Page 138 of Wanted

“What about Alex?” I asked, fidgeting with the lapels of my jacket.

“He’s a big boy,” Jordan smirked. “I’ve got people in the States. Don’t you worry about your husband. Nothing will happen to him. You might be confining me to Katantia, but my reach is worldwide.”

I sighed, chewing on his statement. It was futile to ask Travis about the details of his network. He wouldn’t say. We didn’t even know the names of the guards that protected us. We weren’t supposed to speak to them. I asked, “Where should we bury Travis? In our graveyard?”

Felicita shook her head. “No, my husband wanted to be buried in his family lot in the States. He should be moved there as quickly as possible.”

“Considered it done,” I assured her. Once I was back in the office, which was my home, for the time being, I had several things to do. Giving my mother and Travis proper burials was a top priority. I already envisioned the flower arrangements that would brighten up the family graveyard.

“Kamila?” one of the nurses approached us. The sun had risen, bringing on another day. I was pretty sure I looked like a hungover panda, but the nurse addressed me with a gleam in her eyes. “Congratulations. I wanted to inform you that Valentina is up and asking for you.”

Felicita muttered, “She should sleep some more…”

“I’ll see her for a short moment, and then I’ll let her rest,” I told Felicita. She nodded in acceptance. I understood her worry, and I wasn’t planning on exhausting Valentina.

I followed the nurse down the hall, passing Fylox, who still stood outside of his best friend’s room, and after a light knock on the door, she let me into Valentina’s room.

“Congratulations,” I said the moment we locked eyes.

“Thank you,” she croaked. Her breathing was heavy.

“How are you doing?” I asked, taking a seat by her bed. The sheets covered most of her body, but her weary eyes glimpsed at me.

“Fantastic,” she replied, a weak smirk plastered on her face. “I couldn’t even keep a baby in. She wanted out.”

“Don’t go there,” I told her.

“Is my new queen commanding it?”

I nodded. “It’s not your fault that things have gone to shit. The baby will be fine. We have the best facilities at Queen I hospital. PJ will come home with us sooner than you can say Katantia.”

“Her name is Penelope Jade,” Valentina warned me.

“Yes, our little one’s name is Penelope Jade. I love the name, by the way,” I told her. It had something to it, an uncontained energy.

Valentina brightened up at my words. “I love it, too. It’s the name of a princess.”

“I agree.”

“We’ve come a long way from you calling me a cockroach, haven’t we?” she asked.

I sat back on the chair. Fuck. She’d been so young when she’d first arrived on Katantia. I hadn’t been in my best of phases back then. I’d catch her observing me through the windows of the house she grew up in. At times, she also came up to me while I gardened.

You’re the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen in my life.

“I apologize for being so mean to you,” I blurted out, tremors filling my voice. “I-I should’ve known better. You were just an innocent child.”

“Don’t cry, Kamila. Don’t you dare cry on me right now. I pushed a baby out of me a couple of hours ago. I’ve got back pain. My head’s killing me. I don’t need to see your tears right now,” she said, and I swallowed, drying the tears before they could roll down my cheeks.

“I want you to know I’ll be there for you. Whatever you need, it’s yours,” I assured her.

“Okay,” she said, her eyes fluttering close.

“Get some rest now. We’re all outside. Weston and Mandy are making the announcement as we speak. We’ll see you when you’re ready,” I promised her.

She nodded sleepily. “She’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. She was such a tiny angry thing when they showed her to me…”

I removed myself from the room, shutting the door gently behind me. Outside, I needed a moment to myself.