Page 19 of The Empress

I stare at the way-too-attractive man who’s covered in blood. He looks like he’s around thirty, and his toned body tells me he’s strong.

He expects me to marry him. I’ll be forced to have sex with him.

Panic surges through me, and darting to my feet, I run through the foyer. Just as I grab hold of the front door, Leo’s blood-covered arm shoots around me, and I’m hauled off my feet.

“No!” I scream, and as if the raw horror I’m experiencing isn’t enough, another memory flashes through me.

I’m grabbed and thrown to the floor beside a bed. Gunshots fill the air, and a second later, a teenage boy falls over me. I can’t make out his face, but I feel safer with him right by me.

‘Shh…’

I sob as the boy is ripped away from me.

“Calm down,” I hear Leo murmur in a much gentler tone.

When the memory of the nightmare fades, I become aware of Leo’s arms wrapped around me. My face is pressed to his chest, and all I smell is gunpowder and blood.

My tears are soaking into his shirt, and my breaths are choppy.

“You’re going to be fine,” he continues to speak. “You’ll get used to everything.”

What?

Suddenly, it sinks in that he’s holding me, and I yank backward while bringing my arms up between us. My palmsslam against his chest as I keep rearing back to get away from him.

Leo, let’s go, and I stumble before I bump into the front door. Gasping for air, my eyes lock on the menacing man, and it feels like I’m a second away from losing my mind.

This can’t be happening to me!

Leo takes a deep breath, and looking tired, he says, “I’ll show you to your room. Take some time to calm down while I get cleaned up. We’ll talk over an early dinner.” Turning away from me, he walks through the large foyer, and when I don’t move, he mutters, “Follow me, Haven.”

My face crumbles, a hopeless feeling filling my chest as I reluctantly step away from the door.

What was I thinking, trying to escape? Leo made it abundantly clear that he’ll kill my whole family if I don’t marry him.

God. I can’t marry him!

Following Leo up the staircase, I take in every powerful inch of his body. I’ve never felt this weak before.

Suddenly, my phone beeps and I freeze dead in my tracks.

Leo stops by an open door and levels me with a threatening look. “Who messaged you?”

He’s going to take my phone.

My hands tremble badly as I dig the device out of my handbag. I struggle to unlock it.

Kristen: Do you have the flight details? I know you’ve only been gone a week, but I can’t wait for you to come back.

My heart clenches in my chest as I whisper, “It’s a text from my best friend.”

When he moves closer to me, I quickly clench the phone to my chest, but it doesn’t stop him from gripping hold of my wrist and pulling the device away so he can see the screen.

Instead of ripping the phone from my hand, he lets go, his eyes locking with mine again.

“I assume you’ll want her to attend the wedding.”

A frown forms on my forehead. “N-no. I don’t want her anywhere near you.”