Page 16 of The Empress

Massimo tugs at my arm, and when I stumble, he mutters something in Italian before I’m lifted off my feet. The instant my body is draped over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, I’m hit with another flashback of a bedroom. There’s a teenage boy lying on a bed, and another one is on the floor with a monster standing over him.

I hear myself screaming something, but I can’t make out the words.

More terror pours through me, and my fight instinct finally kicks in. I push my torso up and wiggle like crazy to get free, but it only makes him tighten his grip on me as he stalks toward the front door.

Panic floods my veins, and I shriek, “Mom!”

“Oh God! No!” Mom scrambles to her feet, but Leo grabs hold of her arm and presses the barrel of the gun to her temple.

“Nooooo!” I let out a harrowing scream, and it has Leo’s eyes flicking to me.

I stop fighting, and choking on a desperate sob, I beg, “Please don’t hurt my mother. I’ll do anything. Just don’t shoot her.”

“Massimo!” Leo snaps, and it has the overgrown ape stopping in the doorway. “Put her down.”

I’m lowered to my feet, then Leo orders, “Come hug your mother goodbye and take your luggage to my car. You have five minutes.”

I run back to them, and Mom catches me in her arms. With Leo standing right beside us, I catch a whiff of his scent, which smells like war, all gunpowder and blood. It sends more chills down my spine.

“Haven,” Mom sobs uncontrollably. “I’ll find a way to get us back home.”

“You won’t do a single thing if you want to stay alive,” Leo grumbles. “Three minutes left.”

“So, you’ll marry Haven, and peace will return between us?” I hear Uncle Nicolo ask.

“For the time being,” Leo replies. “Make sure her mother doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Uncle Nicolo’s words sound ominous as he says, “I’ll take care of her.”

“No,” I gasp, and pulling away from Mom, I look at Leo. “Please. You have to promise me that nothing bad will happen to my mother.”

“You hear that, Nicolo?” Leo is actually starting to sound like he’s getting bored.

The man is ripping my life apart, and he’s bored?

It begins to sink in just how cold and heartless he is. None of this hell affects him.

He’s a monster, just like the ones from my nightmares.

“She’ll be safe,” Uncle Nicolo assures Leo.

The dangerous cold-blooded killer’s eyes lock with mine, then he orders, “Time’s up. Take your bags to my car.”

Unable to move, I stare at him while my future and dreams go up in smoke.

I know the moment I leave with him, my life will never be the same again, and I’m not ready for that.

Leo lifts an eyebrow at me, looking impatient as hell. Not even sparing Mom a glance, he lifts his arm and points his gun at her. “Are we going to have a problem,principessa?”

Life returns to my body, and my chin instantly begins to tremble while I dart to where my luggage is standing. I grab the handles, and as I drag them toward the front door, I glance at Mom.

“Please,” Mom begs, her eyes glued to me. “Don’t do this to us.”

Not knowing what hell my future will hold for me and how long I’ll survive with Leo, I say, “I love you, Mom.”

“Nooooo,” Mom sobs, and breaking down, she sinks to her knees.

The overgrown ape grips hold of my arm while another man rips the handles of my bags out of my hands.