A Death to Seek (Thornes & Roses 3)

I head for the meeting with my mind whirring at the possibilities of being able to be with Jarred. But I have a feeling as much as my father has laid out the terms, there’ll be a lot more to this verbal agreement than he’s letting on. He can’t just let the Abadi family down. I can’t walk away from a contract signed in blood.

And my father knows that as well as I do.

Questions remain.

But as I walk into the garage and slide into the driver’s seat of my brand-new silver Maserati, I wonder just how Bradford Thorne is going to wrangle his way out of the shitstorm that’s about to hit us.

11

JARRED

When Finn returns from his meeting, I’m in the shed. I spend my time in here, hidden away from the prying eyes of the rest of the staff. Joy is the only person I really get on with.

When Finn saunters in, breaking into my thoughts, he glances at the smoke that hangs between my lips. He’s dressed in his black slacks and white shirt. The tie he has wrapped around his hand catches my attention first.

He stops just inside the doorway, blocking the last remaining light. He looks like an avenging angel come to drag me to hell. And honestly, if he was, I would go. Anything to escape the monotony of life on the manor. Granted, I’m lucky to have a roof over my head and a job, but knowing that Finn isn’t truly mine doesn’t ease the ache of an easy life.

“You look fucked,” I remark as I pull deeply on the cigarette and allow the smoke to fill my lungs. The nicotine, however, doesn’t quell my need to relax because of him being here. We’ve had words over the past few days, and even though Finn has assured me that he wants me, there’s still a niggling in my gut that tells me he may not.

While his brothers lived at home, I would hide. They were larger-than-life characters, and not because they were mean, but they didn’t really take notice of the staff who worked on the property. It was always only Finn. And the only reason he noticed me is because I made him look.

Of the three Thorne brothers, he was the one who caught my eye and I never looked at anyone else. And now that he’s engaged to be married, my abandonment issues have sprung up like a volcano.

“I am.” He moves closer, but doesn’t come to me. “The meeting took far longer than I expected,” he tells me, but his eyes don’t meet mine. It’s strange. He’s always been honest with me, and right now, I have a feeling he’s lying.

“Sorry to hear that,” I say, but there’s nothing more I can add because I don’t know about the meetings he attends. He’s told me about the family business, but because it doesn’t involve me, I’ve only ever focused on the parts that involve him.

I watched him leave this morning, pulling out of the drive in his sleek new toy. And when his taillights disappeared in the distance, I got to work. The sun shone down on me all day, which tired me out. And now that the night has stolen the light, I’m exhausted.

“We leave in a couple of days. You need to pack a bag,” Finn says suddenly, before he flops onto the makeshift chair made of hay. The horses are in their stables, but we keep the feed in the shed. He looks so out of place in here, I almost laugh, but his words sober me.

“What?” Confusion creases itself over my face as I regard him. He must be tired because he’s not making any sense. I wouldn’t leave Thorne Haven unless his father told me to. But also, I’d walk out if Finn confessed that he no longer wanted me around.

“My father has given me a job to complete, and you have to come with me,” he says before running his fingers through his dark hair.

This time, I do laugh because I’m sure he’s joking around. I work on the grounds. I don’t do fancy meetings and shit like that. “Why would I go with you?”

“Well, you’ll be with Zaria and me. But, my father knows,” Finn admits, his eyes landing on mine for the first time since he walked into the shed. Even in the dim lighting, I can see every flicker of fear and anguish that’s written on his face.

“Your father knows what?” This time, I push to my feet as I saunter over to where Finn is lounging. My eyes are glued to his movements as he unbuttons his shirt and settles back when I straddle his waist. “That I do this to his son?” I taunt as I run my finger along his angular jawline. The usually smooth flesh darkened with stubble. He’s been growing out his beard, and I have to admit, the dark edge to his rigid face is attractive.