Unassuming Queen (Valentino Empire #2), page 1
Unassuming Queen
Valentino Empire, Book 2
Kylie Kent
Contents
Front Matter
Front matter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Afterword
Also by Kylie Kent
Acknowledgments
About Kylie Kent
Unassuming Queen
KYLIE KENT
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Copyright ©2022 by Kylie Kent
Ebook ISBN 13: 780645257250
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-922816-02-3
Cover illustration by
Stacy Garcia - Graphics By Stacy
Editing services provided by
Kat Pagan – https://www.facebook.com/PaganProofreading
This book contains scenes of sexual acts, profanity, and violence. If any of these are triggers for you, you should consider skipping this read.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
To Reilly, my very own unassuming queen. You are literally the best thing since sliced bread.
Thank you for always making me laugh, for always being willing to talk plots with me, and for giving me endless content and ideas I will never consider using. But most of all, thank you for being the best friend a girl could ask for.
Chapter One
“Ti voglio bene. Tornerò appena posso. Don’t forget, Holly.” I wake with a jolt as T’s voice whispers in my ear.
“T?” I question into the darkness, getting no response. It’s been the same routine for the past three nights. I’m wearing one of his shirts, I have one of his suit jackets wrapped around me like a blanket, and I’m sleeping on the chair. Because I can’t for the life of me get into the bed, knowing he won’t be joining me. “When?” I yell into the emptiness. “When the hell are you coming back?” I pick up the glass of wine I left on the table next to me and throw it against the wall.
I’ve never endured a pain like this. I thought I knew grief after my brother died, but this is so much worse. It’s like a part of me is dead too. I feel dead. I don’t want to live a life where T doesn’t exist. How can this happen? We’ve only had weeks together. This is not how our story was meant to end. How can someone you’ve known for such a short period of time seep so far into your soul that you’re left with nothing but shattered pieces of who you were before them? How am I meant to go on, pretending I’m okay?
I’m not okay. This is not okay.
I need T. He has to come back. He just has to. Or I have to get to him. I know the thoughts running through my head right now are not good, but I can’t live with this pain. And I can’t live without him.
I pick up a piece of glass from the floor. Falling to my knees, I hold the broken shard to my face, staring at the ghost of my reflection. One slice. It would only take one good slice, and I’d be able to see him again.
The door opens in a frenzy, the heavy panel slamming against the wall. “Fuck! Holly, no. Put that fucking down. Now.” Neo rushes over to me, snatching the glass from my fingers. “This is not the fucking answer.”
“I-I-I can’t breathe.” I heave as the tears fall down my face. I don’t even care that he’s seeing me cry. I don’t care about anything anymore. I just need T.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.” Neo picks me up and carries me out of the bedroom. Sitting me on the sofa in the common area, he looks down at me for a moment before lifting me in his arms again, walking into the kitchen, and placing me on the stool at the bench. I let him move me around. What’s it matter? It doesn’t. Nothing does. “I’ll make you some tea.”
“Why is this happening? This wasn’t meant to happen. I need him, Neo. I need him so much.”
“I know, Hol, so do I,” he says as he goes about boiling the kettle. He mumbles something under his breath in Italian, but I don’t catch what he says.
“Ti voglio bene. Tornerò appena posso—what does it mean?” I ask.
Neo’s body freezes, before he takes a deep breath and turns around. “Why?”
“I keep hearing it in my sleep. It’s stupid, I know. But that’s what Theo says in my dream. He said it to me on the phone that day too. I want to know what it means.”
“He said that to you? Fucking idiot.” Neo shakes his head. “You’re far too smart for him, Holly.”
“Don’t say that about him. What does it mean?”
“It means: I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I repeat the words over and over in my head. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Does that mean he’s not really gone? I’ve had this niggling thought—this feeling in my gut—that he wasn’t in that building when it blew up. But if he wasn’t, where the hell is he? And why the bloody hell would he put me through all this pain?
“Here, drink this.” Neo places a steaming cup in front of me. I don’t take it. I don’t want to drink it. I watch as Neo turns his back to me, pulling out his phone and texting someone. He gets an instant reply and curses in Italian; those are the words I’ve picked up on quickly.
I know it’s probably my own wishful thinking, but I can’t help but think he’s texting T. Does he know where he is? What are they up to? The hope that blooms in my chest gives me something. And I need that something—to hold on to it—because it’s this tiny flicker of optimism that will push me forward each day.
