Page 23 of Queens and Monsters

My mind filled with the young girl with golden hair, striking for a young woman from an Italian family.

I went to the staircase and stared upward. Dario wanted me upstairs in my room like a child waiting for her sentence. A glance in the large mirror in the foyer told me why he said to wash my face. Mascara and eyeliner were smeared beneath my eyes. For some reason, I couldn’t make myself climb the staircase.Instead, I let out a breath and sat on the second step. “This is what it’s like to have Dario upset with you.”

Catalina sat beside me, tucking the skirt of her dress around her legs. “You know that if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be upset.” She laid her hand on my knee. “You said you thought it would be fun. Was it fun?”

“At first.” I nodded, allowing myself to remember what had only recently happened. “Driving away without Piero or Armando was exhilarating. Have you ever wanted to do it?”

Pressing her lips together, Catalina shook her head. “I think I’m afflicted with an insufferable case of rule following. I have for my whole life.”

Swallowing, I nodded. “I get that. I don’t know about my whole life, but until tonight, I’ve followed the rules.” A chill came to me as I thought about the first snow. A lump formed in the back of my throat as I willed away emotions. “Do you remember your childhood?”

Catalina inhaled. “Bits and pieces only. Nothing big. As a mother I want so much for Ariadna Gia as we can provide. I’m sure my parents wanted the same for me and my siblings.”

“Birthday parties?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Not really. I remember my quinceañera. Do you have childhood memories?”

“I remember my eighth birthday.” I wiped away a rogue tear. “Dario took Josie and me out to dinner.” A smile formed, curling my lips. “I had a new dress and new shoes. We were all dressed up and the people at the restaurant treated me like I was a princess.” My smile dimmed. “Before Dario, I don’t really remember much,but Josie told me that before we got our own apartment, we’d stay with friends who would always end up kicking us out. For a long time, she worried Dario would do the same thing.”

“No.”

“I know he didn’t…” I met her green gaze. “Do you think he will now? I’m old enough. He doesn’t need to be obligated to me any longer.”

Catalina’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, honey, kicking you out isn’t a possibility. He loves you.” She tilted her head. “Do you want to be away from him?”

Inhaling, I tipped my head back and stared up at the ceiling. “Yes and no.”

She smiled. “I remember thinking I was grown up enough to be on my own, but my father would never allow a female to live on her own. You have more freedom at college than I did. I commuted from home.”

“I want freedom, but at the same time, I don’t want to sleep in a car or be cold.”

“That won’t happen. You’re Dario’s family. That makes you part of our family. Right now, he’s disappointed, and there’s Salvatore and Carmine.”

“They hate me.”

“From what I’ve learned, they didn’t care for Josie, and you’re part of her. The fact you’re a reason for a rift with the cartel…they’ll try to take advantage of it.”

“How?”

“Cause problems with the capos on the street. Make Dario look weak for not being able to handle you or soft for watching over you.”

Cradling my head, I put my elbows on my knees andclosed my eyes. Each phrase she said was true. I never thought by leaving with Rei and Em I would make Dario look weak. I turned to Catalina. “It was just supposed to be a few hours.”

“Where did you go?” she asked.

I met her gaze. “A place called Green Lady Lounge. It’s a jazz club.” I recalled the atmosphere. “It feels like you’ve walked into some old movie—red velvet walls and live music.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“I hadn’t either. It’s north off of 670.”

Catalina’s eyes grew wide. “What neighborhood?”

“I think it was around the Arts District.” I scrunched my nose. “I’m not sure. It wasn’t a great one.”

She closed her eyes and exhaled. “Oh, