Page 63 of Savage Little Queen

“I’m OK,” I answered as she slid the plate in front of me before pouring me a glass of orange juice and placing it by my plate.

“And the babies?” Her green eyes darted to my stomach and back to my face, her brows crinkled in worry.

Cole told me how they’d lost their baby. It broke my damn heart. She seemed incredibly sweet. To think she’d gone through that sort of horrible loss made my heart ache for her.

“Fine. My doctor says everything is good.” I took a bite of the pancakes. They were just as amazing as they looked. I wondered if Dominic and the guys had tried her cooking. She was phenomenal.

“Oh, that’s awesome. I was so worried.” She settled into the chair next to mine after grabbing herself something to eat. “Everything else OK?”

I nodded and swallowed quickly. “Yeah. I guess. I mean, everything seems so. . . unreal.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. “I know. I’ve been there before. You’re not alone in any of this, just so you know. If you need anything, I’m here.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling at her. She really was a sweetheart.

I cleared my throat. “I heard you’re a singer.”

She gave me a quick smile before swallowing her food. “I’m trying to be. It takes me away from all this madness, but honestly, it’s never far enough.”

“You don’t like this life?” I asked.

She shook her head and sighed. “I love my guys. I hate this life. Like, I loathe it. I’m just hoping maybe one day I’ll wake up, and this will have all been a nightmare, and Enzo will just be an accountant or something.” She let out a sad laugh. “When I told him that, he told me in another life that maybe he would have been, but this is our life, and I must get used to it.”

“Dream killer,” I muttered.

She grew quiet at my words. “Can I tell you something, and you won’t tell Enzo?”

I nodded and looked at her. So much turmoil was on her face that it made my stomach clench.

“I don’t have anyone to talk to about this stuff. A female who is in the same situation, at least. I-I worry that my dreams really will die with me here.”

“You think this life will kill you?” I whispered, putting my fork down.

She nodded, her eyes glistening. “Or take one of them from me.”

My hands shook. “I-I have the same fear.”

A tear trickled from her eye before we were giving each other a hug. Rosalie and I were the same, it seemed. Both stuck in situations we didn’t want with men we loved. She’d already lost a lot already, starting with her and Cole’s baby.

The thought made me hurt so much more inside. If I lost my babies, it would gut me. How Rosalie got up each day made me realize just how strong I’d have to be to survive in this world.

The fact that the horsemen were her guys just made me realize her strength. I said so as we broke apart.

She wiped quickly at her eyes. “I could say the same thing about you. The kings? Talk about intimidating. And five of them?” Her green eyes widened.

I shrugged and gave her a quick smile. “You have Cole.”

She let out a laugh. “He definitely could count as two.”

“I heard my name.” Cole came into the room and swooped down on Rosalie, his lips meeting hers in a sweet kiss before he took her fork from her and began eating from her plate.

“You smelled food,” she said, grinning at him.

His blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at her. “You know me too well, Rosebud.”

I watched as they spoke to each other. As he touched her. Kissed her. Cole was a completely different person with her. He was soft and gentle. Kind. Caring. Not at all like the monster I had known.

It made me realize we all wore masks to get through this life.

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