Page 21 of The Empress

Looking completely unbothered by my words, Leo turns around and walks out of the bedroom while grumbling, “I’m good with that, too. Do as you please,principessa.”

My phone beeps again with an incoming message, and a moment later, I hear a door shut down the hallway.

A sob sputters from me, and lifting my hand, I quickly cover my mouth while I glance around the extravagantly beautiful bedroom.

This is insane!

What am I going to do?

Chapter 5

HAVEN

After I read Kristen’s text, I try to call Mom, but her phone keeps going to voicemail.

When the beep comes over the line, I ramble, “Mom! Answer your phone! Oh my God,” I gasp and shove my hand through my hair. “Let me know if you’re okay. I’m at Leo’s mansion, and I have no idea what to do. His place is situated on a hillside, and it has a private beach. I don’t know the directions, because I was too rattled to focus on where we were driving. Call me the second you get this message.”

This isn’t happening!

Feeling claustrophobic, I rush to the glass doors, and for a few seconds, I struggle with the lock. When I finally get the doors open, I rush out onto the balcony and grab hold of the railing. I suck in frantic breaths of the salty air, my gaze darting over the waves crashing against the rocks beneath me.

I turn my head to the right and stare at the private beach that’s nestled between rocks and the mansion. I also have a partial view of the veranda and pool.

The sound and smell of the ocean and beach calm me down until I’m able to think straight again.

Just take it one step at a time.

I have to survive the next twenty-four hours.

Maybe Leo’s anger will lessen, and I’ll be able to have a reasonable conversation with him.

I begin to feel claustrophobic again and pace into the bedroom.

This is not some dark romance book. It’s real life, and Leo can’t just take me and force me to marry him. There’s law and order. Mom will get the embassy involved.

Lifting a trembling hand to my face, I press my palm to my forehead, one thought after the other rushing through my mind.

I can’t believe everything that’s happened today.

Leo shot Luciano. Twice!

And all the blood on Leo’s arms and neck? I don’t think it was his. It didn’t look like he was injured, so it had to be someone else’s blood.

God.

Another chill creeps down my spine, and feeling cold like a block of ice, I walk to my luggage and dig out a cardigan. After putting it on, I glance around the big room that will be my prison cell for the unforeseeable future.

Crap.

The events of the day replay in my mind, and I slump down on the side of the bed. Staring blankly ahead of me, I try to make sense of everything.

“Come to the kitchen,” Leo suddenly says from the open doorway, scaring the everloving crap out of me.

A shriek bursts over my lips as I dart to my feet, my hands curling into fists.

Jesus. My heart.

Then my eyes lock on him, and even though I’m terrified of the man, I can’t ignore how attractive he looks right now. It’s unsettling as hell.