Page 59 of Queen's Move

“Thank you,” she said hoping he heard the wealth of sincerity in her tone.

“He will find her eventually.”

She smiled. “I know. He reminds me a little of you. That dogged determination to get what he wants. But I want Raina to experience life and all it has to offer before she gets pulled back into this.”

“I understand, cariño, you want her to have the things you missed out on.”

“Maybe,” she said softly. “I don’t feel like I’m missing anything anymore though.”

He ran his fingers lightly over the scar on her back, low down toward her waist. “You are a brave woman. Generous too.”

Vee shrugged her shoulder and continued to lay on her side, her face turned away from him. She enjoyed the way his fingers tickled down her back, it made her want to curl against him and purr. This kind of intimacy was new to her but definitely addicting.

“Giving my daughter life the first time was a difficult decision to make,” she said, her voice quiet. “Giving her life the second time was as easy as breathing. I didn’t have a choice. She would’ve died otherwise and I didn’t want to live in a world without her.”

He kissed between her shoulder blades and then rolled her over. Vee brought her hands up to cover her naked chest. He let her though he placed a hand possessively over the slight rise of her stomach.

“These are the things I want from you, my wife. The same devotion and loyalty you show a child that doesn’t know enough to be grateful of the sacrifices you’ve made.”

“You have it, Isaac,” she said without hesitation. “My loyalty, my life, everything. By letting my daughter go you’ve proved that I can be loyal to you without losing the things I want most.”

“Te amo, Elvira,” he whispered against the back of her neck.

She smiled. “I love you too, Issac. But you really need to never call me Elvira again. I know exactly where to shoot a person to give them maximum pain without much damage.”

He chuckled and leaned down to press his lips against hers, giving her one of his kisses that she knew she would crave forever.

Epilogue

Two years later

“Anny Pee!”

Vee looked up, startled as Sally hurtled toward her, chubby legs pumping faster than Vee thought a toddler should go. She reached out and scooped the baby up, settling her on her lap. She gave Sally a stern look and said, “I’m sorry, but did you just call me Aunty Pee? As in urine? Do you have any idea who you’re talking to, child? I could have you executed for such disrespect.”

Sally just giggled and grabbed at Vee’s long straight hair, burying her fingers in the fine strands. “That’s it, off with her head!” Vee yelped, laughing as she was forced to twist her head to ease the pressure on her scalp.

“I’m sorry, Vee!” Casey cried. She’d been following close behind her daughter and helped Vee extricate the tiny, but torturously effective hands. Vee sighed in relief as Sally was lifted from her lap and set free to terrorize the garden.

“Seriously though, did she just call me Pee? What are you teaching this child?”

Casey laughed and settled on the bench next to Vee, her sharp eyes following the trail of flower destruction as Sally did her best to tear up every one she could get her hands on. “She’s having a little difficulty with names, so she tends to rename people after her favourite things.”

Vee wrinkled her nose. “And she likes pee? That’s weird Casey. You know that’s weird, right?”

“She likes to go pee because she gets treats for going on the potty. She probably sees you as being just as awesome as those treats.”

“Nice save,” Vee said sarcastically. Then she pointed out, “You’re training your daughter like a dog, you know.”

Casey shrugged. “Whatever works.”

Vee felt a small pang. She’d missed these years with Raina. The good, the bad, the fun and funny. She watched over Raina from a distance, but she didn’t get to experience these moments. Maybe one day she would become a grandmother and get the chance to live the memories she missed with her own daughter.

“She calls Sotza, Uncle Toaster, only it sounds more like Untle Toata.”

Vee burst out laughing as she imagined the tiny human naming her stern, unyielding husband after a toaster. “It really is a miracle she’s survived this long.”

“Reyes would destroy the world if anything happens to her,” Casey pointed out. They both sobered as they imagined the far-reaching damage Reyes could cause if any harm came to the women in his life.

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