The Queens: Scarred Queen, Alejandro's Prey
Chapter 70

"Drop it!" Gina yelped.

She heaved a sigh of relief as the muffin hit the floor and bent over to scoop it up, tossing it in the trash. She placed a new chocolate chip raspberry muffin in Casey's palm and whirled around the side of her kitchen island to check on the batch still in the oven. They were rising beautifully, the tops baking to a lovely golden brown.

"You want to tell me what that was about?" Casey asked suspiciously, peeling the paper away from the base of her still warm muffin. She took a big bite, closing her eyes in what looked like ecstasy.

"Uh, nope," Gina mumbled, mixing another batch in a big metal bowl.

"My god," Casey moaned, licking her lips. "You suck at hand-to-hand combat, weapons and pretty much anything else self-defence related, but damn girl, you can bake! Can I take some up to the main house for Reyes and the housekeeping staff?"

Gina laughed, covered her hand in an oven mitt and took the trays out of the oven, making room for her next batch. She chewed her lip for a moment, staring down at them, then nodded decisively. "Uh yep, you can have these ones here. I'll just pack them up."

"But these ones are cool already," Casey reached for the ones cooling on a plate next to her.

Gina whirled around and slapped her cousin's hand with the oven mitt. "Seriously, Casey! Stop touching those ones."

"Okay!" Casey huffed, climbing off the stool. "I'll take the hot ones. They look better anyway."

"It's not like they're actually going to make it to your staff," Gina said smartly. "You'll wolf these down before anyone else even knows they exist. I'll have to send more up, straight to the kitchen."

Casey didn't argue. They both knew Gina was right. Casey came around the side of the counter, took the package of muffins from Gina's hands and gave her a quick squeeze. Casey could be such a contradiction. One minute she was a holy terror and the next she was caring and empathetic, coming over to help ease Gina's anxiety over the return of her husband and brother. Gina hadn't seen either of them yet. Alejandro had taken Beck straight to the interrogation rooms two days earlier. Reyes had come to see Gina, to inform her that her husband was home, but unwilling to see her yet.

Gina knew why. He couldn't face her knowing that he would have to execute her brother. With such a thing hanging over their heads she didn't know how her marriage would proceed. How she could convince him that she belonged to him. Was loyal to him alone.

"Can I ask a favour?" she asked Casey, trying to tamp down on the desperation that threatened to erupt.

"Of course!" Casey was quick to assure her. "You never ask for anything. What is it?" "Can you ask Reyes if I can see Beck before... before..." her voice trailed off. She felt Casey stiffen beside her and understood. Casey hated Beck. He could have stopped the massacre of two families if he'd gone to Casey's father and told him what the Mexicans were planning; what Ignacio Hernandez, Casey's first husband had planned. Instead he'd allowed greed to surpass family loyalty, saving only himself and Gina. Though it was useless, Gina felt survivor's guilt, would always feel it. She was only alive because Beck had loved her as a child. "I'm not pleading for his life," she assured Casey. "I just need to see him, see the monster responsible for so much pain and death. I need to assure my husband that I stood in front of my brother, spat on our familial connection and chose my life here, with him."

Though Casey still looked unsure, she nodded and squeezed Gina's arm. "I understand, I'll speak with Reyes. I... I think they're planning on executing him in the morning."

"So... I'll need to see him tonight then," Gina said shakily.

"I'll talk to Reyes right away," Casey assured her. "I can't promise he'll allow it, but I'll let you know either way."

"Thank you," Gina whispered, swallowing her tears. She didn't mean to get so emotional. She wished she could be more stoic about things like murder and betrayal. Like Casey, who had risen up to become an incredible powerhouse, a proud mafia wife.

Gina got the call a few hours later from Reyes himself. He was brief and to the point. "You'll have five minutes with him. After that you won't see him again."

It took a moment for Gina to catch her breath. He gave her that time. "Thank you," she said sincerely, knowing it couldn't have been an easy decision. "Will Alejandro be there?"

"Of course."

Of course.