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Chapter 171
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Claiming His Queen Chapter 172
"...Dario is here, Lily." Alessia flung the towel on the counter, "Anabelle remains, so we wait."Her excitement was apparent in how she paced and exclaimed every high note.Once in a while, when it nears the festive season, Alessia finds herself filled with the holiday spirit, and the worst happens: she calls close friends and family for dinner, and while they eat, we sweated it out.On New Year's Eve, we were lucky to have Rune and still would this easter if I had a way to reach him, but not only did I have no idea where he was, I was also getting scared.This time, not many people were coming over, just Anabelle and Dario, and if Claudine decided to sit quietly, maybe she would.I smiled, shaking my head, withholding from reminding her that she and Dario were divorced.The hustling and bustling in the kitchen were beginning to slow down as the only thing remaining was the cranberry cake chugging in the oven.On a typical day, I would have my throat filled with moans, pouring out at
Claiming His Queen Chapter 173
Dinner was uneventful, not in the sense of the word, for my heart still pounded, thoughts went wild, and every forkful shoved in my mouth felt like ash, all in anticipation of what he was here for and what he was about to do.Alessia had gone to get Dario from the alleged restroom, and now that they were here, it was hard not to notice Dario watching Adler closely as he exchanged with Claudine.So far, it seemed they were the only ones having fun, them and an ignorant Cade who laughed at their jokes, warmth on his face for a man about to do what he did best on their first meeting. Adler."You're good with kids," Cade spoke up, breaking the silence in the room, "Claudine could be a golden retriever, but only to a handful of people, and that's all I need to know."Alessia laughed nervously, sending our gaze to her, "Oh, it's not that serious.""I grew up around that attribute as a kid." Cade swallowed his food and finished, "Claudine is a mini version of you, Alessia.""I was calm." Sh
Claiming His Queen Chapter 174
Although he whispered, it echoed in my ears, leaving me frozen in my spot, wondering if what I heard was false and if this was just another dream I had weaved in my subconscious."Don't just stand and stare." he closed the gap between us, "I don't care about anything as long as it's close to you; what do you want? white picket fence? A house in the woods? A barn or a library?" he caught his breath, "I only want you Lily, just you."I could feel his hands creeping up to my face, cupping my chin, "We could live here, away from the heat of Italy. Want more kids? We'll make them. I've lived all of my life for you, every bit of it since the day you left me bleeding."My eyes filling wasn't the reaction I wanted nor expected, the knot tightening in my stomach and chest, the sting in my palm, and the heaviness in my throat.He interlocked his fingers with mine, raising to his face and pressing his lips against my knuckles. "I can't live one more week without you. You complete me, Lily. You s
Claiming His Queen Chapter 175
LILYThe men glared at me; the impatience on their countenance despite not saying anything was enough screams of their displeasure, and I understood why. It was almost half an hour waiting for me to make a decision."Ma'am, are we taking the boxes in or not?"I never knew a man who wouldn't back down until he got what he wanted, and Adler knowing me like the back of his palms wasn't an easy feat for me.Outside the library, I gazed at the stacks of boxes on the trucks, each filled to the brim with books I had a clue were from the manor.I couldn't believe that he brought all of this to me. Despite pushing him away, he came back with as much force, making it harder for me to repeat myself word for word.He was bringing Italy to me without the tension and darkness. How could he go through all of this trouble, making me feel him despite his absence?Two days since he caused that scene in Alessia's, two days since he jumped down my window, and two days since I set my eyes on him. I veered
Claiming His Queen Chapter 176
Tugging at my pajama waistband, I looked around at the dimly lit room. It was evening, and I was already back from the library, already in woolen pajamas and ready for a quiet evening with my thoughts.A few hours ago, I was at the Cafe with Cade, and he didn't mince words. He spoke without reservations, letting everything out.I stayed quiet, watching him try to pull his emotions together. Emotions that mainly consisted of frustration and puzzlement gave me the idea that it wasn't long ago that Dario broke the news to him.“You're still in love with him, Lily, as much as you don't want to be and maybe just as much as you want to stay dead.”Clasping my hand in front of me, I asked, “Does Alessia know about this?”“No, not yet, Dario emphasized on not telling her.” looking at me one last time, Cade picked up my hands and pressed his lips on my knuckles. “I will miss you. A lot.”Then he dropped it back and left the table. And I continued to stare ahead, seeing blurs and drowning in th
Claiming His Queen Chapter 177
SALVATORE"...What do you think you're doing?"He fought off a groan at the sound of Kyra's voice at the doorway as he pulled the last-pressed shirt from the wardrobe. Veering around, he threw it into the filled box and finally pinned her with his eyes."Hello, Kyra, you look stressed." As she entered the room, her gaze shifted from the box to him, his fingers busy with the buttons of his white button-down shirt. "Perhaps it's because I'm shouldering the workload of four people?" she pondered aloud, then queried, "And I did ask: What exactly do you think you're doing?""Leaving? Is that a word you're accustomed to?" He gestured lazily with his chin, "Were you intentionally dipped in blood?"Observing the state of her wrapped knuckles, he discerned the answers without words. Kyra had succumbed to rage again, and he was certain whoever set her off lay elsewhere.Surveying the havoc she wrought upon his floor, he couldn't help but frown.A couple of weeks since Adler had jilted them, a
