The Queens: Scarred Queen, Alejandro's Prey
Chapter 64

Gina sat in the front row pew watching her new husband argue with his boss. Though they were far off to the side, standing underneath a stone archway, out of earshot, she could imagine the conversation. Alejandro wanted to stay in La Paz or fly on to another location where they could honeymoon with privacy. He'd said as much directly after the ceremony. Reyes had immediately denied the request, though Alejandro hadn't exactly made it a request. He'd told Reyes of their plans. Now Reyes was attempting to convince his valuable second-in-command that the safest place for the new couple would be at the compound.

She understood Alejandro's hesitation. It wasn't part of his character to hide until the threat was over. No, he would want to hunt that threat down and neutralize it himself. But he couldn't do that with a bride tagging along, especially one who wasn't specialized in any form of combat. Her pathetic attempt at helping him the day before was proof enough of that. Alejandro also wanted to get Gina alone. Finally alone. No family, no bodyguards, no mafia interruptions. She understood that part and she wanted it too.

But she was torn. She also wanted to feel safe again. And she had felt safe at the compound. Never once had she ever thought it might be penetrable. Reyes had built it in such a way that not even Genghis Khan himself could've gained access.

"Not the honeymoon you were expecting," Selena said from beside Gina.

Gina smiled tightly and shook her head. "We'll manage, no matter what they decide." Selena sighed and shifted on the hard bench, attempting to replace a more comfortable position. She turned her back on the heated discussion and studied her new daughter- in-law. "I think the decision has already been made and you know it. But I like that you always seem capable of replaceing the bright side. I have noticed this about you since your arrival in our tight-knit family. It's a good quality to have, this ability to replace a silver lining."

"Gracias," Gina said quietly, nodding her head at the compliment.

Selena continued, "Alejandro, he calls you the little mouse because he thinks you are shy. I think you are just quiet, observant. You are not impetuous, like your cousin. You think before you leap. Not that there is anything wrong with Casey, you are just different. A better match for mi hijo."

Gina swallowed a laugh and simply thanked the woman again for her words. Selena might have thought her a lot less thoughtful if she'd seen her the evening before during the shootout. But she didn't comment.

"You are very kind, Se?ora Morales," she said and then continued in a rush, wanting to assure the woman of her affection for her son but feeling uncertain at the same time. They hadn't had enough opportunity to form a bond over the past year, having only met a handful of times. Yet she was now Selena's daughter-in-law. "I want you to know that I... I love Alejandro. He's a wonderful man, and I think we will be very happy together."

Selena smiled kindly and then snorted, the sound reminiscent of her son. "I'm sure you will, Gina. Despite your severe lack of choice up there in the mountains. Especially if I know my son. He would have been ensuring that lack of choice was even smaller by making sure you couldn't get any closer than absolutely necessary to his men."

Gina's mouth fell open and then she giggled. "Rule number one, don't talk to the men," Gina said in a low deep voice.

Both women laughed together and chatted about Alejandro's overly strict rule's until they were interrupted by the priest who had performed the ceremony. He'd been coldly efficient so Gina hadn't felt the need to do more than give him a quick smile after he'd finished the nuptials.

"Excuse me, Se?oras'?"

"Si?" Selena answered for them, turning to the man.

He glanced quickly toward Alejandro and Reyes who'd stopped arguing and were now deep in discussion with Fredo and a few other of the men, likely hammering out logistics for getting the couple to the airport safely. Gina shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. It was a stark reminder that her entire family had perished under a similar threat, a similar hit. She was more than willing to put her honeymoon off until their safety was ensured. She just wanted to get back to the valley fortress, back to her cousin, and create her home with Alejandro.

"Perhaps I can distract the ladies from their present unpleasantness with a tour. The original foundations for this cathedral were built in 1789. The stained glass brought over from Italy..." He launched into an impassioned speech, far more animated than the wedding ceremony he'd just performed. Clearly, he cared far more for stones and mortar than people. Without checking to see if the women were following, he turned and began moving toward an archway further toward the front of the church talking loudly, his voice echoing in the room.

