Page 1 of Alejandro's Prey

Chapter One

“Where’s your cousin?” Alejandro approached Casey, eyeing the vicinity for another bright blond head and coming up empty.

“Umm, she’s around here somewhere,” Casey hedged and didn’t look up at him but continued to play with the baby in her lap.

The first indication he had that something was wrong. Casey looked everyone in the eye. She never backed down from any kind of challenge. Unless something was up that she wasn’t prepared to discuss. Fuck that. If it involved her delectable cousin, it involved him.

Alejandro hunkered down in front of her and the baby, folding his tall, muscular form close to hers. He wanted to tilt her chin, to force her to look at him while he demanded his answers, but he knew touching would not be tolerated by the boss. He understood, he would feel the same about his own woman.

“Where is she, Casey?” he asked, a dangerous edge to his voice.

Casey shrugged, still refusing to lift her eyes.

“I will take this matter to Reyes if you do not answer me now.” His usual easy manner of speaking gave way to impatience. He liked the mistress of the house and usually they got along great, both having a similar sense of humour. Except lately the issue of her cousin was putting a strain on their relationship. Casey was protecting the timid woman from him and this could not be allowed to continue. He was done pussyfooting around the women’s feelings. He wanted his woman in his home and in his life.

Finally, she lifted her eyes, flashing fire at him. He ginned back, giving her the edge of his savage teeth. She was not shy like Gina. She put her husband through hell.

“You are a tattletale and a bully, Alejandro,” Casey informed him loftily.

He shrugged. “Whatever gets me what I want fastest. Now tell me where she is or deal with your husband’s legendary temper.”

She sighed through her nose and rolled her eyes, something she would never dare do if Reyes were in the vicinity. “What makes you think my husband’ll take your side?” she asked, stalling for time.

Alejandro leaned in as close to her as he dared. “Because he marked your pretty little cousin for me the moment I declared my intentions. She was always mine for the taking.”

Her mouth fell open and she stared up at him in shock. “Wh-what!” she exclaimed. “How come I didn’t know about this? Why haven’t you done anything about it? She’s been here for over a year!”

“I’ve been biding my time, watching and waiting. I’m not like the boss,” he told her, his eyes flicking to the baby squirming energetically in her arms. “I have patience. Gina wasn’t ready for a commitment when she came to live here; especially not to a man like me.”

“A man like you,” Casey scoffed.

His eyes met hers in a deadly flash and her antagonism fell away as understanding dawned. He was a man of war. A man that enforced the rules his master created. He killed, maimed and tortured indiscriminately when necessary. He took without asking. While Gina hadn’t had an easy life, she’d been largely sheltered from men like him. Unlike Casey, she hadn’t witnessed the murder of her family. She’d been away at school when her parents and brother had been executed, then she’d been whisked away to safety by the Venezuelan mob boss, Sosa.

“I’m done waiting for her.”

She nodded slowly, searching his face. Finally, she said, “If I tell you where she is, do you promise not to get angry and do something completely unnecessary and over the top, like kill someone?”

He frowned, not liking the direction she was going. It almost sounded like… “Where the fuck is she, Casey?”

“Umm… she sort of went on a date.”

“Excuse me?” He stared at her incredulously for a split second before fury replaced his surprise. “She hasn’t touched anyone since moving here. I made sure of it,” he snarled. “Who the fuck did she go out with?”

“I don’t think I should tell you,” Casey whispered, anxiety replacing her usual bravado. “I’m afraid you’re going to murder him, and I really do need him alive.”

“The doctor,” he snapped, reading between the lines. She reached out for his arm to stop him, but he stood and towered over her. “Where did they go?” When it looked as though she wouldn’t speak, he said, “I won’t kill your fucking doctor if you tell me now. If you force me to go looking I make no promises.”

“Shit,” she hissed, then whispered an apology to baby Sally, gently covering her ears. “Fine. They borrowed a helicopter and went to the city.”

Alejandro spun on his heel and stalked away from her.

“Wait!” she called after him, scrambling to her feet, her daughter clutched securely in her arms. “What are you going to do? Will you also promise not to dismember him either? I need his hands too!”

Chapter Two

“I’ve been expecting you,” Reyes said, not looking up from his paperwork.

Alejandro closed the door to the office firmly behind him. They’d known each other for over twelve years, the boss knew his knock by now. Reyes had lured Alejandro away from his Venezuelan commando unit with the promise of riches and a life-saving health treatment for his mother. He’d gone to work for the Bolivian mobster and never looked back. They didn’t stand on ceremony with each other. Now he stood in front of the same desk he’d been in front of thousands of time – dispensing advice, giving his valued opinion and taking orders.

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