me for her drinking and drug abuse, even though I was the one trying to keep her safe.

When they found the coke on her that day, I allowed them to think it was me. I let them believe I was the bad influence, not that their precious angel was doing that shit because she hated her life. And because of that, one night changed my whole life. When I arrived home that night, I found flashing lights and guys in uniform, and that’s when I learned who Kalyn Narro truly was—a fucking liar.

We used to spend our time talking late into the night. She immediately caught my attention back when I used to go to the school with Creed, a friend and one of the Havens, to pick up his brothers, not only because she was exquisitely beautiful, but because she had a fire that I’d not seen in many girls her age.

I was hooked.

Her mind worked in mysterious ways; she had a question for everything and anything. But then her grandmother died on her sixteenth birthday, and she broke. Something inside her shattered, and she turned to partying with the kids in her class.

“They’re arriving this evening,” Finn says suddenly, and I realize I didn’t answer him earlier. He’s watching me as if I were a bomb about to detonate. Perhaps I am. Maybe I’m going to explode.

And it will be all because of her—again.

“What?” The word tumbles from my mouth before I have time to think about what he’s just voiced. “Does that mean…? Is she here?” Once again, my emotions are showing, those same fucking emotions I promised myself not to allow to invade my life.

Finn nods slowly. “But there’s a rumor going around that something happened to her,” he tells me; his voice is low, merely a whisper, and tension coils in my gut.

“What happened to her?”

“Not sure what’s going on, I don’t have the full scoop, but you can be sure the moment I do, you’ll be the first to know,” he tells me, his focus holding mine. Then he continues, “Maybe the Hollywood Hills wasn’t the best choice for someone like her.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” My jaw clenches so hard, I can hear my teeth grinding as I attempt to keep calm.

He shrugs slowly, his head shaking side to side as if he’s about to tell me she’s dead. But then he finally whispers, “she’s… I think perhaps you should wait and see.”

When my hands fist, he’s on his feet, grabbing me around the middle with my arms locked against me. “Let me go,” I growl, but it’s no use. Finn knows the rage I’ve felt when I got back to the party that night. He saw the emotion I allowed to free itself from my usually stoic expression.

“She’s here, and you’re not going to lose your shit,” he tells me, keeping his tone calm, but it does nothing to satiate my need for violence. I’m usually the calm one of the three Thorne brothers, but with her, I’m volatile.

“Then tell me what the fuck is wrong with her,” I bite out as anger surges through me. I could take Finn down, and he knows it too, but fighting with my brother isn’t going to solve anything.

“Cassian,” my father’s voice comes from the hallway outside my bedroom, and I shrug Finn off before stepping toward the door, just as Dad walks in. “I need you to fly out to help Damien with a meeting. But I’ll have the plane ready for you to get back here for the party.”

“Why can’t Finn—”

“I need you out there because it’s a finance issue,” he interrupts me. “Please.” My father isn’t a man who usually asks for help; most times, he’d end up on the flight to sort out whatever shit was going on.

“Sure, yeah,” I tell him with a nod. “I’ll pack.”

“You’ll only be gone for a few days. The party is on Saturday, and I need you back.” He offers me a grin before adding, “Finn will help with the arrangements while you’re away. We have guests coming who haven’t been to a party here before, so I’d like to impress them.” He doesn’t need to tell me who they are because I can only assume it’s the Narros.

“Sure.”

With my agreement, he turns and leaves, and I’m left wondering just how I’m going to deal with seeing her again. It’s been too long, and she’s no longer a child. She’s all grown up, and for a moment, I consider my revenge.