Page 75 of Corrupted Queen

“That’s a good idea, Silvano,” I say.

And the rest of my men nod in approval.

* * *

It takes my realtor Alice only a few hours to source the perfect property, and within two days the ink is dry and it is mine. Or ours, I should say.

David drives Alexis and me out to the five-bed, four-bath on the other side of the city one sunny afternoon. Harry is with Jessica, and I have arranged my schedule so we have the whole afternoon together. All I have told Alexis is that I have a surprise for her. As David drives slowly through the leafy neighborhood, Alexis looks around suspiciously.

“When you told me about the surprise this morning, I thought you were taking me out for lunch,” she confesses. “I’m beginning to suspect food will not factor into our afternoon.”

I can’t help but smile at the note of disappointment in her voice. “I will make sure you’re fed.”

David stops in front of the house. It’s a Victorian revival, with large bay windows stacked on both floors, overlooking the verdant green lawn. It looks normal, which, to me, means it looks vulnerable. I can already tell that to Alexis, it looks like a dream come true.

“What am I looking at?” she asks.

“You’re looking at our new home,” I tell her.

“What?” Alexis’ mouth drops open.

David opens the door for us, and Alexis hops out but doesn’t approach the house, almost like she’s afraid to. I get out behind her and wrap my arm around her shoulders.

“I thought you’d be jiggling the front door handle by now,” I joke.

Alexis shakes her head in disbelief. “It’s so ... normal.”

I decide that to preserve the façade of normalcy, I won’t yet tell her that I purchased the houses on either side for security purposes. She looks up and down the tree-lined avenue. A copper leaf twirls and falls to the ground in front of us. The buzzing of a distant lawn mower hums through the air.

She looks up at me, cupid’s bow lips pressed together and brow furrowed in something like concern. “Is this for us to like ... live in?”

“No, it’s for us to conduct cult sacrifices in,” I deadpan.

Alexis’ lips split wide. “Was that a joke, Mr. Belluci?”

“Do you want to see the inside of the house or not?” I cock a brow.

Alexis laughs and clasps my hand, tugging me toward the house excitedly. We climb the creaking wooden porch, and I press the key into her palm.

I cannot remember the last time I saw Alexis this happy, and it’s intoxicating. Her sea-blue eyes are lit from within, her creamy skin practically glowing. She grins and takes the key, unlocking the door and then pushing it open. But she doesn’t enter right away. She stands on the porch, her smile faltering only a touch, as if worried that a different world exists beyond the threshold, and if she steps beyond, she may not get to return again.

Then she bounds into the house.

I enter behind her and follow with long strides as she darts from room to room, marveling at the modern kitchen and the roomy lounge. I catch up with her in the family-sized dining room, where she is staring through the large crescent window at the sprawling backyard.

“There’s enough room for a trampoline,” I prompt.

Alexis’ chin drops in horror. “We are not getting a trampoline.”

“Why not?” I chuckle.

“They’re way too dangerous.”

Neither one of us acknowledges the elephant in the room—that mortal peril is already a constant companion of our lifestyle—but we share a secret smile.

“Come on,” I say, guiding her toward the stairs. “Let’s go see our new room.”

I slide my hand over the wooden bannister as we climb the stairs to the second floor. The stairway twists and goes up again from there, and Alexis stares at the closed door at the top.

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