Page 58 of The Empress

I bring my arms up to block whatever blows she throws my way, but instead of trying to hit me, her arms wrap around my waist, and she bursts out in tears.

It takes a moment to realize Haven’s hugging me, then my arms shoot around her, and I squash her body to mine.

Hell. Fucking. No.

I’m never letting her go.

Nothing has ever felt so perfect as getting to hold this woman who’s woven some kind of magical spell over me.

“Please,” she whimpers, her voice sounding broken. “I’ll do anything you want. Just let me see my mother. I’m losing my mind.”

A frown forms on my forehead. “Haven’t you seen her?”

Haven pulls back, the distraught look on her face causing my heart to clench painfully in my chest.

“I last saw her at the church.”

What?

My frown darkens even more. “Why didn’t you visit her?”

Another blow of shock ripples over her face, then her eyes widen. “I was allowed to visit her?”

“Yes. I never said you weren’t allowed to. I only said I didn’t want her living here.”

She goes completely still for a long moment, and just as I start to get worried, she lunges at me again. This time, it’s not for a hug, and her fists connect with my chest and neck.

“You never said I could!” she screams before it’s followed by a whimper. “Ow!”

I grab hold of her left arm and quickly look at the bandage wrapped around her hand. There’s purple bruising on her wrist, the sight making me unreasonably angry.

“Next time you do something so stupid and hurt yourself, I’m putting you over my knee and spanking you.”

Haven glares at me as she pulls her arm out of my hold. “I want to see my mother right now.”

I gesture for her to walk. “Your wish is my command, my wife.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snaps as she hurries toward the stairs.

As we cross the foyer, I hear Haven sob, and it makes me walk faster to catch up with her. I wrap my arm around hershoulders, and when she doesn’t pull away but instead begins to cry again, I tighten my hold on her.

Cazzo, giving her space was the worst thing I could’ve done.

“I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear that you could visit your mother,” I apologize. I lead her through the kitchen and into the garage. “Did you ask Edoardo to take you anywhere?”

As I open the passenger door, she shakes her head while climbing into the Porsche.

The blood chills in my veins. “So you never left the mansion while I was gone?”

Haven nods, her face unnaturally pale.

“Gesù Cristo,” I mutter as I slam the door shut. I walk around the front of the car and get in behind the steering wheel. As I reverse out of the garage, my gaze locks on her, and I notice the dark circles beneath her eyes.

I put the car in drive, and while I steer us toward the gates, I say, “You’re not a prisoner, Haven. You can go out as long as you’re home for dinner. Just don’t disappear on me every day. I’ll be home for the next week, and I’d like to get to know you better.”

“Is my mom still not allowed to visit me at the mansion?”

I think for a moment, and knowing I’ll never see Haven during the day, I have no choice but to relent. “She can visit, but I want you all to myself after five, and I don’t want her here every day. That would be too much for me. I like my space quiet.”