Page 64 of The Empress

“Is he getting to you?” she suddenly asks.

Holding a pair of slacks in my hand, I frown at her. “Why would you ask that?”

“You seem to be okay with Leo keeping us captive.”

I lock eyes with Mom and shake my head. “I’ve been alone the past two weeks, Mom. I’m just happy to be around people finally…to be with you. I need this good moment.”

Her features instantly soften, and she comes to give me a hug. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You’re right.”

When she pulls back, our gazes meet again, and I say, “If he doesn’t let me go, I’ll have no choice but to make the best of the situation.”

“I wanted so much more for you,” she whispers, heartache flitting over her face.

“We can’t change our circumstances, so let's make the best of it. Okay?”

Mom nods as she brushes her palm over the side of my head. “Okay.”

As we unpack Mom’s belongings, I just soak up being near her. We’ve talked about everything there is, so a comfortable silence wraps around us.

When we’re done, I sit down on the side of the bed, and Mom comes to join me. I lean my head on her shoulder and cradle my left hand against my chest because the pain is getting worse.

“How’s your hand?” Mom asks.

“It hurts a lot because I hit Leo earlier.”

She leans forward to see my face. “What did he do to make you hit him?”

“He never told me I could’ve visited you over the past two weeks.” When Mom’s lips part with surprise, I add, “I was allowed to leave the mansion all this time, and I didn’t know.”

“Oh,” Mom breathes. “So, he isn’t holding you captive in the mansion?”

“Apparently not. We’ll see what happens when I try to go out on my own tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Actions speak louder than words.”

Leo appears in the doorway again. “Dr. Caprino is on his way. Let’s sit in the living room.”

We climb to our feet and follow Leo to the front of the house.

The framed photos draw my attention again while Mom sits down on a sofa.

When I walk closer to the table, Leo comes to stand beside me.

I gesture at the photo of him as a teenager. “You look happy.”

“I was,” he murmurs. When I glance up at him, it’s in time to see a flash of sorrow.

“I’m sorry about your father,” I whisper.

Leo shakes his head. “He was a bastard. Everyone is better off with him six feet under.”

His harsh words make shivers rush down my spine, and I go to sit beside Mom.

When Leo takes a seat across from us, his eyes lock on me. For the next few minutes, he proceeds to stare at me, clearly not caring that Mom is in the room with us.

Finally, his intense gaze shifts to Mom. “What was Haven like growing up?”

Mom gives Leo a look filled with disdain. “My daughter is amazing, and I can understand why she’s caught your attention, but what you’re doing to her is wrong.”