A High so Sweet (Thornes & Roses 2)

Shaking my head, I sigh. “No.” I look at my brother as the words fall from my lips. “If she is back, I’ll have to face her,” I tell him. “And she’s going to pay for what she did.” I finally make my decision. At first, I thought I could run her out of Thorne Haven, it would be the easiest thing to do, but that’s not what I want anymore. I need her to feel the betrayal I did. It might be childish to toy with someone, but she did it to me, and I need her to understand how painful it was to learn how a lie, one simple untruth, could change your life.

“Cass,” Damien says, bringing my attention back to the present, and I can hear the wariness in his tone. Even though he’s the eldest, I’ve always been calmer when it comes to revenge, when it comes to making sure those who fuck over a Thorne pay.

But this time, I can’t stop myself from needing to see her cry.

“She was young, immature. Kalyn was dealing with demons you couldn’t cure for her. She wanted a hero, but she needed professional help,” Damien’s voice is calm as he tries to assure me of this. I knew she was. It’s the reason I didn’t take our friendship to the next level. But it doesn’t matter, not anymore.

“That doesn’t matter,” I say while meeting his cool stare. My fist clenches around the mug. “She lied. I don’t like people who lie, you know this.”

He nods. “I do, but perhaps there was a reason for what she did,” he assures me, but it’s not going to change my mind.

“I don’t give a shit. I was there for her. What if Nesrin lied about you? What if she spread rumors and got away with it?” I shouldn’t bring his wife into it. I love my sister-in-law, she’s a wonderful woman, but I need Damien to understand what it felt like to be blindsided like I was.

“Does Creed know she’s back?” he questions, ignoring my queries, and I don’t blame him. My brother is like me, and I know if Nesrin did what Kaly did, he would never have forgiven her. Fuck, he would’ve probably sent her packing right back to the starry skies of Hollywood.

“Not sure. I haven’t spoken to him in a while.” I finish my coffee and relax back into the soft leather of the chair. I have to get ready for my flight home, but I’d much prefer staying in London with Damien and Nesrin than to go back to my past.

“Cass, promise me you won’t do something stupid,” Damien pleads with me, and as much as I’d love to appease my brother, I can’t. He stares at me for a long while, but I don’t answer. Damien sighs, shaking his head as he pushes to his feet. “Just be careful,” he warns.

“Because you know I’m right. I should get my vengeance for the lies she spread about me,” I finally find my words. “You can’t expect me to ignore the fact that my life imploded.”

For a long moment, he’s silent, and I half-expect him to refuse. I think he’s going to say I’m being an asshole, but then he does answer. “I get that. Trust me, I fucking get it, but remember, we’re all grown-up now. We’re adults.”

I chuckle at that because as much as I know he’s right, he also knows nobody fucks with a Thorne. “We may be, but that doesn’t mean we can forgive and forget.”

“What are you not forgiving and forgetting?” Nesrin’s gentle tone comes from the doorway, and I turn to find my sister-in-law leaning against the doorjamb, her arms folded across her chest as she regards her husband and me.

“Nothing, sweet sister,” I respond, going to pull her into a hug, which she allows, but I can tell she doesn’t believe me. I don’t blame her. Nesrin Thorne is far too intelligent to believe my bullshit.

When I step back, Nesrin pins me with a disbelieving stare before shaking her head. “Don’t do stupid shit,” she tells me before leaning up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek.

“I’m the levelheaded one,” I inform her, but chuckle when she rolls her eyes at my insistence. “I’m serious. Have you met my brothers?” I tease with a smile, which earns me a giggle in response.

“Yeah, sure,” she answers as she sidles into Damien’s arms. “I can’t believe you’re leaving so soon. You just got here.”

“I know, but Dad wants me back there for the gala.” I pull my phone from my pocket when it vibrates, and I find a message from Finn. “And it seems if I don’t get back, Finn will commit murder because I left him alone with our folks.”