Page 88 of She's My Queen

The problem? I’m an asshole, a terribly difficult, ruthless man, and I wouldn’t want her to marry me. But that’s not my choice. It’s hers to make, and I wanted to give her the option.

Yet, I’m a better alternative than my uncle. She would have done worse.

In the chapel, I sit against the wall, one leg bent at the knee, the other stretched out in front of me. My elbow rests on my knee, my hand holding the gun I’ll put in my mouth in case they tell me she didn’t wake up from the surgery.

Since my phone hasn’t stopped ringing, the thing’s on silent on the floor next to me. I’ll answer the calls in order of importance. Jace’s line shows up on the screen, and I pick up. “I’m listening.”

“How is the girl?” he asks.

I appreciate him asking. Gordon is the same way, always looking out for his people. “No news on her yet. You have something for me?”

“We have the van and the people who drove it.”

I would love nothing more than to get my hands around their necks right now, but my place is here with Cristina, not out there getting revenge. Though that too will come.

Jace continues. “The driver was a mom with her two boys.”

“That’s the last thing I expected you to say.”

“I know. It’s a crazy story you’ll have to hear from her. I think she and the boys are telling the truth.”

“What is she saying?” I twirl my Walther.

“Said that some men blackmailed her. Had her oldest boy in the back of the van as a hostage if she refused to drive to the church.”

“And then?”

“She was supposed to wait there and then drive the van to the marina.”

“Which marina?”

“It’s called…hold on.” Shuffling. “Marina Bella Luna.”

“Jesus. That’s the cargo one.” I close my eyes, mentally chasing away the images of Cristina inside a metal cargo box inthese temperatures and with nasty men. “What about the men Father Thomas talked about?”

“The older boy said he can identify them, but the mother won’t let him say anything about them because she’s scared we’re going to hurt her kids.”

“Tell her we’re not.”

“I have. She won’t say nothing. She’s asking to speak to my boss.”

There we go with the boss thing again. “I’m not available.”

“How about Corrado?”

“Not a good option for this situation. I’ll get Drago. Meanwhile, make the family comfortable. Put them in my villa, surround it, and give the kids access to any and all games and movies, whatever their little hearts desire. When they fold, she will too.”

“Will do, boss.”

I sigh. “How about the driver who hit Cristina?”

“A local man with his wife on their way to a friend’s house. Said Cristina ran into traffic. Nothing there besides apologies and tears. Says they’d known your girl all their life.”

“I’m sure they did. She was running from the van, I presume.”

“Looks like it.”

I run a thumb across my bottom lip, smelling Cristina’s blood on my skin from when I held her hand. “How are the cops dealing with the lockdown orders?”

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