Page 359 of Reign

“I can.”

“No, you can’t.” More tears gather in her eyes. “You don’t know what could happen. You can’t guarantee that, Luciano.”

I wipe a tear from beneath her eye.

Then another.

“Elena, look at me.”

“I am looking at you.”

“Look at me.”

Her eyes settle fully on mine.

“No matter what happens, I will find my way back to you.”

Her eyes soften. “You’re impossible.”

“Then I’ll spend every day proving it to you.”

I brush my thumbs beneath her eyes one last time, then let my hands fall from her face and settle on her knees.

A shaky laugh slips out of her. She wipes both cheeks, smearing away the tears as though embarrassed they were ever there.

“Okay, enough of that. Sad talk is over now.”

I study her face. “Is that how it works?”

“Yes.” She nods decisively. “Can we eat berries?”

A laugh leaves me, warm and helpless.

Only Elena could open an old wound beneath the Florida sun, place her heart in my hands, then decide berries are the appropriate conclusion.

I lean forward and kiss her tear-wet lips.

“Yes, princesa.”

“I’ll feed you your berries.”

Chapter 51

Luciano

Elena is nervous.

She hates being nervous.

I know because she’s been irritated with herself since the pilot announced our descent, tapping her fingers against the armrest and pretending she isn’t watching me every few minutes.

She hasn’t asked what I intend to say to Angelo.

She has asked how angry I think he’ll be six times.

The answer hasn’t changed.

Very.