Page 117 of His Kidnapped Queen
“I might have to spend a few years inside,” I muse.
Sophia’s eyes instantly fill with tears, and I make a distressed sound in the back of my throat, wishing I could draw her closer.
“Come here.”
She perches on the edge of the bed and I lean against her, nuzzling against her neck.
“It’s going to be okay.” My voice is calm, quiet. Assured.
She nods, but she doesn’t speak, her eyes still streaming tears.
“Sophia. Things are going to be okay,” I say again, and she starts to cry, burying her face in my neck.
I hum to her, nosing against her throat and squeezing her hand because it’s the only way I can touch her with these damn handcuffs on.
“I lied to you.”
“You did,” I agree, kissing her forehead.
“My partner he…he didn’t die.” She finally takes my hand in hers.
“No?” I can’t say I’m surprised. That part of the story never really rang true.
“No. He’s the one that came to help me. Part of the team that shot you.” Her voice breaks and she starts to cry again.
“You did what you had to do, pixie. There was no way out of that other than calling your people.”
“I messed up so bad.”
“Maybe. I love you anyway.”
“Stop saying that!” she nearly-yells, but I can’t help but laugh even as she sobs against my throat.
“I love you, Sophia Bianchi. I love our daughter. What’s her name?”
Sophia sniffles. “Rosa. Rosa Elena.”
“Rosa Elena Rossi,” I say, feeling the name out on my tongue.
She winces. “It’s Bianchi, since you weren’t there to sign the birth certificate.”
“Wish I was.” I squeeze her hand. My palms are sweaty, but she doesn’t seem to mind. “Wish I was there for all of it, every appointment, her first laugh, her first steps.”
My voice breaks, goes raw.
“I’ll bring her to visit as often as I can.”
I shake my head. “Not there. Not in that place. Promise me you’ll never take her there, Sophia.”
She swallows visibly. “I’ll never take her there.”
“Do you mean that? If you want to come visit me, I can’t stop you, but I won’t have our daughter?—”
She stops my words by pressing her mouth to mine.
I can’t help but grin against her lips.
My empire has crumbled at my feet. I’ve been beaten. Shot. My chest cut open.