Claiming His Queen Chapter 178
LILYThe noise of glass shattering to bits had my lids snapping open, and as I reached out to touch Adler, my heart thudded wildly, seeing I was alone.I touched his side of the bed and found it still warm. At the same time, another crash hit my ears, sending me scrambling out of bed and yanking open drawers, looking for the pistol I knew he always had with him.When I found it sitting pretty in the bedside table drawer, my hands trembled as I grabbed it, feeling the weight of its familiarity. Memories seared into my thoughts, **'Right?"****"Right..."**I gasped and swallowed, feeling the urge to throw the weapon out the window and fling myself into harm's way, but then—a couple of gunshots echoed through the house, and loud grunts reached my ear—Adler was there.Cold fear rippled down my spine as I flung open the door, the chaos downstairs growing louder, making it hard to breathe. With my finger on the trigger, I prepared for my second kill.But reaching the top of the stairs, I
Claiming His Queen Chapter 179
ADLER The annoyance of being unable to retaliate against Rune, knowing Lily was watching, only intensified the ache of his wound.Adler held the end of the bandage with his teeth, positioning the length over the slash that had taken a long time to cease bleeding despite bathing it with alcohol. His rage doubled.And the way she fused over Rune, ignoring that he was practically bleeding to death, was just so unfair. Rune pressed the gun to his head first and would have left him half dead if Adler hadn't pulled a fast one on him; now, he was the bad guy while Rune soaked in all of her attention.What if he saved her and hid her? He wouldn't have gotten an opportunity if he hadn't made that grave mistake, but the deed was done. The bandage slipped from the slash and his grip. He was about cursing under his breath when he heard her call from the door, "You need help?"Looking up to find her arms crossed on her chest, his annoyance trickled away, and in its place, he fawned; so what if R
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Claiming His Queen Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER**RUNE—KYRA**"...I'm just saying it's not fair Laron gets to spend the summer break with Luigi," Rune followed Kyra to Laron's wardrobe. "Luigi gets all of his weekends. What time do I get to have?"Kyra snatched Rune's equestrian leggings and walked back to the bed. "You're exaggerating again." She folded the leggings and tucked them into Laron's nearly overflowing box before turning to him. "You gave him the go-ahead, remember?""Yeah, but that was before I realized it was for a whole month. He's monopolizing all of Laron's free time," Rune sighed, flopping onto Laron's bed dramatically. "I just miss hanging out with my son, you know?"She stayed silent, and when he looked up, she was staring at him."Why?""Well," she zipped the bag close and walked up to him, "why does it seem like you haven't learned how to tell Laron no?"Rune frowned. "What are you saying? I tell him no all the time.""No, you don't." She straddled him, placing her hand flat on his chest. "Alri
Claiming His Queen Chapter 240
ADLERWhen he reached the Villa, the memories came hurling in. The last time he had been here, under that open shed, Larissa and Dimitri were having the time of their lives.He could still remember the lively evening, how he heard the chatters as soon as he parked, looking around him at the goons on every turn.Presently there was no single soul on this premises, but Adler knew better.Parking Kyra's motorcycle right in the center of the compound, he observed the house, its windows, all dark, except one of them, on the ground floor, the orange glow giving it an eerie touch.The gun firm in his left hand, Adler moved through the shadows, the moonlight his aid as he advanced headfirst through the entrance.Maneuvering his way through doors, following the orange glow, he placed his finger readily on the trigger, listening for a sound.But nothing came, just the faint silence.He felt it was coming to this, watching his opponent spiral down a rabbit hole as he struggled with the obsession
Claiming His Queen 239
ADLER**FOUR MONTHS AGO**He could hear the elevator go down and for the first time in his life since the afternoon his mother died, he wanted to drop to his knees and give it all up.It was over. The wet towel seemed to burn against his skin, the wet towel over his head was now hot lava, and the metal around his finger was rapidly heating up and cutting off his circulation.He couldn't make it, there was no use trying, for what he had done, this was well-deserved, two hells in one lifetime, he dared anyone to beat that?But Lily? His mind tugged. What about Lily? The thought that he was never going to see her again was too great a loss to take without trying.Adler rose.Then came the beam, whirling down and landing on where his lower legs were supposed to have been if he hadn't rolled over just in time, his palm flattened on the hot ground.Holy fuck! He snapped it back to himself and hastily yanked out the hot ring, hoping to save it but then kicked against the idea when the band s
Claiming His Queen Chapter 238
