Chương 16: Chapter 16

"He has a sense of humour," Casey murmured with amusement, eyeing the array of gifts Reyes had sent her.

Each one had significance and, if she were being honest, chipped away a little more at the armour around her heart. She hadn't seen him again since their erotic and stormy encounter in his penthouse suite almost a week ago. But each time a new gift arrived, it was a reminder that he hadn't forgotten her. Nor had he forgotten the things that she'd said to him in each of their conversations.

None of the gifts were overly expensive, which told her that he'd listened when she told him that the luxuries surrounding her meant little to her. Her fingers drifted over a framed picture of herself. She had no idea when it was taken because it was a close up of her face. In the photo she was leaning forward, her hair covering most of her face, except for a carefree smile curving her lips as she stared off at nothing in particular. The expression on her face surprised her since she so rarely smiled. Casey lifted her fingers and touched her lips, wondering when she'd smiled like that and what she'd been thinking at the time. How had he gotten such an intimate picture of her? The mansion was locked down tight and she so rarely went out.

She put the picture down and picked up the next item, a book. This one made her laugh out loud and roll her eyes. It was a tourist's guidebook to Bolivia. She'd actually read the entire thing cover to cover in one evening, eager for knowledge of Reyes' home country. She wondered which region his home was in since there were several. She tried not to think too hard about the significance of his giving her the book.

"Kantuta," she whispered, picking up the gorgeous blooms, yet another gift. They looked so exotic she wondered if he'd had to go to great lengths to find them. They were strange looking, but hauntingly beautiful with a long tube-like bell instead of petals. On a suspicion, she'd looked up the national flower of Bolivia to discover that there were two. This one was native to the cooler, western side of the region that contained the Andes. She wondered if he was telling her, indirectly, where he lived.

She flipped the guidebook open and pressed the flowers inside, wanting to preserve them for as long as she could. This was the second time in her life she'd received flowers. Both times from the same man in the space of a week. She was beginning to think he liked her.

The other gifts included a lovely silk wrap that she discovered was a light pink colour by asking her maid. He also gave her several books on the science of migraines written by reputable neurologists from around the world. This particular bundle had filled her eyes with tears and made her think he was doing more than playing terrible games with her. It also broke her heart a little. Because it didn't matter how thoughtful he was, how much he treated her as though he actually cared. She still belonged to another man.

And Reyes had made it clear to her that he valued her loyalty, even if it belonged to someone else. That was the tragedy of her blossoming feelings for the Bolivian mafia boss. Though she suspected he could be as much of a monster as her own husband, she also thought maybe he was capable of loving her back. His thoughtful gifts proved that he felt something. But she couldn't go to him, no matter how much she wanted to.

Ignacio owned her.

* * *

"We move as planned," Reyes growled to Alejandro.

His second nodded sharply, but hesitated. Reyes stiffened and waited. He knew the other man had something to say, but was so used to heeding the boss's orders without question that he didn't know if he should verbalize the thought. Smart decision. However, Reyes had appointed Alejandro his second for a reason. The man was uncommonly intelligent and had survived twelve years in Venezuelan intelligence before moving on to the head of a mercenary organization and then to Reyes who had lured him away with the promise of unparalleled riches and a medical treatment for his mother that would have been out of his reach without Reyes' intervention.

"Just say it," Reyes snarled, already knowing where Alejandro's thoughts were, but knowing they had to have the conversation anyway.

Alejandro stood a little straighter, his eyes on the window behind Reyes. "What about the woman?"

"What about her?" Reyes spat.

Alejandro sighed a little, clearly unable to say exactly what he wanted. They were both ex-military men and thus used to plain speaking, but the big, beat-up head of Reyes security had no idea how to handle this unique situation. Women didn't usually fall under their jurisdiction. At least not the kind they kept. "We have no extraction plan for her. If we move in as planned, she'll be at the house when we hit it."

Reyes stared coldly at the other man. He could feel fury rising up within, but forced it back and responded in the only way he knew how. "She's his wife, she chose her loyalties. I asked her to come to me and she refused. Just make fucking sure nothing happens to her when we move in. I have a contact on the inside who'll help keep her safe."

Alejandro looked as though he were chewing on nails. Reyes understood the dilemma. They would be walking into a bloodbath, no matter what happened. And Casey Hernandez would be sitting right in the middle of it. It chilled him to the bone that there was nothing he could do to spare her from the coming war. Except extract her and keep her for himself. Take her from the keeping of one monster and move her into the keeping of another, infinitely worse. He only hoped she was smart enough to keep out of the path of the flying bullets.

Alejandro grunted. "We'll do our best, boss."

"You better," Reyes told him, turning his cold gaze on the man he'd trusted with his life for the past several years. "If something happens to my future reina, I can assure you, I will come after you and whoever else was careless enough to allow her harm. I don't care who puts the bullet in her, everyone will suffer my wrath."

Alejandro met his eyes and nodded his understanding. The idea that Casey Hernandez would become the Queen of the Reyes cartel finally crystalizing. It was no longer a vague thought, gossip that he and the men discussed behind the bosses back. No, it seemed that the stunningly beautiful blond woman that their leader had been pursuing with relentless determination would be going home with them. As long as they could ensure her survival.

"She will live, Reyes," Alejandro assured him. "You have my word."

Reyes grunted as Alejandro pledged his loyalty to the pale, somewhat weak woman that would stand at his side and lead their organization; their people. Fuck, he hoped he wasn't making a mistake. But he couldn't imagine letting her go now, not after having a brief taste of her. Touching her petal soft skin, tasting her sweetness and learning each fascinating new fact that just made him want her even more. She would become his and she would rule at his side.

"I'm going to see her one more time before we move," he told Alejandro.

It was Tuesday.

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