Page 305 of Reign

“It’s a house.”

“No. Houses don’t have courtyards full of orchids.”

He pulls beneath the covered entrance and stops the car.

I’m out before he turns off the engine.

“Princesa.”

I close the door and hurry toward the front steps.

“Elena, wait.”

Two guards stand near the entrance, with several more stationed between the gate and the house.

I look back at Luciano as he gets out of the car.

“Oh, so this is where all your guards live.”

“They don’t live here.”

“They’re everywhere.”

“They’re more prevalent here.”

“Why?”

He walks toward me, his jacket draped over one arm.

“Because this is where most of my operations are based.”

“So this is cartel central.”

“No.”

“Liar.”

His hand settles against my lower back as we reach the entrance.

One of the guards opens the door.

I step inside and stop.

The floors are marble.

Cream-colored marble stretches through an entryway large enough to have its own weather system. Sunlight pours through enormous windows, reflecting off polished floors and climbing the walls toward ceilings so high I have to tilt my head back to see them.

A double staircase curves upward on both sides of the foyer.

I stare.

Luciano comes to a stop behind me.

“You have a double staircase.”

“I do.”

“A double staircase.”