Page 70 of Corrupted Queen

“Hey,” I say softly. “Are you ready?”

Gabriel looks up, lips tight. “I’m not going.”

“Why not?” I frown and cross the room, sliding into the chair opposite.

He licks his lip and closes his laptop. “My time would be better served finding the five of Walsh’s men who got away and bringing them to justice,” he explains

For Gabriel, there’s always another job to do, always another person to punish. It’s how he processes things, but I would argue that by diving into his work he processes only the facts and figures, never the emotions.

“Vito would want you there,” I say gently.

His eyes snap to mine, black and unyielding. “Vito’s dead. He doesn’t want anything anymore.”

“What’s this really about?” I press. “You can find the perpetrators any other day. Hell, you can even look this afternoon. But this morning we are going to honor your best friend, who died protecting our family.”

“That’s just it,” he breathes. “Vito died because of me. It was my fault. And now Nuri doesn’t have a father, and Corie doesn’t have a husband, and they know exactly who to blame.”

I go over to him and tug him out of his chair, a little surprised that he lets me. I rest my hands on his chest and hold his gaze.

“Corie knew just as well as I do that she married a dead man,” I say. “Every second she got with him was a boon. If he had lived to a ripe old age, they would have counted their blessings. But the reality of this life means that that was never guaranteed. Vito knew that, Corie knows that, and one day Nuri will understand.”

Gabriel blinks, and his expression shifts from sadness to something else, something like pride. I am shocked by my own conviction and let my hands fall away. Gabriel catches them, and brings my knuckles to his lips.

“Okay,” he says. “Let’s go.”

* * *

It’s a beautiful service. The lacquered coffin shines in the bright sunshine, surrounded by blooming flowers in every color. I catch my first sight of Corie and Nuri. Corie is pretty, with long blonde hair and a heart-shaped face, though I can’t see her features well behind her dark sunglasses. She holds Nuri bundled in her arms. He is silent throughout the service, though he begins to cry as they lower the coffin into the grave.

Afterward, at the reception, I go to give my respects to Corie, woman to woman. She is standing off to the side of the buffet table, rocking Nuri.

“Hi,” I say. “I’m—”

“Alexis,” she cuts me off. “You’re the boss’ girl.”

She looks at me expectantly, as if to say,What do you want?

This is the first funeral I’ve attended besides my father’s, and I’m not sure what you’re supposed to say to a grieving widow. I consider telling her she looks good in black—an indisputable fact—but decide against it. Instead I tell her what I would want to hear if I were in her position, though God forbid I ever am.

My stomach clenches at the mere thought of losing Gabriel.

“I just wanted to tell you that Vito was a good man,” I say. “He’s going to be missed by everyone. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I know it must be crushing.”

“It is.” She sniffs, green eyes rimmed with red.

“I lost my father a couple years ago,” I say. “It still hurts, but it gets easier.”

Corie nods. “So they tell me.” She glances behind me. “I think you need to go rein in your man.”

I look back and swear under my breath. Gabriel is standing in the far corner of the room, speaking to a man I don’t recognize. His face is contorted with rage, and as I watch, he snaps something that has the man reeling back toward the refreshment table.

“Excuse me,” I say with a tight smile, and make my way across the room.

I insert myself in the conversation, resting my hand gently on Gabriel’s arm.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend,” the unfamiliar man sputters.

“You didn’t,” I say, though I have no idea whether he did or not. “Please excuse us.”

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