Page 107 of Bitter Prince

I opened my palm and a relieved sigh left her plump lips. She threw herself at me, her warm body soaking up the droplets of water from mine.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her mouth angled toward her chest as her shoulders slumped. “You have no idea how much it means to me. Thank you so much.”

I was starting to get an idea how much it meant to her and where the source of Reina’s panic and anxiety lay. But that was a discussion for another day. Not her birthday.

“You’re welcome.” I met my brother’s eyes over her head, his expression somber and disapproving. He thought the girls were a distraction, but I disagreed. We’d get that document my mother needed, and then we’d let our folks figure out their own shit. They couldn’t expect us to live in the past.

“Thanks for staying with her,fratello.”

He nodded before turning around and leaving us alone. Reina lifted her face to mine, her cheeks wet and her eyes shimmering.

“I’m so grateful you found it.”

“You know that necklace can be replaced,” I said softly, wiping her cheeks dry.

She shook her head. “Some things are priceless. This is one of them.” She lifted on her toes and pressed her lips to mine. “And so are you, Amon Leone. I love you.”

God, this girl. Woman. Whatever she was. The way she wore her heart on her sleeve was my undoing. Yes, she was beautiful. Yes, she was charming and delightful to talk to. But it was her heart that shattered my walls and my will.

I brushed the tip of my nose against hers. “I love you too, Reina, my cinnamon girl.”

It was the truth. I loved her more than I could hate her father for what he’d done to my mother. My love for her rivaled even what I felt for my mother. She, who’d taught me about honor and the importance of family. But Reina, whether she knew it or not, taught me how to let go of the things that festered within.

“You and me,” I said, her eyes holding mine.

She made me soar, lighter than ever before. She made me forget the past, revenge, and all the problems piled on by our parents.

It left me alone with her, and that was all I needed.

44

REINA

He loves me.

Amon Leone loved me. He said so, and those three little words spilled into my chest, soaking into every vein leading to my heart.

I always knew I loved Amon. I loved his smiles. I loved his beautiful heart. I loved how he kissed me. His intelligence. His vulnerability. His romantic ways, although he tended to hide them behind a stony expression.

And most of all, I trusted him. I trusted him not to break my heart.

As I watched the girls gathered around, teasing and laughing hysterically, his words sang in my heart and my head. This was happiness. This was being in love, and I’d hang on to this feeling forever.

The day started off with the excitement of my grandmother’s call and took a sharp turn with my lost necklace.

But all was well that ended well, and by lunchtime, the yacht was making its way down the coastline.

The girls lay on the swim deck, soaking in the bright sun. It had been a while since my sister was this happy. Seeing it brought joy and relief to my chest.

“Lunch is ready,” the chef called, and my friends leapt up.

I smiled, knowing they’d eat him out of his job in the kitchen. Unlike other girls, we never shied away from food. We loved eating, although our cooking skills were rather poor.

I stood and followed the scent of food while my friends climbed the short built-in step ladder. One of the crew members handed them fluffy navy-and-white striped towels.

“There you are,” Isla exclaimed.

“We were wondering whether you were having some hanky-panky time.” Raven grinned, winking mischievously.