Page 102 of Born a Queen

Chapter Fifty-Four

Thomas was located at the dockyard, attempting to use the getaway that Desi had originally arranged for them. Finding him there, actively attempting to leave to city hammered the final nail in his coffin. Unlike Angela, Thomas had guilt written all over him. Mateo had treated the guy like a brother. He’d allowed him into his home, entrusted him with his most valuable possession, Raina.

Sotza, Mateo and a half dozen of their people confronted Thomas at the dockyard. Thomas’ reason for betraying the family had been greed. Money and position within Desi’s cartel; the cartel she’d intended to resurrect from the ashes of her dead boyfriend. A motive that infuriated Mateo like nothing else. Though they were all mobsters, there was a code. A code that Thomas had broken. He betrayed his mob family for the sake of a better position.

Mateo didn’t bother dragging the man home to his torture shed but allowed his fury free rein right there in the dockyard, next to the boat Thomas and Desi were going to use to escape. He painted the docks red until he was satisfied. Until Thomas was no longer recognizable.

Mateo and Sotza walked away from the dockyard, leaving the body behind for everyone to see. Thomas would be a statement to the Miami underworld; betrayal would not be tolerated.

* * *

Raina paced the bedroom, waiting for Mateo to come back. He’d been gone for hours and she was worried about him. What if his wound reopened and he bled out? He certainly wasn't taking very good care of himself.

He had a broken collarbone, yet he refused to put it in a sling before going to visit his captives. He told her that he couldn't look weak. Like when he forced her to go to the clubs with him, pretended that all was well and that they hadn't been beaten to hell and back.

Raina was on another lap around the room when the door was flung open, smacking against the wall. Mateo stood there for see few seconds staring at her, then his expression gradually went from worry to anger.

"I looked everywhere for you. I can't have you missing right now. You need to be where I can see you."

Raina frowned at him and then bit her lip to keep herself from pointing out that if he'd allowed her to go to the bunker with him as she wanted, he would've known exactly where she was.

Instead, she said calmly, "I've been right here in my bedroom all along. Yours was blown up, so I came back here."

"You should've had someone come tell me where you'd be."

Raina could understand why Mateo might be grumpy. He was probably exhausted; he was hurting, and he was dealing with the betrayal of a good friend. But still, she couldn't allow him to think that he could snap at her anytime he wanted. "Exactly how many places did you have to search for me before coming here?"

His dark eyes narrowed on her and he took a menacing step forward. "I will beat the sass right out of you if you keep it up."

Raina bit back a grin. At the moment, he was about as capable of beating her up as she was of beating him. "Are you afraid to answer the question? How many rooms did you check before you came to this one?"

He gripped her by the back of the neck and dragged her into his chest, bending to place a hard, stinging kiss on her lips. He moved back far enough to give her a wry look. "I checked the family room, then I came here."

She laughed. "So basically, you searched the entire mansion for me. I definitely see why you're upset about this."

He released her and stepped back to sink wearily onto the bed. "Remind me to beat you as soon as I'm feeling better."

Raina dropped to her knees in front of him and reached up to unbutton his shirt, careful not to jar his injuries as she slid each button through the hole.

"When you're able to spar again, I'll be the first one lining up for you." Her eyes were shining with humour.

She felt a great deal of love for the man in front of her. She didn't know how it had come to this. How she’d gone from first hating him to tolerating him to now. She was so in love with him that she couldn't imagine her existence without him. It would be empty, meaningless. She needed him and he needed her.

Once the buttons were open, she reached up and gently slid the material off his broad shoulders. Mateo lifted each arm as she tugged the cuffs from his wrists. Then her hands dropped to his belt. His hand landed on top of hers.

"I'll do this part." His lip curled in a partial smile. "Remember, dead man with a boner?"

Raina lifted her hands up in surrender and backed off, laughing. While he worked on pulling his pants off Raina got herself ready for bed. She washed her face and hands, brushed her teeth and hair and pulled on a short night gown. Once he was settled, she crawled into the bed next to him, careful to snuggle against his good side. He held her close and dropped his head to hers, inhaling her scent and kissing the fine strands of hair.

"Thank you." His deep voice penetrated the darkness of the bedroom.

She tipped her head up to look at him, her eyes tracing the shadows on his face, visible in the dim light coming through the window. "Thank you for what?"

"For surviving; for giving me a reason to continue breathing."

Raina didn't know what to say to that, so she kissed his chin and whispered, "You're welcome."

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