Page 33 of Born a Queen

"No, chica, I'm not. Sotza is handing over the reins to the Miami underworld. He's done with the chaos of the past several years. He wants someone in command who can be strong and decisive, someone who will put down any competitors or challenges. He wants me to take over."

Raina didn't know how to react. On the one hand she was shocked. Could a person just hand over his city to another person? That didn't seem right. But then again, she didn't know everything there was to know about the mafia and how they worked. Maybe they did hand cities over to each other like gifts. It sounded like they also stole cities from each other too.

On the other hand, Mateo was the perfect choice to bring order to a chaotic situation. He was ruthless, brutal and brilliant. He was methodical and patient when required. He knew how to play the long game.

"But doesn't Sotza want to keep you with him?" she asked, curious how it would work. Could Mateo still be second-in-command to Sotza while living and working in Miami? She didn't think so.

Mateo confirmed her last thought with his next sentence. "I believe that Sotza would keep me with him in Venezuela if he could, but Miami is a sensitive issue. It's the gateway for most product; the chaos will weaken trade where routes are already established. Sotza understands that there must be sacrifice in this business. I’m needed in Miami."

Mateo’s quiet confidence in his ability to follow through on Sotza’s command, to bring an entire city under control, sent a zing of attraction through her. Mateo knew what he wanted and he went after it.

"He must trust you a lot," she murmured thoughtfully. She never really thought about it, but of course Sotza would trust Mateo. Mateo would've had plenty of opportunity to betray Sotzao over the years if that had been his intention. He'd probably proven his loyalty over and over again.

When Mateo didn't respond to her last comment, Raina asked, "What about me? Where do I fit in?"

"You’re with me," Mateo said with quiet finality.

"But what does that mean? Stop giving me such cryptic answers and tell me what the heck is going on."

Raina was beginning to feel frustrated. In romance novels, the heroines always adored the strong silent type. Raina was beginning to see exactly how frustrating strong and silent could be. She would much prefer if the man used his words.

He flashed her a quick smile, as though he found her annoyance cute. He would find it much less cute when she found something to bash him over the head with.

"What that means is you're with me; you will always be with me. Going forward you belong to me. If I’m in Pennsylvania, then you’re in Pennsylvania. If I am in Venezuela, then you’re in Venezuela. If I’m in Miami, then you are also in Miami." His voice was firm but with an edge.

"But… if you’re going to be the new… what? The new boss of Miami? Like Sotza is in Venezuela?" At his nod she continued. "But then, what does that make me?"

"My wife," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

His wife.

She'd known that he wanted to marry her, but she’d been treating the idea like some distant dream that she might eventually have to face but wasn’t in a hurry to reach. Something she could get out of or that she might have a choice in. But now, in the back of this vehicle, heading towards a future in Miami with this man, she realized that her destiny was about to be written for her.

"So you're going to be the new boss of Miami and I am going to be your wife." It was as though saying the words out loud helped to solidify the concept.

She wasn't exactly sure what she was looking for from Mateo. She supposed she wanted some kind of acknowledgement that this was a big deal. That marrying the boss of Miami was as terrifying a thing as she thought it was.

"You are as good as my wife already. We’ll get the paper and have the ceremony, but you’ll stand with me as I take over the city." He said it with quiet authority.

"I’m scared." Her heart was starting to hammer with anxiety.

She was a long way from that young and eager University freshman who’d worried about nothing more than an overdue English paper. She never aspired to be the wife of a mob boss, never imagined it was a thing, except maybe on TV and in movies.

He looked at her, his expression filled with something she couldn't quite pin down. Pity? Satisfaction? The two emotions were opposite, yet that’s what she read on his face. As though everything were falling into place for him and he couldn't be happier, but he knew the sacrifices Raina would have to make to stand by his side.

He picked her hand up and kissed the knuckles, sending her heart soaring. "Nothing will touch you so long as I’m alive."

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