Page 77 of Born a Queen

Raina was surprised to hear Angela talking about wanting to shop. Angela was a no-nonsense kind of girl. She never wore makeup that Raina could tell, she kept her long dark hair knotted tightly at the base of her neck and she always wore militaristic clothes. Cargo pants, basic T-shirt and combat boots. She also tended to wear a utility belt with a variety of weapons.

Raina would be massively intimidated by Angela if they hadn't spent several weeks getting to know each other. Raina had discovered a total softy in Angela; a woman who had to put on a tough exterior to live in a man's world, while still managing to maintain her compassion. She cared about others. She checked on Raina often and Raina knew that Angela had conversations with Mateo, making sure that he was being safe and that he knew he had an ear if he needed to talk over any of his plans. Angela was well suited for house duty, organizing protection details and security. Raina was pleased that Mateo seemed to be grooming her for that particular job.

Twenty minutes later they were on their way to South Beach, Angela in the driver’s seat, Raina in the passenger and the bodyguards in the back.

"Do you miss Venezuela?" Raina asked casually. "Do you think you'll go back there?"

Angela didn't take her eyes off the road, but she shrugged. "I don't have any family in Venezuela, but I do love the country. I'll definitely go visit. For now though, I prefer to remain at Mateo's side, whether that's here or somewhere else."

Raina nodded thoughtfully. She had felt a strong connection to her parent’s farm. Her upbringing had been happy, and she wouldn't trade it for the world, but when she'd been kidnapped by Mateo and taken to Venezuela, her eyes had been opened to the wider world. After, when she'd gone on the run for two years, she had discovered in herself a deep desire to explore other places.

Though Miami was starting to grow on her, Raina still wanted to explore the world. Another unknown in her relationship with Mateo. Would he allow her to travel further abroad, or would he try to keep her in Miami? She didn't know, and not knowing was one of the fundamental issues with her relationship. Mateo would lay down the law and she would be expected to follow. How much autonomy she had in those decisions was yet to be established.

Raina had a surprisingly good time shopping with Angela. She discovered a hidden Barbie in the other woman. Angela loved colours in a way that Raina would not have suspected based on her tendency to wear only dark clothes when she worked. Angela chose several feminine items, including a pink dress, a red leather mini skirt that she paired with a bustier, a new pair of heels and a few items of jewelry.

Raina didn't buy much since she already had more than she needed at the mansion, but being out and about, breathing the fresh air with a hint of ocean and spending time with another woman helped to reorient her. She felt more like herself and more able to put the events of the past twenty-four hours into perspective.

She was still angry with Mateo, very angry, but she was seeing things more clearly now. Not much had changed besides her status as a virgin. She would still become wife to the mob boss of Miami. She was still the daughter of one of the most powerful families in the world.

But despite all that, she stayed true to herself. She still loved all the things that she had loved before, she still desired a relationship with Mateo and she still wanted to work. Forging was her art, an outlet, not one that she would willingly give up.

In fact, she purchased a few supplies while they were out. Angela had given her a long look but hadn't said anything. They were on their way back to the SUV when Angela slowed down, barring Raina with her arm. Raina's heart sped up. Angela was not a jumpy person; if she thought she had cause for concern, Raina believed her.

"Stay behind me at all times, don't leave, don't try to help me if we’re attacked." Angela spoke quickly, turning completely professional on a dime. "I don't see the bodyguards."

Angela was right. Raina looked right and then left, searching the sidewalk for the two men who’d been trailing them all day. Neither of the men had gotten more than ten feet away from Raina at any point during the shopping excursion. Where had they gone?

"What do we do?" Raina asked, her heart thundering so loud she could barely hear. Did they stay on the crowded sidewalk and hope that whatever happened to the bodyguards didn't happen to them? Or did they try to run and hide?

"There's a door right behind you, go into the shop and head for the rear exit. Don't look back, I'll be right behind you."

Together they rushed into the shop, Raina hurtling towards the back door. She could hear Angela behind her. She continued running toward the change rooms.

"Where's your exit?" Angela shouted at the shop person.

Raina was already in the back hallway so she didn't hear the answer, but Angela came sprinting after her, only a few feet behind. Raina was so concentrated on getting to the rear exit as fast as she could that she didn't hear Angela's words in time.

"Let me go first!" Angela shouted just as Raina hit the bar across the back door, shoving it open and slamming into the alley.

Everything happened so quickly that Raina didn't have a chance to defend herself or Angela who was right behind her. Something slammed into Raina so hard that she hit the door then rebounded and hit the wall. She crumpled to the ground, dropping her bags as she fell. She landed on her side and remained that way, stunned and hurt.

Seconds later, she heard a pop pop sound. It was like the sounds from her apartment when she’d been shot. She flinched, then curled into herself expecting to feel the hot tearing sensation of bullets ripping through her.

When nothing happened, she looked up hoping to find Angela. But the person crouching next to her wasn’t Angela, it was Daniela Velasquez. Not Daniela Velasquez; the person who killed her.

"Get up." Her voice was cold and emotionless.

When Raina didn't immediately move, Daniela reached out and gripped her by the hair, yanking her to her feet. Raina let out a pained yelp and tried to defend herself, sending an elbow flying towards Daniela's face. Daniela ducked and punched Raina in the side. Raina screamed as she slammed back into the side of the building, pain radiating through her side and back.

Again, Raina tried to defend herself. She whipped around, sending a fist flying towards Daniela's face, but Daniela grabbed her arm and punched Raina in the chest. Raina crumpled to the ground once more, the world spinning around her, the breath knocked from her chest and a burning sensation climbing up her throat. She rolled over onto her hands and knees and threw up.

The woman grabbed her by the hair again and dragged her off the cement. Raina caught a glimpse of Angela. She was lying motionless on her stomach, her head turned to the side and her eyes closed. She was so pale Raina feared she was dead. That explained the popping sounds. Daniela had shot her.

Raina was so dizzy and nauseous that when she tried to lift her arms to defend herself Daniela was able to easily knock them to the side. Daniela gripped her by the throat, lifted her off the ground and slammed her into the wall, smacking the back of Raina's head.

Daniela pulled her gun and pushed it underneath Raina's chin. Raina's eyes filled with tears as she saw her own demise rushing towards her. She was about to die, and she didn't even know what she’d done to deserve it.

"Why?" she whispered.

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