Little Queen

22

This is how I picture Gio^^ Enjoy the pic and the chapter!

So I know I'm late but I had two tests this week and JUST finished this chapter. Most of this was written on my phone so sorry if there are typos or formatting issues!
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Draven had maids bring out a whole spread including duplicates of the food that I had attempted making this morning. I happily gave Draven all of the bacon that had been placed on my plate. I filled up on fruit and oatmeal adding dashes of sugar when Draven wasn't looking. He spent an hour with me on the terrace before he had to go back to his office.

I grip my mug of tea to my chest, taking slow steps around the grounds. Everything here was much more modern than back home. There was a big rectangle pool that had water flowing over the edge and lounge chairs half-submerged in the water on the other side with big shipping containers converted into cabanas alongside it. Concrete paths covered most of the ground instead of grass and there were no gardens that I could see. It was a beautiful estate but I was so used to coming outside to connect with nature that this felt cold, almost like I wasn't outside at all. I close my eyes letting my head fall back to focus on the warmth of the sun, and I could almost pretend like I was back home. 

"You like being outdoors," A gruff voice says startling me out of my moment.

My eyes snap open and I take in the large man in front of me, "Yes, it's where I spend most of my time."

He nods and continues to stare at me. A big grin sits on my lips as I stare up at him.

"I want to apologize for the way those idiots treated you."

My head drops to the side, "Thank you Gio but you don't have to."

He looks uncomfortable but continues speaking, "If I had known they would come back I wouldn't have left you alone."

My smile goes from a big reassuring one to a softer one, "That is very sweet of you, thank you."

His face contorts and he quickly shakes his head before turning to leave.

"Gio!" I say to grab his attention before he leaves me alone. He turns to face me again with a blank face. "Take a walk with me?"

His eyes roam from my face to the ground and back again before he gives me a tiny nod. I smile at his wariness, it wasn't too different from the wariness Ranger showed when he first joined the family. The thought sends a burst of pain through my chest but I focus on breathing it away like Maxen always told me to.

We walk in silence but thoughts are bouncing around in my head until I can't keep my mouth shut any longer.

"Do you like guns? You look like you like guns, Oh! not in a mean way or anything but one of my guards at home loves guns, his name is Ranger. Me not so much, I actually hate guns but you remind me of Ranger that's why I think you look like you like guns, the big ones too you know? Like terminator level guns-"

Gio's big hand clamps over my mouth, "I like guns."

I jump a little in excitement, "I KNEW YOU LIKED GUNS!"

My shout is muffled by his hand but I think he understands because he drops his hand and continues down the path. I happily bounce after him, excited to have a new friend. We walk downhill for a few minutes before ending up in front of a cement building with big garage doors and a smaller one for us to walk through.

"Okay I have to get back to work," Gio says standing next to the door.

I bite the corner of my lip, "What do you have to do?"