Page 87 of Shattered Queens: Veronica
“With everything I am.” He leans in, his gaze unwavering and fierce. “I love you, Veronica Kayde.”
A shaky laugh escapes me, tears blurring my vision. I think back to every time I told him I hated him. I meant it then, but somewhere along the way, the animosity and anger toward him turned into something else. “I love you too, lap—I mean, Miles Villanueva.”
It’s late afternoon when his phone rings. He looks at it, and worry etches his face. “It’s Tia Susana.” He doesn’t hesitate to answer the phone. I can’t make out what’s being said on the other end. I know Spanish, but he’s speaking it so fast. He takes my hand, and we start walking.
“What’s going on?”
“Tia isn’t feeling well. I need to go check on her.”
Tomas’s words come to mind. I’m never one to hold back. He’s leading me to the car, but I pull away from his grasp. “Miles…do you think she makes these things up?” I stand my ground. “It’s just that Tomas said something to me, and well, ever since I came here with you, she’s been nothing but cold and unwelcoming. She’s jealous.”
“Tomas? When did you talk to Tomas?” I can seehisjealous nature start to show.
I roll my eyes. “When my mom was in the hospital, and you were here. He told me about his trip here with you.”
He takes a defensive stance. “Veronica, I know she hasn’t been welcoming. Just give her time. It’s just…”
I snap. “It’s just what, Miles? That she has been the only woman in your life for years, and now that you have someone, she can’t stand seeingyou with them?” I put my hands on his chest. “You watch people; you track them. She isn’t exempt just because she raised you.”
“She wouldn’t lie to me.” I see his inner conflict. “She gave up her life to raise me.”
Really? “You’ve taken care of her in so many ways.” I don’t want to fight, so I concede. “Let’s go.” I move to walk ahead of him.
The car ride is a stark contrast to earlier. Silence. I can tell he’s thinking about what I said. Miles is nothing but logical. He needs to see all the facts and dissect every piece of information. A couple of minutes later, we arrive at the house and head upstairs, the floorboards groaning under the weight of the silence between us. Miles taps his knuckles against the wood—twice, sharp and impatient—until the door creaks open.
“Mijo!” Susana gasps. She practically throws herself into his arms, a move so practiced it feels choreographed. Over his shoulder, she shoots me a look of pure venom, her lips curving into a triumphant smirk.
I don’t hesitate. “Susana, Miles and I have discussed it. We think it’s best to take you to the city for a full examination. It’s a short flight.”
I feel Miles’s gaze move toward me, heavy and silent, but I keep my focus on her. “He’s going to be spending a lot more time in Veridian Bay, so we need to ensure you’re in the best hands.” I finally look at Miles. “Right?”
Susana’s grip on his arm tightens, her knuckles turning white. “Mijo, you don’t have to do that. It is too much trouble. I will simply call my doctor in the morning.”
“Actually, Tia,”—Miles’s voice is cool, devoid of the warmth she was fishing for—“I’ve already called and fired him. We’re finding you a specialist. I’m also arranging for Tomas to fly in for biweekly checkups.”
“I’m not going, Camilo.” Her voice is stern. She’s trying to stand her ground.
Miles narrows his eyes. “Why not?”
Susana turns her gaze to me, her lips curling into a slow, malicious smirk that never reaches her eyes. “Because I don’t have to do anything this bitch tells me to do.”
And there it is. The real Tia Susana.
“How much of it was a lie?” Miles asks. His voice is a low rumble, the sound of a man watching his world fracture. “The illness? The doctor? All of it?” She doesn’t answer. She just stares at him with a hollow, haunting intensity. She’s finally lost her grip, watching her last piece of leverage die in his eyes. Miles doesn’t flinch. He just stands there, regarding her with a cold detachment that makes my skin crawl. The man who was just ready to carry her to a plane is gone. In his place is someone much more dangerous. “All of it, then,” Miles says, his voice a flat, dead calm. “The dizzy spells. The midnight calls. You know how much I worried about you. How much guilt I carried for you sacrificing your life for me. Why?”
Susana doesn’t blink. She doesn't even have the decency to look ashamed. Instead, she sheds the last of her frailty, her spine straightening until she’s looking him dead in the eye. “Because guilt is the only thing that kept you with me, Camilo,” she says, her voice devoid of any warmth. “The only thing that kept you coming back here.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You are my family. The only one I have left.” He looks at me. “But I’m not alone, and I won’t ever be.”
He turns his back on her, the ultimate insult to a woman who thrives on being the center of his world. He reaches out, taking my hand in his, his grip steady and grounding.
“Pack your things,” he tells her without looking back. “You have one hour before the locks are changed. You can go to the city, or you can go to the street. I don’t care which one you choose.”
Miles
Chapter 40
I’m looking at theempty room that used to be Susana’s. I didn’t want to see what was in front of my face. On our way back from town, Veronica asked me to trust her. To go along with her plan to push Susana. I was going to refuse, but I thought back to all the times Susana feigned being sick. She manipulated me for so long. My only family. The sting of betrayal lingers, but I know I’m not alone. I’ve known for a long time.
