Page 88 of The Empress

A tear rolls down his cheek, and it breaks my heart even more. “Stellina mia.”

I nod as I wrap my arms around him, pressing his head beneath my chin. “Yes. I’m your little star.”

He kisses the point where my collarbones meet then presses another to my throat.

When he climbs to his feet, I try to move back, but his arm locks around me while his other hand grips my butt. I have no choice but to wrap my legs around his waist.

His features are set in a grim expression as he walks back to the house. He doesn’t even look at Edoardo as we pass him on the veranda. I give our guard a thumbs up so he won’t worry.

Leo heads for one of the couches, and when he sits down, he grips the sides of my thighs and forces me to straddle him.

I try to pull his shirt back into place, but then he leans into me and shrugs it off. He also removes the gun from behind his back and drops it on the couch beside us.

My gaze lands on the tattoo over his heart.

Once upon a time, I was so important to him, he marked his skin permanently and placed my stuffed toy in a glass box on a pedestal.

Earlier, when I asked about the owner of the unicorn, he said he loved me and he always would, until the day he dies.

When I tilt my head and brush my fingers over the tattoo, Leo’s eyes lift to my face.

What if he can’t be romantic with me anymore?

Fear bleeds through me, making my heart beat heavy in my chest.

God, I’ve already fallen in love with him.

The realization stuns me, and my voice is filled with apprehension as I ask, “Is it weird for you now?”

“What?”

“Do you see me as a little sister?”

His head jerks back, and I begin to worry that I’ve just grossed him out when he mutters, “Hell no. You don’t have to worry about that happening. Ever.”

I let out a relieved chuckle. “Oh, good.”

The heartache and guilt return to his face, and it has me leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his mouth. “What can I do to help? Will talking about it make you feel better?”

He lifts a hand and rubs over his forehead. “I’m just trying to process the shock. My emotions are all over the place.”

“That’s understandable.”

Leo lets out a heavy sigh before he leans his head back against the couch, his eyes locking on my face. He stares at me for a long moment, then he whispers, “I’m struggling to put the two versions of you together in my mind.” His features soften until he looks at me with love. “I swear I searched for you. There wasn’t a day I didn’t think about you.”

“How could you? You have a little shrine in your bedroom.”

He becomes sad again, and I wish I could magically make him feel better.

His voice is brimming with emotion as he says, “I loved you so much when we were young.” Lifting his hand to my face, he cups my left cheek. “And I’ve fallen in love with you now.” His eyes darken with possessiveness. “I don’t think I’ll be able to let you out of my sight ever again.”

It takes close to two hours before Leo seems to get over the worst of the initial shock, but then rage begins to burn in his eyes, which are still glued to me.

“Tell me again what you remember from after the attack.”

I think hard before I answer, “There was a group of men, maybe five or so. They were all shouting.”

When I don’t add anything else, he asks, “Is that all?”