Page 112 of The Empress

Kristen: Are you sure I’m safe with Edoardo? When you said broody, I expected grumpy. I’m going to shit myself if he glares at me one more time.

Haven: He won’t hurt you. You’re safe with him. I promise.

She instantly reads the message and replies.

Kristen: Okay. Besides the whole scary vibe thing he’s got going, he’s H.O.T. I’m watching him order men around and trying to stop the hussy in me from climbing him like a tree.

“Kristen is shit scared of Edoardo,” I tell Leo. He taps on the screen and calls Edoardo. “No! Don’t call him!”

“Yes, boss?” Edoardo answers, and I let out a groan.

“You’re scaring Kristen,” Leo mutters.

“How? I’m busy with the men. We’re loading all Mrs. Toscano’s belongings.”

“Be less threatening,” Leo says. “Smiling might help.”

Edoardo lets out a sigh. “Okay.”

I quickly type out a message to Kristen.

Haven: So, Leo called Edoardo and told him to stop being scary.

Kristen: Thanks for that. The man just smiled at me, but it looked threatening as fuck. I think he’s planning my death.

Haven: He’s not. I trust Edoardo. Stop panicking and enjoy the trip. We’re having dinner with our mothers, so I might be quiet for a while. See you tomorrow morning!!!

Kristen: I’m sleeping all the way to Italy. Enjoy the dinner and tell your mom I say hi.

Haven: I will. Sweet dreams.

“Does she feel better?” Leo asks as he brings the car to a stop in front of his mother’s house.

“Yes. She’ll get used to Edoardo.”

“So much for you hoping the two of them will get together,” he says while shoving his door open.

I climb out and grin, “There’s still hope.”

Leo stops at the front of the car and holds out his hand to me. When I place my palm in his, he leads me to the front door while glancing at Riccardo. “How are things here?”

“Nothing new to report, boss. The women are cooking up a storm, so I’m hiding outside.”

“I’ll assign Ricco to take over for a while so you can have a break,” Leo tells him.

“That would be great. Thanks, boss.”

Leo opens the front door, and when we step inside the house, a delicious aroma hangs in the air.

He leads me to the kitchen, where Mom is stirring something in a pot while Mrs. Toscano is setting plates and cutlery down on the kitchen table that seats four.

“Hi,” I say, pulling my hand free from Leo’s grip.

“Hey, sweetheart!” Mom sets down the wooden spoon and meets me halfway for a hug while Leo kisses his mother on both cheeks.

When everyone is done greeting each other, Leo pulls out a chair and takes a seat. “I’m going to swap Riccardo out for Ricco.”

“Okay,” his mom replies before continuing to set the table.