His Stolen Princess - MINK Page 0,1

was our dad took our mom with him. I wouldn't let Carter take me with him. I’d made it out of that lifestyle. It hadn’t been easy, but I’d done it.

I stop when I get to him, his body so still, his face so pale. I reach out and place my hand on his suit. “Even dead you look handsome, but you knew you would. Didn’t you?” I can’t remember a time when girls weren’t falling all over him. “I hate you,” I whisper. A tear falls and hits his motionless cheek. “But I’ll always love you. Tell Mommy I miss her.” I place my hand on his, needing to touch him one last time as I say my final goodbye. But his skin is cold and hard. I put my hand to my mouth to muffle the sob.

I step back quickly and run into someone. They grab me to keep me from falling. “Sorry.” I turn to see the man from outside standing there. I steady myself, and he drops his hands and gives me space. Everyone in the church is sitting now except the three men standing a few feet behind the dark-eyed man from the steps.

“Apollonia.” He’s not asking if it’s my name. He knows it.

I give a weak smile and try to step around him. There’s nothing to say to anyone here. These people might have been my brother's friends, but they mean nothing to me. They may be who he called his family, but they aren’t mine. They are a part of this world and contributed to his death. I have nothing to say to any of them. They should be in the casket with him. “Your brother—”

“Is dead.”

“Come. Let's speak in private.” He reaches for my elbow. I hold my hands up, stepping back again, bumping against the casket.

“Don’t touch me,” I say loud enough to draw attention, but no one looks our way. Only the three shadows behind the man.

He drops his hand. “I’m Cato.”

I lunge forward before I know I’m doing it. I slap him hard across his impeccable face, my palm stinging as though it’s on fire. He pushes me back. I close my eyes and expect to be hit.

“Don’t!” he shouts.

My eyes fly open to see his back is to me and he’s talking to the men. “Stand down.” They don’t look like they want to listen to him, but they do as they’re told. Of course they do.

“I’m sorry,” he starts again.

I don’t want his apology. That’s the last thing I want from him.

I throw myself at him with all my might. I pound my fists into his chest. I don’t even know what I scream, but I know I do. My throat burns from it. My knees give out, and my hands throb in pain. I close my eyes and let go.

I am truly alone in this world.

2

Cato

She sleeps as my helicopter takes off and flies us over the golden fields of semolina and into the rolling hills of Tuscany. Days of travel have taken their toll on her. A quick rummage through her small bag reveals nothing more than a passport, a few euro and the pack of cigarettes with only one smoke missing.

I take her passport and the cigarettes, then slip them into my pocket as we fly over the hills and farms. The scenery is beautiful. But I keep looking at the girl sleeping with her head in my lap.

I knew Carter had a sister. After all, I knew the story of his family well. The violence that took the lives of his parents. But I didn’t know Apollonia had run. Carter was the only member of the Simonetti family I needed. He was the one with the ability to kill without remorse, to protect me at all costs, and to stay by my side when shit hit the fan.

I run my fingers through her dark hair. So soft. Softer than anything I’ve ever felt. She’s like a cat. A lioness, one who tried to use her claws on me at the funeral. She may have left her family ties behind, but she’s still a Simonetti. Their greatness runs in her veins. Their lust for vengeance punctuated with each blow she landed on me.

“Where have you been, little lioness?” I ask her, though nothing can be heard over the helicopter engine.

“Can we drop her?” Santino asks, his eyes narrowed on the beauty asleep in my lap.

My temper flares—a rarity for me—but I keep it in