Page 23 of The Empress

My voice quivers. “What?”

A frown line appears between his eyebrows. “I don’t know yet.” Turning around, he pulls a pan out of the drawer and places it on the stove as well.

I watch as he prepares a creamy cheese sauce, and I jerk with fright when he asks, “What kind of person are you?”

“I-I don’t know.” My arms wrap tightly around my middle, and I hunch my shoulders.

Leo lets out a chuckle. “You don’t know what kind of person you are?”

“I don’t know how to answer it.” Honestly, I can’t focus enough to have this conversation with the violent man.

“What are your hobbies?”

“Reading.”

“What work do you do?” He lets out another chuckle, then corrects himself. “Used to do.”

“I haven’t started working yet,” I admit, not comfortable telling him about myself.

Leo glances at me again as he adds the fettuccine to the boiling water. “Did you study?”

“Yes,” I mutter. “Business management.”

He lifts an eyebrow at me. “Is that what you want to do?”

I just shrug, curling more into myself.

“As my wife, you won’t have to work.”

Jesus. His wife.

It feels like his words form shackles around my wrists, and I close my eyes as hopelessness wells in my chest.

“Please,” I whisper before opening my eyes to give him a pleading look. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Leo adds the mushrooms and ham to the sauce, then he turns around and leans back against the counter. Crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes take mine captive again.

I can’t stop a tear from escaping and rolling down my cheek. Wiping it away with the tips of my fingers, I add, “I just want to go home with my mom.”

He tilts his head, his expression growing grim. “Does it look like I give a shit about what you want?”

No. Which is confusing me even more. Nothing makes sense.

“I don’t understand why you want to marry me,” I say, my tone hoarse.

“That makes two of us,principessa.” An annoyed look flashes over his handsome features. “There’s just something about you I can’t put my finger on.”

“Seriously?” I exclaim. “This is madness. You’re willing to ruin my life because of something you can’t put your finger on? Are you insane?”

His eyes narrow on me, and it sends a wave of fear rippling over me. “Careful,principessa. I don’t take kindly to people raising their voices at me.”

Shaking my head, my shoulders slump.

Leo begins to move, and it has my spine stiffening. When he slowly comes around the side of the island, I inch off the stool. Every muscle in my body tightens, and the urge to run overwhelms me.

With him a few feet from me, I dart away, but I don’t even take three steps before his arm comes around my front. I let out a cry as he yanks me toward him, my back slamming into his chest.

His other hand grips my throat, and I quickly grab hold of his wrist.