Page 2 of The Empress
It never passes. Every day, it’s a battle for Dad to stay at the top of the food chain.
“I’ll crash here for a couple of days,” I say to put him at ease.
Diago is like a brother to me. When we met on our first day of school, we instantly became best friends, and after ten years, our bond is unbreakable.
Honestly, I spend more time here than at my own house.
He glances down at the drops of blood on my shirt. “You can wear my clothes.”
“Thanks.” Our eyes meet for a moment before we head to his bedroom. I grab the first T-shirt I lay eyes on and change out of the dirty one. “I’m going to tuck Carina in.”
“Okay.” Diego drops down on his king-sized bed and picks up his phone.
I walk to Carina’s bedroom, and when I step inside, a happy smile spreads over her face. Everything in her room is pink because she’s obsessed with the color.
Taking a seat on the side of the bed, I stare down at her innocent face, a dimple peeking in her left cheek.
She takes hold of my hand with both her tiny ones. “Does it hurt?”
I shake my head. “Not at all.”
“Because you’re strong, right?” she asks. When I nod, she gives me a pleading expression and whispers, “Look under my bed.”
I chuckle as I crouch beside the bed and pretend to search for monsters. Once I’m done, I sit down next to her again. “No monsters.”
Carina moves onto her knees and inspects my lip before she presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. “There. Now it’s all better.”
I give her a lopsided smile. “Come on. Get under the covers.”
“I want to sleep by you and Diego,” she complains.
Shaking my head, I pull the covers back. “You’re a big girl who should sleep in your own bed.”
Giving me a disgruntled look, she sulks as she lies down again. I pull the covers over her and tuck her in. She grips hold of Bella, her stuffed unicorn, and pouts at me. “Please, Leo.”
“I’ll stay with you for five minutes, but then you have to go to sleep,” I try to bargain with her.
Not looking happy, she mutters, “Finnnneeee.”
I bring my hand to her head and brush my fingers through her silky-soft brown strands. “Smile for me.”
Her lips curve up, and the dimple I love so much appears again. It disappears too soon, and she gives me a worried look. “Why does your daddy keep hurting you?”
“Are you eavesdropping again?” I say, playfully narrowing my eyes. She shakes her head, and knowing she’ll just keep asking until I answer, I whisper, “Sometimes people do bad things they don’t really mean.”
Carina’s bottom lip juts out again. “I don’t like when he hurts you.” Once again, she climbs out from under the covers. Her arms circle my neck, and she squeezes me tightly. “You can live here with us because I love you and I’ll never hurt you.”
I wrap my arms around her tiny body and soak in the comfort she’s giving me.
“I love you too,stellina mia.”
“Bedtime,” Mrs. Messina says softly from the doorway.
I let go of Carina and tuck her in again. Leaning over her, I press a kiss to her forehead and murmur, “Sweet dreams.”
“You too,” she whispers as I climb to my feet.
When I step out into the hallway, Mrs. Messina pulls the door partially shut before giving me a worried look, her eyes locking on my busted lip. “Oh, Leo.” She lifts her arms and pulls me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, my boy.”
