Page 56 of Queen's Move

“Where are you taking her?” One of Vee’s guards asked sharply. “She is to go immediately to the Señor.”

Adriana sent the man a bold stare over her shoulder and snapped, “And how will the Señor react if she falls ill from remaining in these wet clothes?”

When he hesitated, she wrapped her arm around Vee’s and pulled her up the stairs. Vee was grateful for the intervention. They didn’t talk as they walked side by side to the master bedroom. Adriana hustled Vee inside and closed the door behind them.

“I thought you could use a few minutes to gather yourself,” she explained walking toward Vee’s closet and opening the double doors. Her muffled voce reached out to Vee. “You better hurry and get those clothes off. The Señor won’t wait long. Especially not for you. You seem to make him very impatient.”

She emerged from the closet with a slinky dark blue silk night dress. It dipped deep in the front between her breasts, flowed to the floor with slits up both sides showing a healthy amount of leg every time she moved. The nightdress was blatantly sexual. She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow.

“That one seems… inappropriate for an interview with my husband, who will most likely be quite angry with me.” Still, she began removing her wet clothes, peeling them off with gratitude. Her skin was chilled through and pimpled in goosebumps.

Adriana grinned. “Si, a little inappropriate for wandering through the house but feminine and irresistible. The Señor already has difficulty resisting his new esposa. In this dress, he will not remain angry for long.”

Vee raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a fraction of a second and then reached for the sapphire nightdress. At least she wouldn’t have to wear a bra with it. There wasn’t much worse than putting a bra on over diamond hard nipples and damp skin. She pulled it over her head and stood still as Adriana took over, tugging it down Vee’s lithe frame.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked pointedly once the material was in place.

“You are the Señora,” she said simply. “We must take care of you, no?”

Vee laughed in disbelief. “Sure, now why are you really helping me?”

Adriana rolled her eyes toward the door and then grinned secretively. “The Señor, he has never married before, right? We have not had a mistress around the estate until now. You are special.”

Vee snorted. “I’m not much of a mistress. I’ve barely talked to most of the staff and to be honest I only know your name because you’re the only night maid around here. I was told to ask you if I needed anything before bed.”

Adriana went back to the closet and emerged seconds later with a pair of sandaled high heels, cream satin, that would strap in place around her ankles. This was definitely going to be overkill, but she allowed it. Perhaps the girl knew what she was talking about. If it saved Vee a beating she would even wear the ass half of a horse costume.

Adriana bent in front of Vee and helped her put the shoes on. Finally, she answered. “The Señor… he was lonely for many years. With the demands of his work, he has become harsh and brutal. Though not cruel to us by any means he was a cold master. He rarely spoke and when he did it was to demand this or that. For all these years he has not changed, just gotten gruffer.” She stood and faced Vee, her eyes serious. “Then you existed. A Señora, yes, but not just any Señora. One that is rumoured to be powerful. And when you arrived it became clear that you had power over the Señor. If you need something, he demands it immediately. If you are hurt, he is hurt too. If you are happy… then so is he.”

Vee was beginning to see Adriana’s point.

“He is in love with you. And his love has changed things around here for the better.” She sighed happily, stars in her young eyes. “If keeping you happy means we keep this newer master, then we will do what we must.”

Vee smiled back. “Well, whatever the reason. I appreciate your help. I’m much more comfortable in these clothes, though maybe a little cold with the lack of fabric.”

Adriana giggled and ran to grab the matching peignoir. Vee pulled it on gratefully. It wasn’t a cable knit sweater, but it would do. And she knew what she must look like. Walking sex. While she no longer believed in trading sex for favours, she wasn’t at all opposed to playing up her sexuality if it meant Sotza might go a little easier on her.

The pit of her stomach churned as Adriana ran a brush through her damp locks and handed Vee some lip gloss. Was he going to be furious? She didn’t know how he could not be. She had done something he had expressly forbidden. He’d wanted Raina here, in his territory, where he could control and protect her. He’d been unwilling to negotiate with Vee on the matter.

Well, she was unwilling to negotiate on it either. She wanted Raina as far from the mob as the child could get. Vee wanted her to grow up, escape her roots, discover a world that women could inhabit without fear. Raina was headstrong, stubborn and determined. She would make her new life a success.

“Time to go,” Adriana whispered, her eyes wide in trepidation. “I do not think the Señor will wait much longer. Best to go to him on his terms than have him come looking for you.”

Vee thought Adriana was being a little dramatic. Though she did remember their last violent confrontation in the bedroom, after Vee had been shot. Though explosive and passionate, she would rather not be handled so roughly. Which meant, for the coming battle, she needed to keep her temper in check. Act contrite. Don’t piss off The Butcher.

“Yes,” Vee said decisively, striding toward the door with confidence. “Time to see my husband.”

Chapter Forty

Sotza sat behind his desk, appearing to be completely at ease when she knocked briefly and let herself in. He was reading something on his laptop, leaning slightly forward, one arm resting on the desk. He’d discarded his jacket and vest and opened the collar of his shirt showing his strong masculine throat. A few hairs curled toward the top of his shirt. His serious, rugged face was expressionless except for a deeper than usual groove between his brows. As though he was slightly disturbed by whatever he was reading.

She knew better. He was pissed off at her. Trying to decide how to play this situation. Would he attack her, like he did the last time she fucked up? Or would he treat her with the cold indifference he treated the rest of the world? Or maybe he would come up with some new way to throw her off balance.

Well, two could play that game. Vee was not a woman used to being ignored. Nor was she used to waiting on someone’s leisure. She liked to control her environment and the situations she found herself in. Which meant she wasn’t going to wait for Mr. Sotza to finally give her the time of day.

She strode purposefully toward his wet bar. A small, sturdy cabinet with a neat top that held high ball and small sherry glasses. She picked up one of the tumblers and crouched in front of the cabinet. She scanned the labels. Most were Spanish, but a few were imported. All very top shelf, which meant she shouldn’t have a problem drinking it straight up. She chose the brandy bottle, pulling it toward her. She stood gracefully and poured a healthy measure, her gaze greedily devouring the liquor as it hit the glass.

Her heart pounded as she made the decision to break her abstinence. Her nerves were completely shot, between having to say a heartbreaking good-bye to her daughter and then face her husband, not knowing how he would react to her disobedience. If ever there was a time for a drink, this was it. And Vee knew her strength, knew that one drink wouldn’t break her. She was stronger than her addiction.

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