Page 33 of Queen's Move

“Now it’s time for you to tell me about yourself, Raina.” Vee’s voice had changed from melancholy to eager. “Don’t leave out any details. I want to know everything.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

The week that Vee and Raina spent getting to know each other was the best that Vee had ever experienced. Raina came to Vee’s room every day and spent hours with her, telling her about her life with her adoptive parents, her time at University, her friends, everything. Vee soaked up each new fact like a starving woman. She thought, if this moment ever came, that it would hurt to hear about her daughter’s life separate from hers. But instead of jealousy over her missed time, she could only feel gratitude that Raina had grown into such a lovely young woman.

Vee had more difficulty sharing her own life with Raina, after their first conversation. There wasn’t much about her past that she was proud of or that was good enough that it wouldn’t be a burden for Raina to know. So instead, Vee encouraged her daughter to talk about herself. Once Raina started to set aside the hurt she’d carried with her since childhood, she was happy to open up to her birth mother. And Vee was more than happy to listen. She loved knowing that, despite Raina’s serious health issues, she’d experienced a contented life. For that, Vee felt she owed Diane and Joe Duncan. They’d done exactly as they’d promised, given Raina everything that Vee couldn’t.

Raina showed a maturity for her years that Vee was proud of. Raina was intelligent, determined and independent. She was in the process of putting herself through school, paying for it through a part-time job and her forgery set-up. Vee had wanted to pay Raina’s way through University, but the girl was sharp and old enough to have questioned where the money came from. So Vee had watched from the shadows, ready to step in if it looked like Raina was struggling. Far from struggling though, the child had used her keen mind and kept her own source of funds flowing. Vee was pretty sure that she should scold the girl for doing something illegal, that as a parent she was supposed to try to steer her child on the straight and narrow, but she couldn’t seem to summon any disapproval. She was impressed with Raina for finding a relatively harmless but lucrative method of supplementing her income.

The more time Vee spent with Raina the more her hatred toward Sotza waned. Despite his less than savoury method of procuring her child, he was still responsible for reuniting the two women. He also encouraged them to spend as much time as they wanted together in the week leading up to the wedding.

Though grudgingly, Vee was also grateful for the safe environment that Sotza provided for their reunification. She couldn’t have contact with Raina while she was under Tony’s thumb and she couldn’t risk contact after she became the queen of Miami. At that point she’d had to let the idea of ever seeing Raina again go. She couldn’t risk enemies catching wind of her weakness. Especially when she experienced so many problems from the Mexican cartel. But now, under Sotza’s roof, Vee and Raina were safe. Though Vee was still angry at the way things had played out in Miami, she was grateful for this unexpected opportunity.

After their first conversation, Vee and Raina stopped talking about how to get Vee out of her upcoming nuptials. She assured her daughter that she was fine, that she was would make the best of the situation and eventually escape when opportunity presented itself. Instead they spent the days talking about life, preparing for the wedding and making plans. Though wary of her soon-to-be stepfather, Raina had become decidedly bossy when it came to Vee having the best of everything for her wedding. She directed the ordering of Vee’s gown and talked to the chef about their reception.

During her incarceration, Sotza’s mealtime visits to her room continued. He talked while she listened, but instead of ignoring him, she occasionally contributed to the conversation. She’d been unable to hold back. She wanted… needed to tell someone about Raina. About how smart the girl was, how proud Vee was of her. She also needed to talk through her feelings. Not something she’d ever really done before. But Sotza’s persistent, quietly thoughtful presence wore her down until she found herself telling him things she wouldn’t normally ever consider divulging. Not even to Casey, whom she considered her best friend.

“And she’s funded almost her entire University education with this document forgery set-up she has going. I think her job at the campus library is just a front in case anyone looks deeper into her financial situation. She must be quite good at forging to be doing as well as she is,” Vee told him when he stopped in for breakfast that morning. “I mean, part of me thinks I should warn her to stay away from that sort of thing. But she’s so smart, I just know she won’t get herself in any trouble. What do you think, Sotza?”

He had looked at her, silent for a moment, his dark brown eyes warming a little as he considered her. “I think she’s as smart as her mother. She’ll figure it out as she goes, and we’ll be here for her if she missteps and needs help.” Vee felt a tiny glow at the way he saidwe, as though he was as invested in Raina’s future as she was. She hadn’t known what to say, so she’d stayed silent while he continued. “I also think it’s time you started calling me Isaac.”

“Why would I do that?” She frowned at him.

His lips curved in genuine amusement. “Because it is my name, cariño.”

Her mouth had opened in shock for a moment and then she said the first thing that jumped into her mind. “But I thought your name was just Sotza.”

He’d chuckled. “Most people have first and last names, Vee. Sometimes even middle names.”

“Do you have a middle name,” she asked curiously.

He’d stood and approached her. Vee was too stunned by the knowledge of his first name to think about moving away. So when he touched her, running his hand from her wrist, up her arm to her face and touching her cheek lightly, she just blinked at him, waiting for him to speak. His touch sent tingles through her. It was so light but so evocative. She had the urge to melt into him.

“I suppose you’ll have to wait and see if I have a middle name.”

“Wait for what?” she whispered, tilting her head up to look at him. She liked the way his face softened just a little whenever they talked like this.

“You’ll have to wait for the priest to say our names on our wedding day, joining them together,” he said, his voice dropping a little. Her breath caught and fire erupted in her veins as both his fingers and his words touched her. It was probably the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her, yet it had that tiny bit of his sinister brand.

Sotza dropped his lips to hers, kissing her. It wasn’t exactly a chaste kiss nor was it punishing. Instead, his lips coaxed hers. He curved his long fingers along the side of her head burying them in her hair and holding her face still. He pressed his mouth to hers, breathing in as he lowered his head, taking in her scent and groaning a little as it hit him. And though she could feel the passion of his kiss, feel the rigid tension in his body, he held himself back from devouring her. She was helpless against him. She hesitated for just a moment and then pressed herself against him, tilting her face to deepen their kiss.

He brought his other hand up, clutching her head, holding her still for his exploration. Her breathing grew rapidly uneven, mingling with his as he deepened their kiss. The slight roughness of his chin and cheeks against her softer skin sent a thrill through her. Her nipples hardened in response and her lower belly felt as though it was melting. She almost wished he would raise her skirt, touch her where she ached to be touched. Where she hadn’t wanted anyone to touch her in so long, couldn’t stand the thought. Sotza… Isaac… was showing her how wrong she’d been. He was thawing her out.

He didn’t lift her skirt, didn’t touch her breasts. Instead, he lifted his head. Held onto hers for a moment longer, looking down into her eyes, powerful emotion blazing in his dark depths. Then he released her, stepping away. He kept a hand on her arm until she was steady and then he picked up her empty breakfast tray and moved to the door.

“Do you know my middle name?” Vee asked, her voice huskier than usual. He paused, the grooves around his mouth deepening as he fought a smile.

“I do,” he admitted.

“Well, what is it?” she demanded breathlessly.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through her aroused body and flooding her with more sensations. “I guess you’ll find out on our wedding day.”

And for the first time, Vee genuinely laughed in his presence.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The bride had mixed feelings on her wedding day. Sotza did not. Every step he took with Vee felt right. Felt like destiny. Which wasn’t something he’d ever considered before. He believed that life was what you made it. Every move he made was carefully calculated, the outcome prearranged and optimized. He looked at the world and understood how it worked. He made sure there were no surprises, and when there were, he went to work.

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