SALVATORESalvatore stirred, his lids opening as he gradually regained consciousness, eyes meeting the bright lights of the chandeliers above him.His head felt like a shattered egg, memories mangled and hitting him piece by piece, as the familiar aura registered. He was still in the manor, he could tell, but where exactly?The wails of a baby had his eyes snapping fully open, and Salvatore was sitting up in a jolt. The pain that went through him was like torrents, his head felt heavy, and the world around him seemed to spin."Hey look, our main guest is awake," Victor's taunts clouded his ears. "Christ, don't go back to sleep again, we've been waiting."Salvatore struggled to his feet, the sight before him sending his heart thudding.Victor sat on a settee, crossed-legged, with Eva beside him, hair stuck to her wet face, and her red-rimmed eyes staring forward, the hopelessness in them so obvious.If Constance's cries came from the crib, next to a goon, then where was Lily? He turne
Claiming His Queen 237
RUNERune could taste the blood that coated his mouth. Still, he gritted his teeth, refusing to let the cries out. With his hands held back, the old man pounded his fist into his abdomen unrelentingly.The pain was excruciating, each blow sending shockwaves through his body. Rune's vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay conscious, to keep thinking.There was no way out of this, he knew. They were behind closed doors, in a room that smelled like dust and cobwebs; no one could hear him here.Well, no one except Laron, whom he constantly ordered to shut his eyes. The boy stood before the second goon, eyes shut, yet tears still rolled down his face.Every sniffle he heard from Laron cut through like a knife, and he wished he could do something, be the super dad Laron believed in, but right now the only thing he could do was stare at the floor."Had enough?" the old man sneered, his knuckles smeared with Rune's blood. "I thought to make this easier on you, but..." He grabbed a handf
Claiming His Queen Chapter 236
SALVATORE"...What did you use this time?" Salvatore asked, slamming the booth shut. "Will they live?"Rune blinked, staring wide-eyed at him. "You wanted them to live?"Kyra's head shot up from the driver's seat. "What did you do?"Rune chuckled, raising both hands in mock surrender. "I'm kidding. The soldiers are alive. They'll feel some type of way tomorrow, but that's just Ketamine for ya."Salvatore fought the urge to pull out a pistol and aim at the fucker's right leg. This wasn't the time to be stupid; tension was high, and it was D-day.Just like Rune had promised, the compound had few goons, and they also seemed to be in panic. It would be this way until they got out of this godforsaken place."The back gate is empty," Rune whispered as he walked up to Kyra, cupping her face with both hands and kissing her full on the lips. "See you on the other side in a few minutes, Princess."But she drew him back in. Urgh, Salvatore groaned and turned away. Those two behaved like they wer
Claiming His Queen Chapter 235
SALVATORE"...There's been another attack." Victor inhaled the smoke from the lit end of his cigar. "It happened at the same time as the fire yesterday. Ruslan is finally convinced of my innocence."Salvatore shared a glance with Kyra and then back at Victor. Was he actually saying the fire he had started to disrupt the engagement and that had somehow gotten out of hand was connected with an attack?Quietly wincing as the cloth grazed his partially burnt arm, Salvatore returned his gaze to Victor, who was suddenly deep in thought."I'll be gone again," Victor waved away the smoke, "but this time for a few days. Again, Salvatore will stay behind. I wish it didn't have to be so, but I need someone I can trust to keep Eva safe."He resisted the urge to share another glance with his sister. Even though he couldn't read anything on her straight countenance, he knew she was still mad at him."Can you?" Victor asked. "I can easily put her under Kyra's care. Give my father's favorite princess
Claiming His Queen Chapter 234
EVASince Victor came back, he had been so busy he barely found time to see her. The days seemed even more void, the future gloomy. Hiding away in the confines of this room, she listened to the sound of the chapter of her life closing.Now she climbed down the bed, went to her wardrobe, and crouching to her knees, pulled open a compartment and brought out a small wooden box. It had been months since she last looked at its contents, afraid it would bring back unwanted memories and reignite her obsession with him, but here she was.Eva looked behind her at the door, then back at the box. Taking a deep breath, she flipped open the cover, staring absently at the contents inside a little beaded necklace that held a crucifix. His crucifix.She had sunk so low as to steal a part of him while he slept. She doubted he ever searched for it. If he did, he’d know it was missing and no longer in the pretty house that smelled of him.She struggled, praying for the embarrassment to wash over her so
Claiming His Queen Chapter 233
LILY"I was six when I discovered that the convent sisters who came once a week to take children from the orphanage were anything but angels," Ruslan said, rocking my daughter's cradle. "It became clear why the boys never came back, and the girls who did barely lived."Twenty minutes ago, I had laid my sleeping daughter in her crib and rushed into the bathroom for a quick soak, despite knowing she wouldn't stir.Two seconds ago, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around my chest and damp hair still dripping, only to see Ruslan standing over Constance's crib and staring at her.Even though he didn't touch her, my racing pulse refused to die down.But he paid no heed to my presence and continued, "They needed us in a coal mine in this little spot in Serbia." He paused, his gaze remote. "Our starved, wiry, agile bodies were the perfect fit for narrow spaces, running errands, and sometimes checking if the explosives had completed their work."My hawk-like eyes on Constance made it
