Chapter 59

Gina didn't need Alejandro's warning. She knew that their marriage wouldn't always be happy. She'd known from the moment she admitted to herself that she was in love with the mobster, the day after he'd caught her walking alone in the dark. She'd gone to bed and cried herself to sleep as she'd acknowledged the course her life would take if she gave into her feelings for Alejandro. When she'd woken she'd given herself permission to embrace that world and that was when she'd become truly happy with life in Bolivia.

"Gina."

She looked up, startled and blinked into Alejandro's sinister handsome face as he leaned into the open car door. She accepted the hand he offered, slid from the car and into his loose embrace. His men quickly surrounded the couple and escorted them into La Paz's hottest night club. Gina wasn't the type to truly enjoy the club scene and wondered why he would bring her here. So far, Alejandro had hit the mark with each and every one of her preferences. It seemed odd, knowing Gina preferred solitude and quiet, that he would bring her to a noisy, busy hotspot. However, she trusted Alejandro, he would have his reasons.

He led her past a lineup and several bouncers without stopping. She wasn't surprised. Alejandro was well known in La Paz. Even if his men hadn't sent word ahead of their arrival, his presence alone would ensure their swift inclusion. Alejandro led her through the open door and without pausing, turned and made a path for them toward a VIP section. Gina was grateful that they would get their own seating area and when they arrived she sat quickly on one of the sofas.

Alejandro ordered drinks for them and had a quick conversation with Fredo, gesturing rapidly. She supposed he was telling the men where they should stand for optimal security. Her lips twitched up. After all, he was the best when it came to security. It was like a head chef leaving his own meal planning up to a subordinate. Somewhat impossible.

The noise was beginning to get to Gina so when Alejandro turned back to her, she unthinkingly reached for his hand and tugged him gently, indicating she wanted him to sit next to her. She blushed at her own audacity but retained her hold on his hand. He glanced around again and then sat next to her, close enough that his long thigh pressed full length against hers. She sighed happily and snuggled into his side.

She tilted her head and looked at him curiously.

"You're wondering why I brought you here," he said, some amusement in his voice since the question was probably written all over her expressive face.

She laughed and nodded. "Yes, this isn't really…"

"Your thing," he finished. "You'll see, mi amor. Don't worry, we won't stay long. I just want you to be seen with me. After tonight, there will be no question who you belong to."

Gina stared up at him. She didn't quite know how to respond. His possessiveness seemed out of character considering he had an entire year to lay claim to her yet hadn't bothered until she went on a date with another man. Yet, Alejandro was more carefully controlled than that. He didn't let his temper make decisions for him, which meant he'd planned this weekend despite her date. Was her trip to La Paz with Miguel simply coincidence?

A waiter stopped by the table after showing identification to one of the men and set a couple of drinks down. Gina immediately reached for the glass of red wine Alejandro had ordered for her, but he intercepted her, taking the glass from her hand. She frowned and watched with curiosity while he took a quick gulp. After a moment he nodded and handed the drink back to her. She took it with trembling hands and downed a large sip.

Alejandro studied her with his usual intensity. She dropped her eyes and continued to sip her wine, taking in the warmth as it flooded her veins. He ran his fingers across her shoulder and down her back where the halter bared her skin for his touch. He wrapped his hand around her curls and tugged a little drawing her attention back to his dark gaze.

"You know the origins or the Argentinian tango, cari?a?" he asked, his deep voice caressing.

Gina gaped at him and almost spilled her wine in her lap. Did he know? Her eyes flew to his. Yes, of course he knew. The twinkle in those velvety depths told her he probably knew from the inception of her and Casey's goofy idea. She closed her eyes and placed the palm of her free hand over her eyes. She shook her head and said, "I have no idea."

He smiled and tugged her hand away from her face, wrapping his long, brown fingers around her wrist and holding her captive while he spoke. "Of course, you already know the dance is about heat and passion. But you may not know it is about the relationship between a poor man and a fallen woman. He falls in love with her, but she betrays him, leaves him for a rich man. The poor man finds her and takes his revenge by killing her. This is the symbolism at the end of the dance. When she falls to the floor, she dies at his feet."

Gina stared at him, at the grim seriousness of his face as time seemed to stop between them. Another warning like the one he'd given her at the restaurant. She was not to leave him; she was not to betray him. Tilting her wine toward her mouth she downed the last of the rich liquid in one long drink then she stood, enjoying the feel of her sleek dress caressing her legs as it slid into place. She set the wine glass on the table beside her and tipped her head down to look at Alejandro with narrowed eyes.

He reached for her, wrapping long fingers around her waist. "You understand, Gina?"

She ignored his question. Instead, she asked, "You know what Casey and I've been up to?"

The two women had decided to teach themselves different dances over the long months of isolation at the compound. Their favourite had been the tango; a beautiful, passionate and difficult dance. They had taken turns in the leading and following roles, learning all the steps, sometimes serious, sometimes erupting into hysterical fits of laughter. Though they probably should have realized they'd been discovered, they thought their activities were secret, their only audience a baby that couldn't tell on them yet.

He nodded, a slight smile twitching up the edges of his lips. Gina held out a hand and arched an eyebrow in query. "We've been dancing around each other for a year, Alejandro. Don't you think it's time we do this for real or don't you dance?" she challenged, fully expecting him to deny her request and take her away from the club.

She should've known her man better than that. He let out a growl and took her wrist in an unbreakable hold. Standing up, he towered over her and wrapped an arm around her back, crowding her, refusing to allow her to back up. He leaned down and spoke in her ear, his warm breath feathering across her skin, "Just remember, cari?a, where I lead you will follow."

He led her out of the VIP area and down the steps, stopping only briefly to speak with Fredo. Then he took her to the edge of the dance floor where they stood waiting. Her heart pounded in her chest. She suddenly realized she'd made a colossal mistake. They were about to dance. In front of people. People that would watch them. She'd only ever danced in front of and with her cousin. This was so very different it was grossly not funny!

She turned panicked eyes up to Alejandro. He smiled down at her and winked, leaning down to her. "You will see, feel and hear only me, si? My heart is the beat of the music in your ear. You remember and you will be fine, mi amor. I will not let you fall, not now, not ever."

Her lips parted slightly in surprise as she took his words in. "When did you become so romantic?"

He laughed out loud, his voice booming out as the music fell away and staff were urging people off the dance floor. Silence descended over the room and the crowd turned to watch as Alejandro took her hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor. A shaft of fright ran through her as the watchful faces came into focus, but then Alejandro stepped in front of her and captured her attention, forcing her to focus on him once more. The lights dimmed around them until there were only a few left spotlighting the glossy black dance area. The crowd faded away until there was only Alejandro and Gina.