Page 9 of Queen's Move

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Vee strode into the warehouse like she owned the place. She didn’t. Technically, the Mexicans owned it. Domingo probably had it listed under a shell corporation. It was a place for him to do business whenever he crossed the border. It was big, it was empty, it was easy. It was also eerily silent.

The Mexican cartel were not known for their silence. Especially not when it came to Elvira Montana. They postured, made noise, generally tried to make her feel uncomfortable and undermined at every opportunity. Not all Mexicans, to be sure. She’d done successful business with the some of the cartels further East. But Domingo and his crew were a bunch of pigs. Unfortunately, they were an evil she had no choice but to work with if she wanted to keep trade flowing under her regime.

“We got the right day?” she asked Danny, who was walking beside her, his shoulders tense, his eyes alert. She was half joking and they both knew it. Danny never made mistakes.

“Friday, noon,” he confirmed.

“We should’ve been stopped by now.”

Danny pulled his gun and walked faster, moving in front of Vee. Obviously he agreed. They made their way through the warehouse toward the back offices. No one stopped them.

“At least there’re no bodies,” she pointed out beneath her breath.

Danny shook his head and kept walking. She knew he was thinking what she was thinking. They should’ve brought more men. But Domingo’s instructions had been clear. She could have two outside the building and one at her side. He promised that he would talk, not negotiate, not yet, but he would talk. If she agreed to call Reyes off. Apparently there had been some rumblings out of Bolivia regarding his attack in Miami and Domingo was finally afraid of reprisals.

Her steel-tipped heels tapped against the concrete, echoing through the space as they approached Domingo’s office. Danny said a quick prayer, crossed himself, pushed Vee to the side of the door and opened it.

Vee peeked around his shoulder. “Anticlimactic,” she said drily, stepping around her second and into the empty office.

Danny followed close behind, turning so their backs weren’t to the open door. “We need to get out of here,” he mumbled. “Something’s not right. We can get hold of Domingo later, when you’re safe. Reschedule.”

“Well, fuck,” Vee sighed as she approached the desk. It was completely empty except for a white box wrapped with a red bow. “Somehow I don’t think Domingo will be able to reschedule.”

Vee really didn’t want to open the box. She was beginning to think she wasn’t cut out for this shit. Perhaps she should throw in the towel, empty her accounts and go someplace where she could happily shop for the rest of her life. Get her nails and hair done, both of which were long overdue. And while she suspected it would be a short life, because no way would Sotza let her just disappear forever, she would be happy. For awhile.

Vee untied the ribbon and started to pry the lid off. Danny grabbed her wrist. “Bomb?” he suggested questioningly.

She shook her head and laughed. “No Danny, the Gentleman Butcher is more subtle than that.” She lifted the lid, glanced inside for a few seconds and then replaced it. “He also has the grimmest sense of humour I’ve ever seen.”

Chapter Eight

Sotza debated leaving her alone to stew over this new development. Let the fear gather in her heart. She’d think about running. Maybe take that bodyguard she’s so fond of. He wouldn’t let her though. He’d scoop her up before she even hit the city limits. And then the actual courting could begin.

But Sotza knew her better than that. He was learning everything he could about the delightful woman that was about to become his wife. Every time she made a move he discovered more, filed away the knowledge of her. How she lived, how she worked, the things she liked, what she didn’t like. She certainly didn’t like receiving heads in boxes.

He hit her contact on his phone. He wasn’t at all surprised when she picked up with, “What, you didn’t feel like sneaking into my apartment this evening? I thought you enjoyed preying on helpless women in the dark.”

She didn’t seem the least bit grateful for this latest gift. In fact, seemed to be in a bit of a temper. He pictured her fair complexion flushing with anger and had to shift in his chair, adjust his pants. “I thought you might enjoy an engagement gift.”

“I only enjoy my severed heads followed by absurdly expensive jewelry,” she snapped sarcastically. “Why’d you kill him?”

“He had his men shoot at you, Vee. You nearly died during your last run-in with him,” he explained calmly. “I can’t have people shooting at my future wife. Sets a bad precedent.”

She didn’t speak for a moment, but he could hear her breath coming out in short angry exhales as she tried to compose herself, tried not to scream at him. “I needed him, Sotza. And you murdered him so you could solidify your claim in the US and undermine everything I’ve been working for.”

“I know.” He took a thoughtful pause. She really wasn’t getting it. Perhaps he needed to reinforce his position, but just a gentle reminder. For now, anyway. “But you don’t need him, Vee. You don’t need any of your former contacts. Once we’re married you’ll stand at my side, running things with me. Not against me. And never in danger.”

“You. Are. Insane,” she bit out.

He laughed. She really was delightful. “Not really, but you’ll soon get a chance to know all of my charming characteristics.”

“Over my dead body,” she snarled.

“Ah, never that, amor,” he assured her. “But if you keep up this resistance, this wonderful dance we’re doing, the dead bodies will continue to pile up. Why don’t we just cut to the end and you agree to quit the fight and become my wife?”

“You know what happened to my last husband, right?” she asked as though talking to a child.

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