Page 57 of Merciless Queen
Harlow looked at peace with the crisp winter air blowing through her dark hair as she took in Grant Park. Even in the bitter winter temps, she had a bright smile on her face. I wondered how she would enjoy snow, and how she’d like spring when the flowers bloomed and the weather warmed up. The public was never my favorite thing, but if I could see this smile on her face, I would suck it up and bring her anywhere in the city. Harlow’s smile was addicting.
The shadows in her eyes were slowly leaving day by day, being replaced with happiness and life, but there was still that glimmer of fear. Fear that Vincenzo would capture her once more and rip this happiness from her grasp. He was a leech, sucking the life out of everyone who surrounded him, but I refused to let him have Harlow. I would protect her with every fiber of my being until his blood stained my basement and his fear mongering was eliminated from this world.
To say I would be able to protect her from all the dangers this life brought would be a lie, but I would do my best to protect her as long as there was breath in my lungs. I wanted her to be happy. She deserved to be happy.
“So,” I started as I took a sip of my latte, “what else did you enjoy before you were taken?”
“I was a history nerd.” She blushed. “I enjoyed learning about different cultures and religions. History and religion tie into some aspects of art, so it was feeding my art addiction, and it gave me an excuse to have my mom take me to museums.”
“So, you truly enjoy museums, just to walk through and see the history?”
My mom loved museums herself, forcing me along to art and history museums instead of letting me stay home. She always said it was a learning experience, but I never understood theinterest in old pieces of art or history. Personally, I never cared for history in school, but I knew it was important for the way it shaped the world. Seeing Harlow’s face light up talking about her hobbies and her mom was enough for me to be dragged through a museum for an hour if it made this woman happy.
“It was our favorite thing. Art and history museums, followed by smoothies, and ending with a bookstore. We enjoyed local bookstores, but sometimes we’d enjoy Barnes & Noble.” She smiled at the memory. I hoped she could enjoy the happy ones without thinking about Vincenzo tainting them. “My mom supported my art. Bought me my first sketch book and prism color pencils even though my dad threw a fit. She said I had a calling, and it shouldn’t be concealed.”
“Your mom sounded amazing.”
She gave me a meek smile. “She was my best friend. I was blessed with a mom who loved me, but I wish I could have saved her. I just hope she’s happy wherever she is now. Y’know, I think she’d like you.”
I arched my brow. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. My mom loved badass women. Wonder Woman, Black Widow, Charlie’s Angels. You are the leader of a crime family, and you save women. She’d love you.”
“I just do what I can to help the ones in need. I wish I could have saved your mom.”
“She’s not there anymore. That’s all that matters. I hate that she had to die in that place, but she’s free now.”
I squeezed her hand. “What books do you enjoy?” I diverted, changing the topic before she got too sad thinking about her mom.
“Historical fiction and fantasy, but I’ve gotten into romance books because of Lizzy. It was nice escaping reality. I read the books you got before. It’s nice being able to do the things I love again.”
“Why don’t we go to a bookstore then? You can pick out whatever you want.”
CHAPTER 45
Harlow
I had beenHarlow Moretti for five weeks and free for almost four months. So much had happened in so little time. Time wasn’t moving like molasses now that I was able to bask in the sun and do the things I was once deprived of. Freedom was terrifying. I was in a constant battle with my mind, half terrified that this was a false reality and I was going to wake up any moment, chained to Vincenzo’s bed.
I was not going to lie, living in the darkness protected me from my mind. There was no hope trapped in that hellhole, no reason to cry or beg when the men there would beat us for it. As much as I hated to admit it, I gave up and accepted my fate. Out of the shadows, it was hard. I was constantly scared, balancing on the edge of sanity with my frayed nerves stretched thin. There was some progress, though, when I was not jumping at the creaking floorboards or screaming when one of Caterina’s men accidentally brushed against me. My mental health was slightly better, but it was still a hassle fighting my mind.
Caterina was my saving grace, and I was positive that I was falling in love with my domineering wife. She treated me with a kindness I never expected, without looking at me with pity inher green hues. Caterina listened to me even if I talked about the same thing over and over. We laughed together, something I hadn’t done in a decade, and her laughter was something I never could imagine coming from someone like her. For a big, bad mafia leader, she had an infectious laugh that somehow eliminated the darkness within me. When I wanted to have sex, she would explore with me. Sometimes I would have an orgasm and sometimes I didn’t, but I was learning what I liked. She awakened new parts of myself that I never knew, cherishing me like I was special. Her touch was always delicate, but electrifying. She made me feel alive for the first time in ten years. Being in love with her was also terrifying, because she already told me she'd never love me.
Today I had my first self-defense class with the woman Caterina trusted most. She was supposed to be here earlier, but got caught up with something else. People didn’t believe he’d come for me now since he hadn’t done anything since killing Angel. His only retaliation was killing a bright soul in a dark world. There was still guilt in my chest anytime someone mentioned her name, but no one was angry with me or blamed me beside myself. Vincenzo was obsessed and wouldn’t rest, but maybe I was truly free.
Caterina left a pair of black leggings and a black sports bra with a white long sleeve shirt in case I felt insecure about my scars. I was slowly learning to embrace them, accepting the story they told about my survival, but I was still insecure about strangers seeing them. All I knew about this woman was that she was a close friend and a part of the Russian mafia. Caterina said she was the best and she was deadly, which were the only two things I cared about.
I pulled my hair into a high ponytail as I made my way to the gym downstairs. Caterina and the woman were both sparing on the mats when I stepped inside. When Caterina glanced at me,the woman grabbed her, spinning her and pinning her to the mat.
“Distraction is a fast killer,” she said casually, her Russian accent thick. This woman was gorgeous in an intense, ethereal way with raven black hair and deep, dark blue eyes.
“Fucking hell, Natalya. You cheated.”
Natalya rolled her eyes. “If we were in a fight, you would have died. No distractions.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Caterina grumbled as Natalya helped her up. “Harlow.” She lifted her hand, waiting for me to step forward and grasp it. “I want you to meet Natalya Novikov.”
“Petrov,” she corrected. “I adopted Roman’s name.”
