Page 61 of Shattered Queens: Veronica
I watch them process the chessboard. “Have Ian tell Serena what’s going on,” Damon orders. “She can handle it. Have her stay with Veronica. She’s lethal, and she won’t say a word.”
I nod, already reaching for my phone.
Miles
Chapter 29
I’m icing my facewhen the Kaydes enter Caleb’s office. What I don’t expect is who joins them: Miguel Kayde and Isaac Korolov. One is a retired billionaire, and the other is a high-ranking member of the Mafia. They walk behind the private bar with an air of absolute ownership.
Miguel pours himself a drink, his movements slow and deliberate. He catches my reaction, but his expression remains unreadable as he just stares at me. I watch Isaac whisper something into his ear; Miguel nods once, then walks over and takes the seat directly in front of me. No words. He just stares. This man intimidated me in my youth, and even now, the weight of his gaze feels like a physical pressure. He hasn't said a thing, yet he’s already dominating the room.
I see Ian walk in with Gabe. Ian is fidgeting with his knife, just like I am with my brass knuckles.
Felix walks over and takes a seat next to me. “Relax, Miguel isn’t going to kill you. He has others do that for him.”
A faint smile plays on Miguel’s lips. He doesn't confirm or deny, but his gaze remains fixed, unwavering. The air in the room thickens with the initial tension and the power dynamics between the men gathered here.
“Serena just sent me a message,” Ian says, checking his phone. “She, Veronica, Yuri, and Mom are having a girls' night to plan the engagement party.”
“How did you get Veronica to agree to that with Yuri there?” I ask. I know Veronica isn't Yuri’s biggest fan. She hasn’t been since she broke Gabe’s heart.
“It’s for Mom. They’ll do it for her. Aunt is joining them for a bit as well,” Gabe chimes in.
The room settles into a heavy quiet until Isaac breaks it. “So…Miles,” he starts, his eyes narrowing. “Care to tell us what’s going on?”
I look around at the men gathered here—the power, the history, the danger. I know I can’t keep them in the dark about Eric. So I don’t. I lay it all out: the package, the recent attack, which I now know is too much of a coincidence, and the moment the mask slipped, leading to Veronica finally finding out who I really am.
“Fuck, Miles,” Gabe shouts. “Why didn’t you tell us? All this time?”
“It’s my job to watch and protect her.”
“No,” Miguel interrupts. “It’s all of our jobs to protect each other. We are family. This is not your burden to carry.” He looks at his sons, then back at me. “She doesn’t need to know about this.”
“She needs to know when she’s in danger.” I stand up and look at all the men. I wince in pain. “She’s stronger than you give her credit for.” I wince—fuck, my rib. I need Tomas to take a look at it.
“What exactly do you want to tell her, Camilo? That a dangerous man is after her? That she needs to live in fear? That she needs to stop living because she hurt a man’s ego—a man who has a history of hurting men and women?” I’ve never seen this side of Miguel. It’s cold, sharp, and utterly dominant. “Do tell, Miles. Is that your plan?”
“Dad,” Ian whispers, a warning in his tone.
Miguel ignores him, his gaze drilling into me. “You may protect her from behind a screen, but you also need to stand by her side. She deserves that much.”
“What do you think I did tonight?”
He’s baiting me. I look around and see the men smiling. Like I’m the only one not getting the joke.
“Right then,” Caleb says, the focus of a killer. “Now, how are we going to figure out what Eric’s plans are? Him sticking around this long isn’t good.”
I look around the room. “He’s right. Unless we want to start a war, we need to cover our bases.”
We spent hours devising a plan. My job remains the same—protect Veronica. First, I need to get looked at. I call Tomas to let him know that I’m stopping by for a doctor’s visit. I meet him at his apartment, and he examines me. It’s nothing I didn’t already know: broken ribs, split lip, and a black eye. It was worth it. He doesn’t ask questions. That’s the thing about knowing someone your whole life. You just accept the truths you are given. Tomas may not know how deep my secrets are buried, but he trusts me enough to know that I will come to him if I ever need to unburden myself of them.
I check my watch.Fuck, it has been a long day. The meeting with the families took longer than expected, and I’m running on fumes. I check my watch, and it’s past two in the morning as I arrive home. I take thepain pills and crash. I wake up disoriented.Shit, it’s dark. How long have I been asleep? My phone is in my hand. I missed a call from Veronica, so I check my messages. I look down and reread the messages she sent.
Princesa: Hope you’re having a good day. I’m sure you know I stayed at Mom’s. So I’ll see you before my dinner with Frank.
Princesa: Mom’s doing really well. She’s had fun planning the engagement party. Also, Yuri was there, but she looked off.
Princesa: Has my brother said anything to you? I’m actually worried about her.
