A High so Sweet (Thornes & Roses 2)

To me, she didn’t exist anymore.

Even as I think it, I know it’s a lie.

Stalking through the hallway toward my room, I focus on getting a shower before having to deal with my father and his wife, Nesrin’s mother. The moment I step over the threshold of my bedroom, though, I find my brother on the bed, his back leaning against the headboard, lounging with his feet crossed at the ankle as if he owns the space.

“What are you doing in here?” I ask before shoving the suitcase onto the opposite side of the bed from Finn.

His eyes, dark brown like our mother’s, follow me, but he doesn’t say a word. His focus is on me as I move to the closet while unbuttoning my shirt. But when I head back into the bedroom, I find he hasn’t moved.

“What the fuck is going on?” My voice is tight with tension. I’m tired, I don’t need Finn’s games, and if there’s one thing my brother enjoys, it’s his games.

“There’s something you should know,” he finally speaks when I don’t move, pinning him with a frustrated glare. When I don’t answer, he continues, “I’ve overheard a few things you should be made aware of before tomorrow night.” But the more he draws this out, the more frustrated I become.

“If you don’t tell me what the fuck—”

“Kalyn is engaged,” he breathes, his voice low, but I hear him. “She’s here with her folks and the fiancé.”

“I know.”

Finn’s mouth pops open in shock, his eyes wide as he regards me, then a sly grin curls his lips. “You and Damien were doing some digging,” he says.

“No. I actually did some digging on my own on the way home. The flight was long, and I needed a distraction,” I inform him before shrugging off my shirt and throwing it in the hamper near the door. “I wanted to be ready for whatever hits me when I get back and found some articles about her engagement.”

I stop all movement, locking my gaze on my brother’s. He doesn’t seem too perturbed by my admission, but Finn knows me, and he must have known I would have done my own research on the girl who nearly broke me.

He sits up, rubbing his hands together. “So, what are we going to do about it?” He arches a brow at me, a smile on his face that tells me he’s willing to do this with me. I would’ve gotten my revenge alone with no qualms, but with Finn by my side, I know we’ll be able to send her back to Hollywood.

“She doesn’t belong in Thorne Haven, not anymore,” I tell Finn. “I have a feeling we may need the Havens for this.” I don’t want to include Creed Haven in this; the asshole has no morals. But if I need something done and want to keep my hands clean, he’s the one I’d call on. He loves blood, would happily get his hands dirty. And when it comes to torture, Creed enjoys listening to the screams of those he needs information from.

“Well, I’m ready for anything.” Finn grins before pushing to his feet. “Oh, by the way, your mattress is fucked,” he remarks while walking by me.

“Jesus, did you have a woman in my bed while I was gone?” I bite out through clenched teeth, frustration coursing through my veins at my youngest brother.

He doesn’t respond, but the chuckle that vibrates through his chest is my answer. Asshole. My brother is one of the most frustrating guys I’ve ever come across, but there’s one thing about him, he’s loyal to a fault, and when you cross him, I’d feel sorry for you.

Being the youngest, he’s always struggled with being seen by our father. Dad has always favored Damien over us, which I didn’t complain about because I wanted more than carrying on a legacy. But for Finn, he wanted to work at Thorne Industries while my need was to travel.

After that night, Dad laid down the law and forced me to focus on school and getting my business degree so I could step into my position at Thorne Industries. My hands fist at my sides when I recall everything that went down. How my best friends were there for me when she wasn’t.

Shaking my head to clear it, I focus on the need for a shower and strip before heading to my en-suite. Turning on the cold taps, I step in and hiss at the icy spray.

She’s engaged.

She belongs to someone else.

But it’s all a lie. I know it is because she’ll always belong to me.

“I’m so… I don’t know,” Kalyn murmurs as she draws circles in the sand. We’ve come to the lake, hidden amongst the trees, to talk about Kalyn’s sadness. The moment I saw her at school today, I knew something was off. Even though I’m a senior and shouldn’t be spending time with a sixteen-year-old girl, I can’t leave her.