Page 13 of Blood Queen

Leonardo exhales through his nose, a satisfied sound. He swirls the liquor in his glass, watching the liquid catch the light before taking a slow sip.

“Good girl.” He sets the glass down with a quiet clink, eyes sharp with approval. “I knew you had it in you.”

I say nothing. Just watch him.

He leans back, the leather of his chair creaking.

“You’ve earned yourself a break. Kick back. Enjoy. Have some fun.” He smiles like he actually means it, but I know better. Leonardo doesn’t believe in fun. He believes in control.

I nod, standing. “Sure. Fun.”

My apartment is a far cry from the cage he first kept me in.

The luxury high-rise is all sleek glass and steel, perched high above Miami like I finally belong in this city. I toe off my heels, tossing my purse onto the pristine white couch, but I don’t sit. Instead, I make my way to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the neon glow of the city.

It’salmostfunny how different my life is now. How different I am. My dark hair is tamed, glossy and expertly maintained. My sneakers and shorts replaced with designer attire. My soft edges sharpened.

Seven years ago, I was just a ghost of a girl stepping through the gates of Leonardo Testa’s estate.

His missing niece.

I remember the way his face twisted when he saw me, how his first instinct was to lock me away, a puzzle piece that didn’t fit in his neatly curated life.

The room he kept me in was elegant, but a prison is still a prison no matter how gilded the bars. He demanded a DNA test before he’d even entertain the thought of my existence. I remember sitting on the edge of the king-sized bed, staring at the locked door, knowing that if the test came back wrong, I’d never leave that room alive.

But the truth had been undeniable. His blood ran in my veins.

Guards had whispered.

“Hey.”

“Sup?”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard but Evany is back. Been living in the middle of nowhere.”

“Evany? As in the surviving Testa? I thought that was just folklore, man.”

“Nope. She exists, and she’s back.”

“Leo must be pissed.”

But, little by little, he let me out of my cage.

At first, it was small rewards. Sitting at the dinner table. Watching from the sidelines as business was discussed. Then the tests began. Subtle at first. Then not. Would I lie for the family? Would I steal? Would I hurt? Would I kill?

And I did.

Because I had a goal. Because every time he asked me to prove my loyalty, I thought of Antonio. Of my mother and father. My brothers. Of my blood-soaked history.

I pick up my phone and text Marcy.

Shipment lands Wednesday at Pier 14. Tension is high. Someone’s taking out the bosses’ sons. Families are getting nervous. Won’t be long before they start turning on each other.

I stare at the screen for a moment before hitting send. I roll my neck. Think of Truman. The way his body molded to mine, the feel of his lips on my skin. I strip off my clothes right there in front of the windows and pad naked to the bathroom to shower.

I dry off, slip into a silk robe, and reach for my burner. My fingers hesitate over Truman’s name before I force them away. Grabbing my regular phone, I tap out a message to Maria instead.

Me:Drinks? I need to blow off steam.

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