Page 46 of Queen's Move

Vee’s heart ached at the attention. They had grown steadily closer in the week moving up to the wedding, but this display of affection was new. Raina’s concern was welcome, but still strange. Vee wasn’t used to having so many people care about her welfare. Of course, Danny had cared, but she’d been his boss. If she fell than so did he. She wondered what’d happened to Danny, if he and his family were okay. She was hesitant to bring Sotza’s attention to her former second-in-command. She didn’t want him to decide to clean up that loose end. Though, in her brief time with him, it’d become clear that Sotza was meticulous when it came to planning and detail. He would not have forgotten about Danny Russo and his connection to Vee. Perhaps in a few days she would broach the subject. See if she might call Danny. For now, she would just navigate the choppy waters of her new marriage.

“I’ll take care of her,” Raina said coolly turning to her new stepfather when they arrived at the house. “She’ll want to change and get right into bed. You can have a tray sent up with her favourite tea and a few snacks.”

Vee raised an eyebrow at Raina’s daring. She must be feeling brave to say such a thing to a man of Sotza’s stature. Sotza merely gazed down at Raina and nodded. His voice was low but warmer than usual as he said, “I’ll see to it. Take very good care of her, por favor.”

Raina helped Vee up the stairs and into the bedroom, careful not to touch her arm once she saw the bandage. As they entered the room, she asked, “Were you really shot?” There was fear and awe in her voice.

“Yes, I was,” Vee replied, reaching for the bed and sitting down carefully. Now that the adrenalin rushing through her system was completely gone she felt the pain of her wound. She wanted nothing more than to do as Raina suggested and take a long nap.

“Did it hurt?” Raina asked curiously.

Vee laughed. “Yes, it hurt. A lot. Can you either call a maid or help me take these clothes off? I really need to lay down and I’d rather not do it in this bathing suit.”

“I’ll do it,” Raina said, reaching for the wrap around Vee’s waist. “So the guys that shot you… Sotza will kill them right? He won’t let something like this pass unchallenged.”

Raina’s voice held curiosity and just a bit of bloodthirsty vengeance. Vee looked at her sharply, confirming her suspicion in the girl’s eyes. She was concerned for her mother, she was angry, she wanted someone to pay. In that moment something in Vee shifted. She’d spent half her life protecting this girl from the mob life. The life that had taken Vee, dirtied her, chewed her up and spit her out. Yet, she felt proud to have a child with such strength. In a short amount of time, Raina was coming to understand the gritty world that Vee lived in. And instead of feeling disgust, she was adapting with ease. Like she belonged.

“No, he won’t let it go,” Vee said sadly. She knew he would have to do something. That his last words to Nico had held a wealth of meaning. He would go after the Mexican boss with the deadly intent that had been directed at Vee in Miami before he decided to let her live. Only this time he had a deep-burning fury that wouldn’t allow him to stop until the entire Garza cartel was decimated. Remembering the way Nico had reacted over Desi’s injury made Vee feel sad that they wouldn’t survive Sotza’s vengeance. “He can’t let it go,” she said tiredly. “A challenge like the one they threw at us can’t be allowed to stand. It’s not how things work, Sotza would look weak.”

Raina nodded, satisfied. “And he isn’t weak, is he?”

“Not even a little.”

Raina carefully maneuvered Vee so that she was standing and then she helped her pull her bathing suit down. Vee stopped her, feeling oddly shy around this grown-up daughter she barely knew. “I can finish,” she said, turning her back and tugging the suit down with her one good hand.

Raina’s gasp made her freeze. She straightened and looked over her shoulder questioningly. Raina was staring at her lower back, a look of dawning realization crossing her face. “Y-your back…” she said faintly, pointing. “Scar…”

Oh shit. Vee had completely forgotten. She so rarely saw her own scar since it was low on her back. But she knew exactly what was upsetting her daughter. Because Raina had a matching scar.

Vee gathered up her robe and wrapped it carefully around her body, not bothering to pull the sleeve over her injured arm. Once covered, she turned around to face Raina. The girl was struggling with her emotions. Everything lighting up her expressive features, from betrayal to understanding, then back to anger, then acceptance. Vee remained silent, giving Raina time to come to terms with this new knowledge, something that would shed light on one of the most painful periods in her life.

Finally, she spoke, her voice low and strained, clogged with tears. “M-my parents told me the donor was anonymous, that she’d died in an accident. I believed them, I believed that they would never lie to me.”

Vee cringed at the accusation in her voice. “They told you what I wanted them to say. What you needed to know.”

“You all lied to me!” she exclaimed. “You lied to a sick child. I was dying, I was miserable… so much pain.”

“I know,” Vee whispered. “And I couldn’t stand back and let that happen if there was any chance I could give you more years.”

“Do you expect me to thank you?” Raina snapped bitterly, swiping at the tears in her eyes.

Vee thought perhaps a thank you for giving up a body part wasn’t too much to ask. But she also understood that Raina was working through a lot. That her anger over the donation of a kidney was about more than just a lie. Vee had been there in the shadows her entire life, watching over her, but never showing herself. And the one thing Raina had always wanted was to know where she came from. The guilt of that wish had eaten at her. She wouldn’t have wanted to hurt her adoptive parents by wanting to know her birth parents, but the burning desire still remained. As shitty as Vee’s own mother had been, she’d still been there during the bad times. And Vee had missed her when she died. Still missed her.

“What would you have done if you’d known about me?” Vee asked, hardening her voice. “If you’d known that I was the one who gave you that kidney?”

“I would’ve found you,” Raina said instantly. “I wouldn’t have stopped looking until I knew where you were and then I would’ve gone to see you.”

“Exactly. And you would have found me in a miserable marriage with a violent and unpredictable man. You would’ve become a pawn in the game that has held me prisoner for thirty-seven years.” Vee paused, letting that sink in before adding, “And that’s why I let go of you when you were born. I wanted more for you. I’ve always wanted more.”

They stared at each other for long seconds. Raina seemed to struggle with herself, then she nodded briefly and said, “Let’s get you into bed. Once you’ve eaten something you can take a nap.” She walked around Vee and flipped the blankets back, inviting her to lay down.

Vee smiled wanly and said, “Yes, boss.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Something soft touched her face, brushing faintly against her cheek. It was warm, comforting. She turned her head on the pillow, burrowing her body a little deeper into the plush covers that welcomed her, beckoning her back into the deep sleep. She frowned as something moved the bed next to her, depressing the mattress. Then his scent, cigars, fresh air and cinnamon, reached out to her, wrapping her in the hazy, sexy comfort.

Sotza was here, with her.

---