Page 45 of Queen's Move

“There’s an amount that you would be comfortable with?” she said cheekily. Vee dipped her head and looked down at the bandage. “You did a good job,” she observed. Then she felt the need to point out, “Though we both know this wound could be a lot worse. You shattered Desi’s hand.”

His eyes became flint and his features hardened into the mask she was becoming used to. “I slowed her down. She is a formidable enemy. Now she will need time to recover, learn to use her other hand with equal efficiency.”

Vee stiffened at the casual cruelty in his words. She supposed she should thank the gods that he’d decided he wanted her, that they would be on the same side. Otherwise she might be the one with a useless hand… or worse. She was about to reply when a shout came from the front entrance. Vee twisted around to look over her shoulder while reaching for the gun. Sotza scooped it up before she could lay a finger on the weapon and then wrapped an arm around her waist, yanking her off the counter. He shoved her to the floor and crouched beside her. She was about to snap at him for leaving her weaponless when he reached down and pulled a gun from his ankle holster. Flipping the safety off he handed it to her.

Vee took the gun from him, stared at it for a moment and then looked over at him. “I think I love you,” she said.

Heat flooded her face. She hadn’t meant to say that! But everything about their time in the kitchen had prompted her to utter the words. He’d taken care of her, asked about Raina, apologized for not protecting her, and then given her a weapon to protect herself. It pulled something from deep within her.

He flashed a quick grin, pinched her chin between his thumb and finger and dropped a quick hard kiss on her lips. “I have loved you from the moment I set eyes on you, Vee. Every minute since has confirmed and deepened my feelings.” Her mouth fell open and she stared at him incredulously as he shouted, “If you aren’t Mateo, then whomever you are, you better pray.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

It was Mateo that came through the door, followed by ten of Sotza’s men. Vee was shocked at how fast Sotza’s second responded to their situation. It had been maybe two hours since the attack had begun, though it felt like much longer. As his men covered entrances and prepared for the couple to leave the island, he explained that when neither John or Juan made their regular hourly contact with the mainland he mobilized immediately. They were in the air and headed over probably minutes after the island was hit.

Sotza seemed to take Mateo’s preparations for granted, simply nodding his head while listening. Vee was both impressed and grateful. She hugged Mateo and thanked him for showing up. It was a few minutes too late to save her from being shot, but she was still grateful. She had been nervous about leaving the house, just her and Sotza. They would’ve been vulnerable with Vee being injured and Sotza alone to handle any threat that came their way.

As they sped toward the mainland in two boats, Vee felt much better about their situation. She was able to relax, to succumb to the haze of pain that radiated from her arm into her shoulder and across her chest. Now that she was safe the pain didn’t bother her that much. It wasn’t any worse than some of the things she’d experienced in the past, and she knew she would survive the scratch to her upper arm. She would walk away with a cool scar as a trophy. She breathed in the fresh salty air, letting it centre her.

“I suppose you won’t take pain meds?” Sotza murmured from behind her. He was sitting with his back against the bench while she was laying half on top of him with her back against his chest. His arms were wrapped tightly around her.

“No,” she agreed, glancing up at him. “I won’t.”

“You would if I insisted,” he said, frowning down at her, considering. “There is such thing as taking your anti-mind-altering-drug crusade too far. If I have to step in, I will.”

“You won’t,” she said confidently. “You trust my judgement. If I couldn’t cope, I would say something.”

“Hmm, indeed, I do trust your judgment in most things. But not necessarily with your own health. Do not forget, cariño, I have seen you do some pretty reckless things. On more than one occasion you put the health and safety of others before yourself. That’s not something I will allow you to do under my care.”

She frowned, disliking the direction the conversation was going in, but settled back against him, refusing to engage further. She suspected that they would eventually clash over his dominant attitude. Probably sooner rather than later. She was a strong woman and, though sometimes stressful, she’d thoroughly enjoyed the past year of independence. She hadn’t needed or wanted a man in her life. Although, now that she was married to Sotza, she was discovering a few perks.

She shifted in his lap as her body reacted to his closeness, his scent, melting a little inside. She curled up on her side, toward him, her forehead pressed against his flat belly. His arm curved over her back, holding her in place and providing comfort. Her eyes closed as she allowed herself to succumb to the exhaustion that was slowly creeping through her. The warmth of the sun seeped into her back and legs, cradling her in comfort as she drifted into sleep.

She woke up with a start as she was lifted in the air. She lurched against Sotza’s chest and gripped his arms. “Go back to sleep, mi amor,” he said against the top of her head, careful not to jar her arm as he stepped from the boat. “We’re a few hours from being home. Relax and let me take care of you.”

“Okay,” she said with a yawn and, for the first time in her life, went back to sleep feeling safe in the knowledge that she wouldn’t be hurt. Sotza would keep her safe.

She managed to sleep through the entire car ride back to Caracas and the transfer to the private plane. When she woke they were flying low over the mountainous jungle region that held Sotza’s empire nestled within. She looked blearily at her new husband, checking to make sure he was next to her. She shouldn’t have doubted it. He was watching her, his gaze a mixture of concern and possession. She glanced away, a little unnerved.

When they landed, Vee had barely disembarked when a small, blond tornado came rushing toward them. Vee watched in amusement and awe as Raina lit into Mateo.

“What the fuck was that!?” she yelled at him, poking him in the chest as she spoke. “One minute you’re harassing me in the garden and the next you light out like your pants are on fire, taking half the security in this place with you. If you’re going to act like the fucking country is exploding you need to tell me what’s happening so I don’t pace this mausoleum sick with worry!”

“Whoa, chica!” Mateo said throwing his hands up in surprise. There was a smug look about him though, like he was pleased with Raina’s dramatic reaction to his withdrawal from the estate.

Raina glanced around, caught sight of Vee and flung herself toward her mother. “Mom!” she cried.

Sotza intercepted her before she could touch Vee. “No, child. She’s been injured. You need to calm yourself.”

Rather than calming down her eyes grew round and filled with tears. “What happened?” she demanded.

“She was shot when we were attacked,” he explained.

Vee sighed and rolled her eyes as Raina’s face turned stark white and she clutched at the arm Sotza held up to bar her from grabbing hold of her mother. Clearly the man did not understand children. His policy of bald truthfulness was going to send someone over the edge. Vee shoved an elbow into his side causing him to grunt and wrapped her good arm around Raina, gathering her close. Raina hugged Vee around the waist, careful not to press too tight.

“You’re okay?” she asked, her voice wobbling.

“Of course,” Vee assured her. They separated and walked toward the vehicles, Raina on one side of Vee and Sotza on the other. Mateo and his men fell in protectively around the family. Raina slipped her hand into Vee’s, holding tight to her mother.

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