Page 16 of Unforgiving Queen

She’d called me her prince. She was wrong. I turned out to be her executioner. I’d almost cost her the ultimate price. I cost her—

I swallowed, my Adam’s apple squeezing painfully. My chest ached so fucking bad, I wanted to pound on it to ease some of the pressure. I suspected it wouldn’t do me any good. Reina Romero was a part of me. She’d found a way inside my broken soul and lodged herself there so solidly no surgical knife would get her out.

A glimmer caught my attention, and I inhaled a sharp breath.

Her grandmother was the first to step outside, draped in gold and fur like the old legend of Hollywood she was. Romero was next, wearing his Italian suit and black trench coat.

I held my breath.There she is.

A loud thud cracked in my chest and my heart resumed beating. At least for now.

Reina was being wheeled out of the hospital by her sister, a blanket covering her legs to protect her from the brisk air. A nurse tracked along on her left. Huddled into herself, Reina sat in the wheelchair, her face still pale and her full lips a few shades lighter than I was used to. She looked far too fragile and weak.

Even from here, I could see dark circles around those sapphires that no longer sparkled.

A dark cloud seemed to hover above as she stared blankly, lost in who knew what nightmare. Phoenix stopped, and Reina turned to the nurse, her lips moving slowly. There wasn’t a hint of a smile on her lips.

I did that.

God, I’d give anything to turn back time and change it all. I would have kept my distance, leaving her innocence intact.

Now, I’d pulled her into my darkness. I’d damaged her, and we were both left with nothing. And I had nobody else to blame.

Reina shifted in the chair, wincing as she did, and I couldn’t help my body as it drew forward, needing to help. To take care of her. Her grandmother, sister, and father all jumped to help her too, but whatever Reina uttered had them freezing on the spot. All but her sister since she was deaf. But Phoenix must have gotten the message because she stepped back.

I watched Reina attempt to slowly stand. My hands fisting, I fought to keep my feet planted on the ground and out of sight.

A pained expression marred her beautiful face, but she took a step, determination clear on her features.

And it was then that I realized it.

She’d move forward, but I’d remain in her shadow.

She was no longer mine, but right or wrong, I’d forever be hers.

* * *

I lifted my head and stared at the gray, grim sky.

A week had gone by and the only thing I’d succeeded at was stumbling through a pathetic, self-destructive drinking bender. I ignored my brother, my mother, and the whole fucking world.

I looked around my Paris penthouse, tempted to set the entire building aflame. Every single inch of this apartment reminded me of her.

The doorbell rang. I didn’t bother answering.

When I heard the soft click, I made a mental note to change all my locks.

The soft footsteps against the hardwood told me my mother was approaching, and I braced myself.

“You missed the Omertà meeting.”

I took a swig of whatever cheap vodka I’d blindly purchased at the store down the street. My last resort.

“I doubt I missed anything important.”

“You can’t ignore your duties.” I should have told her to stop talking, but I didn’t have the energy for it. “Dante wouldn’t tell me what’s gotten into you, but I suspect it has something to do withher.”

“Save the concern for someone who cares.”And deserves it.