I’ll be back as soon as I can. He’s coming back. He has to. “Is he coming back?” I ask the question aloud this time, and Neo pivots to face me.
“No, Hol, he’s not. I’m sorry it’s not the answer you want to hear. But he’s gone.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re hiding something. Wait… did you do this? Did you arrange for him to be in that building when it blew up? You’re his underboss, right? Which means you have a lot to gain with T gone.” I stand and back away.
“What the fuck? No! You think you’re the only one hurting here? Guess what, princess? You’re fucking not. Do you really think I wanna do this? To be stuck babysitting your ass while someone out there is responsible for killing my best fucking friend? No, I fucking don’t. I shouldn’t be here. I should be hunting down the fucker who took him from us.”
“Then why aren’t you?”
“Because of you, Holly. If anything happens to you, T will never fucking forgive me, dead or otherwise.”
“What could possibly happen to me? You need to go and find who did this. I want their bloody head on a spike. I want to see them suffer. I want… I want T back!” I yell.
“We both do. So, tell me, Holly, just what were you planning to do with that piece of glass?” I don’t look at him. I can’t admit that the brief thought of ending it all, ending the pain, crossed my mind. “That’s what I thought. You hurting yourself won’t fix anything, Hol. Promise me you won’t do something that fucking stupid.” Neo stops in front of me, tugging me into an embrace.
It’s not right. These aren’t the arms I need wrapped around me right now. I pull away when there’s a knock at the door. “Are you expecting someone?” I ask.
Neo puts his fingers to his lips, urging me to be quiet. Then he shakes his head, draws a gun, and walks to the door, ushering me along behind him. He glances at his phone before his body relaxes, and he tucks his weapon back into his waistband.
I can’t see who’s there, but I watch as he opens the door and scans up and down the hallway. “Really? Was that necessary?” Neo grunts as he looks to the ground.
“They weren’t gonna let us in?” a rough voice replies—a voice I know very well.
“Bray?” I push Neo aside and am instantly pulled into my sister’s arms. “Rye?” I question. How…? Why are they here?
I thought I already cried as much as I could, but the moment Reilly’s arms are around me, I sob. I sob so hard I can’t stay upright. She’s holding me tight but struggles to bear my weight. “Bray, help,” she says, and the nex
t thing I know, Bray’s carrying me back over to the sofa. “What happened? What the hell? You didn’t fucking tell me she was this bad!” Reilly yells.
“I told you she needed you. I sent a fucking jet to get you here,” Neo counters. “Bray, I need a word.” He nods his head towards the kitchen.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, asshole. But if you ever speak to my wife like that again, there won’t be any body parts for your loved ones to find,” Bray growls.
Oh shit, my brother-in-law is hot-headed when it comes to my sister. They don’t know about T’s family. He doesn’t know who he’s threatening. He may be able to fight, but he’s only one man. Neo literally has a fucking army of soldiers at his beck and call.
Not that that army did any fucking good for Theo… because he’s still gone.
I should tell them, but I can’t. Not yet. Telling them makes it too real. I watch the glare darken Neo’s face as his eyes narrow. He doesn’t like being threatened, but this is the one time I need him to let it go. “Neo, no. They’re family,” I warn.
He glances over to me before smirking. “Sure, boss, whatever you say.” Then he turns and walks towards the kitchen with a confused-looking Bray following close behind.
Chapter Two
“Hol, I get that you really liked this guy, and I can see that you’re hurting. But you will be okay. You can come home with us. It will be okay. You’ll get through this.” Reilly brushes her hands through my hair.
“No, you don’t understand. He wasn’t just some guy I fancied, Rye. I love him. I… he… we got married last week. We were meant to have a lifetime together.” I hold up my left hand, staring at the ring that held so many promises. The future of being his. A future he’s no longer a part of.
Reilly snatches my wrist and drags it up to her face. “What the fuck, Hol? You married him? And you didn’t tell me? Why the bloody hell wouldn’t you tell me? And why would you marry someone you’ve only known for a couple of weeks. This is insane! What the actual fuck?” By the time she finishes her rant, she’s pacing around the room and waving her arms in the air. Reilly is nothing if not overly dramatic.
“I love him. I can’t explain it, but he’s it for me, Reilly. I need him back. I need him to come back. He promised we would have a lifetime of memories together.” My eyes are sore from crying. I can’t do this anymore. I need to escape… I just don’t know how. I need numbness. I need to not feel this anymore.
Bray walks back into the room and stares at me in a way I’ve never seen before. I can’t decipher the look on his face. “Babe, can you go fix Holly a drink in the kitchen? Maybe something to eat too.” He doesn’t look at Reilly but continues to stare at me.
