Page 22 of Queens and Monsters

Seven

Jasmine

Palpable dread filled the car as the crowd of men came into view. Tonight didn’t go as any of us had planned, but that didn’t mean that Rei and Em should suffer at the hands of the famiglia. The dark eyes of most of the men from our Christmas Eve dinner were staring our direction; however, there was only one set of eyes I sought.

I didn’t wait for anyone to come forward to open the door. Instead, I bolted from the car in search of Dario. The sea of bodies parted until I was right in front of him, his arms crossed over his chest, pulling on the seams of his suit coat. I hadn’t seen the expression he wore since the time I showed up at Emerald Club after my attack.

His eyes narrowed as he reached for my shoulders. “Are you hurt?”

Relief that he wasn’t reprimanding me flooded my emotions. “No.” Salty tears spilled from my eyes, yet I kept my voice strong. “I went with them willingly. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

By Dario’s clenched jaw, darkening expression, and the way my heart raced, I knew that Reinaldo and Emiliano were both out of the car and standing behind me.

Dario released my shoulders. “Go upstairs. Wash your face. Later, we will talk.”

Sniffing, I slowly turned, allowing the other faces to come into view. Dante, Jorge, Aléjandro, Salvatore, Carmine, as well as others from the cartel and guards from both sides. My heart fell as my gaze met Piero’s. “I’m sorry.”

“Jasmine.”

I heard the female voice a second before Dario stepped aside, allowing me to see the open elevator with Catalina inside. She gestured for me to come to her. Instead of moving, I looked back up at Dario. “Please don’t be upset with Reinaldo, Emiliano, or the cartel.” I debated if I should say the rest, and I did. “They saved my life.”

A murmur from the other men broke the looming silence of the underground garage.

With a flick of his chin, Dario wordlessly told me to go to Catalina.

Each step toward the elevator seemed more difficult than the last. It was as if I were walking through quicksand. I worried that it didn’t matter what I said: Dario would do whatever he decided was best. Resisting the urge to take one last look at Reinaldo and Emiliano, Icontinued. Keeping my chin raised, I concentrated on Catalina’s understanding expression, hoping I was reading it correctly.

She wrapped her arm around my shoulders as I crossed the threshold. It wasn’t until the doors were fully closed that I gave into the emotion bubbling within me. Tears streamed as ragged sobs came from my chest. “What will he do to them?” I spoke into Catalina’s shoulder as she embraced me.

“That’s his decision.”

Shaking my head, I looked up, meeting her green stare. “They didn’t force me. I chose to go out with them.”

She tilted her head. “Why would you do that? You know the dangers.”

“I know the dangers.” Stepping back, my words came out louder than I intended. I wiped my nose and cheeks on my sleeve. Exasperation overtook me. Lifting my arms, I let them fall to my sides. “I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by bodyguards. I thought for once it might be fun to live like other people.”

Catalina pressed her lips together as the elevator stopped at the penthouse. “Dario would like you to go to your room and wait until he sends word.”

“I’m twenty years old.” The doors opened.

Catalina ran her palm over my arm. “I know, honey. I do. You’re an adult, and you wanted to know what that felt like. However, now this situation is in Dario’s hands. If I were you, I would do as he said. There’s no sense in making the situation worse.”

Make it worse—was that even possible?

What would Dario do?

I’d never encountered his wrath. Perhaps I’d been too afraid that he would send me back to the streets to disappoint him. Rei’s threat of putting me over his knee came back to me. I knew that Dario was capable of bad things, but never had he even threatened corporal punishment.

We stepped into the foyer. My boots echoed on the marble floor. The living room that hours ago was filled with people was empty and dim. The only illumination came from the lights on the tree. Beyond the large windows, darkness reigned.

“Where is everyone?”

“Carmine and Salvatore sent their families home as soon as dinner was done. Anyone left who didn’t go down to the garage is downstairs at Dante and Camila’s apartment waiting for word about you.”

“I’m sure Carmine used me as an example for how Isabella shouldn’t behave.”

Catalina pressed her lips together. “We can’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but you are not an example of a problem. You’re simply growing up. Isabella is only seventeen, I believe. She’s not where you are.”

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