Page 65 of Daddy's Reluctant Queen

Whatever we are, however Titus feels about me, I know he loves Luka more than life. And he will move heaven and earth to keep him safe. I should honor that. Especially now.

I go to his room and knock. After a few seconds, I hear the patter of his feet. “Sofia?”

“Yeah. Can I come in?”

“One second.” More pattering, then the sound of the lock jiggling. He manages to pick the lock quickly and the door clicks open. At this rate, I think it would probably be better if Titus just gave him a key.

I walk into his room and he bounces over to his bed. “I was hoping you’d come by for breakfast. Sorry, I already ate mine, though.”

“It’s okay,” I say. “I just wanted to come in here to check on you. How are you doing?”

He shrugs. “Wish I could go outside. I miss my friends.”

“Yeah,” I say as I sit next to him on the bed. “You’ll be able to go out again soon.”

“How soon?”

“Well,” I sigh. “Honestly, kiddo, it’s going to be a minute. Your father is dealing with some heavy stuff right now. That’s why he asked you to stay in your room for now.”

“What stuff?” he asks. “Maybe you can help him finish whatever it is.”

I shrug slightly. “I did ask him.”

“What did he say?”

I look at him, this little boy with butter blond curls and big blue eyes. He doesn’t know anything about the life that we’re all living. He won’t have any idea how hard it is until he’s older. I hope that day doesn’t come for a very, very long time.

“He told me,” I say, “That he wants me to hang out with you until he’s done with the thing he’s got to do.”

Luka frowns a little, then, “Do you know what he’s doing that’s so important?”

I nod.

“What is it?”

“Sorry. I was sworn to secrecy.”

Luka rolls his eyes. “Lame.”

“Hey, if you asked me to keep one of your secrets, it’d be pretty lame if I ran around telling anyone who asked, right?”

He sighs. “Right. Okay, not lame.”

I smile and ruffle his hair. “Come on,” I say. “Let’s play a board game.”

His face splits into a smile and he jumps up, rushing over to his closet. “That’s a good idea, Sofia.”

It is. For now, anyway.

22

TITUS

Last night, I dreamed about Sofia.

Weirdly enough, it wasn’t a sex dream. She was standing in a field of flowers, holding Luka’s hand, tears streaked down her face.

She wasn’t talking. The wind was whipping around her, lifting up the white dress she was wearing and taking her long, dark hair with it as it blew to the east.