Page 17 of Alejandro's Prey

Gina stared at her in complete astonishment as she automatically slid back into her seat and reached for the belt. Ten minutes ago, she’d been convinced she was going to die on her wedding day. Now she suspected that her mother-in-law hadn’t had a single worry on that count. Hell, the two women hadn’t even sustained a single scratch during the entire kidnapping, which had taken a total of probably twenty-five minutes from the time the priest first started talking to them until now.

Selena glanced at Gina in the rear-view mirror. “You have something you’d like to say to me?”

Gina tilted her head. Yes, there were many things she wanted to say to Selena Morales; to ask her. Like who exactly was she? How did she know how to handle herself so well? Who wasEl Escorpion? And could Selena teach Gina to become brave like her? Instead she said the first thing that popped into her brain. “You shot two men, commanded that entire situation from start to finish like a pro and your hat is still exactly the same as it was when you entered the church.” Wonder and admiration mixed in her voice.

Selena laughed and eyed her new daughter-in-law with indulgence. “Si, niña. While you accidentally stabbed a man in the eye and now you have blood in your hair and on your beautiful dress.”

Revulsion twisted Gina’s face as she looked down at herself. Sure enough, she once more had streaks of blood all over her arms and the front of her dress. Panic began to swell and short breaths burst from her lips. She closed her eyes tight and reminded herself that she was safe now, they couldn’t get her. She glanced around and reached beside her for a discarded shirt to scrub away some of the blood.

“Here, take this,” Selena said, passing the cell phone back to Gina and eyeing her as though to make sure she wasn’t about to completely freak out. “I’m no good with these. I got him to tell me the code while he was moving the bodies, it’s 7089.”

Gina took it and typed the code in. She was relieved when the phone actually unlocked, and she immediately called Alejandro. He picked up right away, growling, “Si, who is this?”

“Alejandro, it’s me,” Gina said softly, her voice wobbly. She felt a rush of emotion at hearing his deep voice. Tears started in the corners of her eyes and she brushed at them impatiently. Stupid really, she managed to kill a guy and get through a kidnapping without tears but the moment she heardhisvoice she was ready to fall to pieces.

“Gina, where the fuck are you?” he demanded immediately, his voice rising in volume. “Are you safe?”

It was no use, the tears spilled over and a tiny hiccoughing sob escaped her lips. She tried to smother the sounds. “We’re safe. We’re both safe,” she assured him in a high-pitched watery voice. “Your mama saved us. We’re driving though, I don’t know where we are.”

“Of course she saved you,” he snapped. “I was extremely relieved when I discovered this fool had her kidnapped with you. I knew she would get you to safety. Put the phone on speaker so I can talk to her.”

Gina did as he commanded and held the phone out so Selena could talk. Rather than bother with any kind of emotion, the two held a quick, clipped conversation, agreeing that the best place for the women to meet was a remote café on the way to the airport.

When Alejandro said, “Keep my bride safe,” to his mother, Gina felt the need to defend herself. After all, she’d somewhat held her own. “I stabbed a guy and I did a better job this time! I actually killed him.”

Selena snorted but didn’t bother interrupting to tell how Gina had missed her mark by a long shot. She probably wasn’t going to make the best mafia wife. But dammit, she could bake and dance, and she had plenty of other wonderful qualities. And despite everything, Alejandro had chosen her and she had chosen him. They were a team now.

Chapter Twelve

Alejandro wanted to tear La Paz apart stone by stone until he had the man responsible for his woman’s abduction. Though he knew if Reyes was correct in his assumption that the person behind this mess was as much a heavy as themselves, then the likelihood of his being in Bolivia was slim. This was the reason he kept sending amateurs in. Which was why Alejandro kept getting lucky. If his enemy, whoever he was, got smarter, Alejandro might not continue this lucky streak. He needed to be more careful now that he had more than himself to think of.

“I can practically read your thoughts,amigo,” Reyes said from beside him. They were travelling in the back of one of the armoured SUV’s to the meeting point to pick up the women. “Your anger will make you reckless.”

Alejandro grunted and cracked his neck to the side to relieve some of the pressure. He’d had to make short work of killing the priest. It hadn’t been nearly as satisfying as it would’ve been if he’d had the time to do a proper job. “I’ve been angry before. Never interfered with my job.”

Reyes grunted and nodded. “Fair.”

They didn’t speak again until they pulled up to the restaurant where they’d agreed to meet Gina and Alejandro’smadre. He spotted the car she’d described and pointed his driver toward it. Relief blasted through him, releasing tense muscles when he saw the two heads he was hoping for leaning against the rear bumper. One bright blond and the other wearing a pert, colourful hat.

“Fuck, there’s blood all over her again,” he growled. “Look at her!”

“But she’s safe,amigo,” Reyes said calmly. “This is the main goal.”

He was out of the vehicle before it had fully stopped and wrapped his arms around Gina, who let out a startled yelp and dropped the plastic cup she’d been calmly sipping from. It landed on the pavement at their feet splashing pop and ice cubes everywhere. She reached around his waist and hugged him back, pressing her face into his neck and breathing deep. Alejandro reached blindly for his mother, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing in an attempt to convey his gratitude. He felt her soft hand cover his.

“Though it is unlikely that we were followed here, it’s best that we leave for the airfield directly,” Reyes said gruffly from behind them. “I would also suggest Señora Morales spend some time enjoying our hospitality in the mountains. Now that our enemy is aware of her existence, they will likely try to use her against you.”

“They can certainly try,” Selena said pertly straightening up and placing her cup on the trunk of the car. “Nonetheless, I’d like to avoid another afternoon like this. I retired for a reason.”

“Retired?” Gina asked, popping her head out from under Alejandro’s embrace.

“Oh, you didn’t think I was referring to my poor dead husband as The Scorpion when I was threatening that young man, did you?” Selena said slyly, reaching for the door handle of the SUV. “Come on, let’s get moving. This heat is deadly.”

Catching the look on Gina’s face, Alejandro let out a booming laugh and urged her to slide in after his mother. “Mi amor, I can assure you, you have been rescued by one of the deadliest assassin’s to ever grace the ranks of Venezuela’s elite commando unit. She was my mentor first, thenmi madre.”

Awe warred with disbelief as Gina looked at Selena Morales through new eyes. “What did your dad do?” she asked faintly.

Alejandro shrugged. “He was a chef.”

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