Page 20 of Merciless Queen
“A-Art. I liked to paint and draw. I wanted to be a teacher, but it never happened. I also enjoyed reading, but I haven’t done it in ten years.”
“I’m sorry your life was taken from you, and I will do everything I can to help you heal and move on to what you deserve.”
Caterina slid out of the bed, pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, causing the hem of her t-shirt to ride up over the curve of her butt, giving me a sneak peek. My breath got caught in my lungs as I watched her in awe. She was gorgeous, but ogling her felt wrong.
“Get dressed and meet me downstairs. I need to talk to you before you see Dr. Moore.” I nodded as she left the bedroom.
Therapy.
Sitting in a room for an hour talking to a stranger about the ten years’ worth of trauma I’d endured at the hands of a repulsive man with a sick obsession. Where would I even begin? Thinking about him brought me to panic. His grip was like a vise; even when I was physically away from him, he still had control over me.
I banished it to the depths of my mind for now. Lingering on it would be pointless when I had to confess my trauma like a sinner confessed their sins. The black cami dress was loose on my frail frame as I pulled the floor length cardigan over my arms, securing it tightly around my waist. Elizabeth brought a lot of her old clothes to my room while I was asleep. It was still hard believing she was real and alive after seeing those pictures Vincenzo showed me. When I woke up and saw her striking blue eyes, I surely thought I was dead.
When I finally descended to the kitchen, Elizabeth was in a man’s lap, giggling and so full of life. He was handsome with a scar across his face and golden-brown eyes. This man looked at Elizabeth like she was the only girl in the world. Caterina was at the coffee pot, making a fresh cup as she talked with Antonio. She changed into black pants and a flowy, red button up shirt.
I shuffled into the kitchen, making my presence known as I took a seat across from Elizabeth and the man. She beamed up at me, her focus on me. “Good morning, Harlow.”
“Morning.”
“Harlow, this is Luca. He is my boyfriend.”
Caterina scoffed, but not in a hateful manner. “Just introduce him as your husband. We all know you two will get married within the next year.”
Luca glared at Caterina, but gave me a gentle smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Harlow.”
I gave them a meek smile. There were too many people in here, but Lizzy was here. “Happy?” I asked Lizzy instead.
Lizzy kissed him gently. “Very happy. It took a long time, but he is the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”
“Get a room,” someone barked out as they walked into the kitchen. It was the older woman who was terrifying. “Good morning, Caterina.”
Caterina grunted. “Moira, haven’t I told you to call me Cat? Everyone else does.”
“No one else raised you or changed your diapers. I will call you the name your mother gave you, not a nickname,” she grumbled, but said nothing more to the woman before she turned to face me. “Good morning. You look better than you did yesterday.”
I shrugged. “Accept it, dear.”I nodded and she let it go. Moira was terrifying in a good way. She was not the type of person I would be scared of if I ran into her on the street, but she invoked a sense of both reverence and unease, her words sharp and demanding, but never devoid of compassion.
Caterina stepped next to me, and I looked up at her. “While Antonio prepares your breakfast, can you step outside with me, please?” I nodded, scooting from the chair and walking with her to the back patio.
The view was gorgeous, with acres of trees and a beautiful garden. The garden stretched out in a harmonious blend of natural beauty. Nature was always my favorite muse when I would paint. Something about capturing the natural beauty and incorporating the colors into my canvas was invigorating. The vibrant greens of a forest, colorful tones of reds and pinks for flowers, and rich, earthy tones of autumn leaves. Nature spoke to me, and I loved turning that conversation into art.
The thought of holding a paintbrush or trying to create something beautiful terrified me. It was an odd feeling when I loved it, but everything I loved was ripped from my hands in an instant. I didn’t want to live in fear, but fear had been my only stability for the last decade.
Feeling despair taking hold of me, I changed the subject, focusing on Caterina and why she needed to speak with me. “What is it?” I asked.
“I know how I am going to protect you from Vincenzo.”
“How?”
She pulled out a velvet box and my breath faltered. “Youwillmarry me.”
I looked back at her slowly. “Is that a question or a demand?”
She smiled, but it wasn’t a true one, and it sent a chill down my spine. “It’s a fact. You will become my wife and in return, I will keep you safe.”
An ultimatum. My safety and protection from Vincenzo for…marriage? Was that all she wanted? “This isn’t a deal,” I muttered quietly. “It’s a gilded cage.”
“A cage that no one can break into. This is how I keep you safe. My name will protect you, and you will have everything you never had before.”