Selena and Gina looked at each other, somewhat surprised at his sudden interest in them. Gina shrugged and stood, smoothing her skirt down. She glanced toward the men, still conversing. One of the bodyguards stepped forward. She nodded toward the priest with an arched brow and he gave her a thumb's up falling into step beside them as they hurried to catch up with the man who was still droning on about a bible sent over from the Vatican.

"... over a hundred years ago. Almost one of its kind. Only a dozen in existence." "Well then it's not one of a kind, is it?" Selena asked, humour evident in her voice.

Gina laughed and tried to cover it up with a cough.

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"Excuse me?" he asked, his robe swishing as he turned to give them an annoyed look. "Did you say something?"

Gina was pretty sure he'd heard, but Selena didn't repeat herself. The priest continued his tour, moving them further through the church, taking them through several doors. She wondered why he was bothering with them. He didn't seem to feel particularly motivated to be kind toward any of them.

"You simply must see the foundations," he muttered, taking them toward a set of stairs. He began descending before the women had a chance to decline his offer. "Oldest part of the church. More than 300 years."

"Yes, you said," Selena replied drily, but the priest was descending at a rapid rate.

The lighting seemed to be almost as old as this part of the church and there was a noticeable chill. "I think we should turn around," the bodyguard who'd accompanied them said, lifting his cell phone to look at it. "No service," he said with a frown as they stopped on a landing.

"I think so too," Gina agreed, hugging herself to ward off the chill and squinting into the shadowy darkness, trying to see which way the priest had gone.

A muffled pop sounded next to them startling her. The bodyguard collapsed, falling against Gina. She hurtled sideways catching herself against a stone pillar. She blinked, trying to see what'd happened and then blinked again as she tried to reach for the man to see why he was hurt, but Selena caught her hand.

"No, Gina," she said, her voice calm but urgent. "You can't help him."

"I'm sorry," the priest said, stepping into what little light there was, a gun raised in his hand. "I need you to come with me now."

"You shot him!" Gina said accusingly.

"Start moving or she'll be next. I only need to take the bride alive, though both would be better," he said coldly. "We had no idea Reyes' man had a madre in the city or we would have lured him out of hiding a long time ago."

Selena snorted. "You would have tried."

"Move," he snapped and waved the gun, indicating they should walk further into the shadowy damp tunnel.

Selena maintained her hold on Gina and they moved together ahead of the priest. At one point, Selena took a shuffling step, pretended to stumble against Gina and went down on one knee. Gina knew it was an act because the older woman was careful to put most of her weight against Gina so she wouldn't hurt herself. Gina grunted in protest, stumbling herself.

"Are you okay?" she asked, attempting to sound concerned instead of sarcastic.

"Fine, fine," Selena said in a frail voice. "Help me up though." As soon as Gina leaned over her, wrapping her arms around Selena, the other woman pressed her lips against Gina's ear and whispered, "Are you armed?"

Gina shook her head.

Once she was back on her feet the priest shoved them forward and snapped, "Faster, or I kill the slow Se?ora Morales and hand over the young one."

"Okay, we're walking!" Gina cried, clutching Selena and praying she didn't have any more stupid tricks to try. Unless it was stabbing the priest in the eye with his own cross and stealing his gun.

When they moved through a particularly dark shadow Selena pressed something cold and hard into Gina's hand. She felt it with her fingers and quickly surmised it was a switchblade. A helluva lot bigger of a blade than the one she'd tried to use the day before. Well! The older Se?ora Morales had some decent tricks up her sleeve after all. Gina shoved it down the front of her dress when she was sure the priest wasn't looking and caught the quick, approving grin Selena sent her.

"Stop here," he commanded them.

Gina looked around but didn't see anything special. Until he threw open a door leading outside. Bright sunlight streamed through the door, blinding them after their brief walk through the dank tunnel. Rapid Spanish met her ears. The cadence, the words, the way they were speaking told her everything she needed to know. Gang.