Page 332 of Reign

“We couldn’t stay here forever, princesa.”

“I know that.”

“Your brothers are going to demand an explanation. I intend to give them one.”

“What explanation?” I ask. “We disappeared because we wanted to date without supervision?”

His expression changes.

“This is more than dating, Elena, and you know that.”

The words hit hard.

He holds my gaze. “Your brothers will learn it too.”

I look down before he can see how thoroughly that sentence affected me, though hiding anything is difficult when I’m lying naked across his body.

My fingers resume their wandering patterns over his chest.

“So, tomorrow’s meeting is only paperwork?”

“Mostly.”

“You’re not planning to hurt, torture, or maim anyone?”

A laugh moves through him beneath my ear.

I smile before I can stop myself. I love his laugh. He doesn’t give it away often, but when he does, I feel it through his chest before I hear it.

“Why would I do any of those things tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you have a schedule.”

“A schedule?”

“A kill shed. A basement. A separate building somewhere that needs to be aired out between victims.”

His laughter deepens.

I lift my head. “What? I’m serious.”

“I know you are. That’s why it’s funny.”

“You run a cartel.”

“I’m aware.”

“My brothers have designated places for these things.”

“I’m not like your brothers. I don’t have designated kill stations.”

“Santo had a deprivation chamber built in his basement recently.”

Luciano’s eyebrows rise. “Did he?”

“Yes.”

“That could be useful.”