Page 97 of The Madman and his broken Princess

My heart clenched. “I know.”

She sighed, and I tightened my hold further. “I need to leave in the morning to deal with the Bratva, dove. I can’t allow them to think they can attack you without raising hell.”

“But you’re staying the night?” She sounded hopeful, but also scared.

“I’ll stay until the sunrise.” I kissed her gently.

We settled into the bed together. Amelia motioned at a bouquet I hadn’t noticed before. It was white and yellow and light green. I didn’t recognize the flowers.

“I bound it. I miss working with flowers.”

“Then plant flowers in the garden. There’s enough space. You can decorate the house with the flowers you grow.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be okay with me changing anything.” She pursed her lips.

“You can change everything but the maze.”

She smiled and pressed her face against my chest. “Do you want me to read youThe Tale of Peter Rabbit?”I asked when I realized Amelia was still holding it.

“Yes, please,” she said quietly.

Before I began reading, I asked her, “Will you be all right?”

“I don’t feel sorry for him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“You almost got killed,” I reminded her. Maybe she didn’t realize how close she’d gotten to dying. I certainly hadn’t forgotten the entire time I’d tortured her attacker.

“Maybe I’m simply used to being at risk of dying. The time in the basement messed with my mind, too.”

I kissed the top of her head. “Your mind is as beautiful as your body.”

“My mind can be a cruel, dark place, too. Not often, but there’s potential for it.”

I sighed. “I love even the darkness of your soul, even if I wish it had never been tainted.”

She swallowed thickly. “I love you too.”

My heart galloped in my chest. I focused on the pages of the book in front of me, not wanting to dwell on my softer emotions. I needed to focus on the rage deep inside me if I wanted to make tomorrow the darkest day in the LA Bratva’s history.

After ten minutes of my reading, Amelia’s breathing evened out. I put the book on the nightstand and grabbed my phone to tell Niccolo about my plan. He needed to get the ball rolling and call in our soldiers so we could ambush every Bratva establishment in the city. I would seek out the Pakhan personally and make him wish he had never been born. His skull would be the crowning piece in my trophy gallery.

The dark plumes of smoke rising from the Pakhan’s villa rose into the baby-blue sky. I stuffed his skull into the gym bag I’d taken with me for that purpose. I’d bring it to my preparator.He’d worked on all of my trophies and did marvelous work. By now, he hardly blinked when I took human remains to him.

“Did you send Remo a copy of the video that we sent to every Pakhan in Camorra territory?”

Niccolo looked up from his phone, then glanced past the gates toward the street. Sirens were coming closer. “We should leave.”

Taking the gym bag, I got into Niccolo’s car, and he took his seat behind the steering wheel. The fire trucks and police cars arrived in the street when we turned the corner.

“I sent Remo everything. He hasn’t reacted so far.”

“Drop me off at home, and take the head to Freddy.”

Niccolo’s lips curled. “Not sure why you want the ugly face of the Russian in your home.”

“I skinned him. His face was eaten by the pit bulls he kept as pets.”

“You know what I mean.”