Page 117 of The Empress

I pout as I hook my arm through hers. “Damn, there goes that idea.”

We stop in the living room, and Kristen gasps when she looks at the windows. “Jesus, that’s one hell of a view.”

“Let’s sit outside.” I open the sliding doors, and when we walk outside, I ask, “What do you think of Leo?”

Kristen waits until we sit down at the top of the steps, then she looks at me. “Honestly, he’s very intense and there’s a look in his eyes that’s a little terrifying.”

“Yeah, that was my first impression as well, but once you get to know him, he becomes less terrifying.”

Her eyes search mine for something, then she says, “You must’ve shat yourself when he took you.”

A smile curves my lips. “Boy, did I shit myself. Leo had me shaking in my boots.” I glance at the waves rolling in, then add, “After the wedding, he left me alone for two weeks, and when he came back, he was a different person. He groveled so hard. For our first date, he flew me to a yacht in the middle of the ocean. It was magical.” Kristen is practically hanging on every word leaving my lips. “Since then, he’s been perfect.”

She keeps staring at me for a few seconds, then her lips tip up at the sides. “You look happy.”

“I am.”

“And how are you dealing with everything you found out about your family?”

I shrug while taking a deep breath. “I’m remembering little things. Yesterday, Leo took me to a storage facility. He packed up everything from my parents’ house after the attack and kept it all these years.”

“Holy shit.”

I cross my arms on my knees. “Leo has my stuffed unicorn in a glass box on a pedestal in his bedroom.”

“Haven,” she whispers. “That’s so sad.”

“When he realized who I am,” I shake my head, “I’ll never forget the look on his face.”

“And how did you feel when you found out you were kidnapped?”

“I cried my eyes out. It was overwhelming as fuck.” I let out a sigh. “It hit Leo much harder than it hit me.”

“Is he doing okay now?” she asks.

“Yeah. I think so.”

We talk about my family for a bit longer, then she asks, “Are you really okay being married to Leo? Just say the word and I’ll sneak you out of here.”

Chuckling, I nudge her shoulder with mine. “I love being married to him, so you don’t have to risk your life.”

“Did Leo give you a wedding ring?”

I glance down at my left hand. “He did. I took it off right after the wedding and gave it back. I’ve forgotten about it.”

“God, what if he’s waiting for you to bring it up so he can give it to you again?”

I shake my head. “Leo doesn’t play around. I think he’s forgotten about it as well.” I look at Kristen, taking in her blonde hair and gray eyes, then say, “It’s so good to see you again.”

She places her arm around my shoulders and leans into me. “I missed you, too, bestie.”

“I have a proposal I want to run by you,” I say.

She straightens up again and lifts an eyebrow at me. “My parents will shit themselves if I move to Italy.”

A burst of laughter escapes me. “As much as I would love you moving here, that’s not it. Leo gave me a lot of money, and I want to start a charity that saves horses from slaughterhouses. You want in?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?” she gasps. “Hell yeah, I want in!”