“What? Bray, she bloody married him! She’s married, and we didn’t know. Wait, did you even have a dress? Oh my God, I didn’t get to help pick your dress,” she rambles on.
“We were going to have a big ceremony next year,” I whisper. I hate to admit it, but I was already planning things in my head.
“Babe, food, drink,” Bray says again, snapping Reilly out of her own thoughts.
She glances between me and her husband. “Sure, I’ll get you a sandwich.” I don’t bother to tell her I won’t eat it anyway. I haven’t been able to get much down the last few days.
Bray silently sits down in front of me. “Holly, sweetheart, please, for the love of God, tell me you’re not thinking about hurting yourself. You can’t do that to us. I know you’re hurting right now and you feel like that might be the answer. But it’s not.”
I look behind me. Bloody Neo. Even though I don’t know where he is, I know he told Bray about that little glass incident. “I-I wasn’t. I don’t know. I can’t handle this pain, Bray. I just wanted the pain to stop.”
“I know, sweetheart, but you can’t do that. Think of what it would do to your family. To us. To Reilly.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just… I can’t.”
“Promise me that you’ll talk to me, talk to me if you ever feel like that again. I won’t judge. I will stay with you for as long as it takes. I just need you to not do anything that can’t be undone.”
“Okay. I won’t. It was a passing thought.”
“We’re going to help you get through this, Hol. We will do whatever you need us to do.”
“Thank you,” I choke out. I’m glad my sister has him. He’s probably one of the best people I’ve ever met. He’s loyal, and he’ll do anything for Reilly.
T would have done anything for me too. He said all I had to do was ask. That gives me an idea… All I have to do is ask.
I jump up. Bray watches me as I walk down the hall and head back to the bedroom. I need to find my phone. All I have to do is ask, I repeat the thought.
I’m rummaging through my bag when Neo knocks at my door. I pull out my phone. It’s dead—of course it is. I haven’t bothered to look at it for three days.
“Holly, I need to head out for a few hours. Will you be okay here with your sister and brother-in-law?” My heart stops.
I didn’t realize how much I was leaning on Neo. What if he doesn’t return? “Will—will you come back?” I ask. He has his own home after all. He has his own life, and I’m sure I’ve taken up more of his time than I should.
“Yes, I’ll be back. I’ve had the guest room next to this one made up for your sister. Here, take this.” He holds out a small handgun. “Remember: shoot first, ask questions later. If need be… But if anything happens, you know where to go.”
I look to the closet. There’s a safe room at the back. T made sure I knew how to access it. “Why would I need this?” I ask.
“You won’t. It’s a precaution. You’re the queen of the Valentino family, Holly. Don’t forget that. You bow down to no one. Ever.”
I shake my head. What’s a queen without her king? Right now? Vengeful—that’s what she is. “Are you going to look for whoever did this?” I ask.
“Yes. I gotta go. I’ll be back soon. Try to sleep some.” Neo kisses my forehead before walking out the door. I put the gun in the bedside table and plug my phone into the charger.
“Holly, I got you a sandwich.” Reilly walks into the room and looks around. I know she’s worried about me. I don’t want to make her worry, but what am I meant to do? Pretend that I’m okay? I don’t know how to do that.
I take the plate from her. “Thanks.” Setting the plate on the table, I turn towards the bathroom. “I think I’ll just have a shower first.”
“Good idea. I wasn’t going to say anything, but you really bloody stink, woman. Go jump in the shower, and I’ll find you some clothes,” she says.
“Okay.” I can give her that. She needs to feel useful, and if picking out some clothes for me to wear is what’s going to do that, I’ll let her.
The hot water scalds my skin. I don’t bother adjusting the temperature. I need this. I need the heat. I squirt some of T’s shampoo into my hands and comb it through my hair. I lather myself with his bodywash. The scent is both soothing and heart-wrenching
Reilly barges into the bathroom. “Okay, I get why you married this guy. That wardrobe, Hol, it’s literally the best thing I’ve ever seen.” Of course she would love his wardrobe. “I found you a shirt and some yoga pants,” she says, making herself comfortable on the side of the tub. I guess she’s staying? Did Bray or Neo tell her about the glass? I really hope they’re not going to watch me around the clock now. It was a moment of weakness. I don’t know if I would have done it anyway. Right now, the only thing I can think about is finding a way to get Theo back. I have to believe he’s coming back.
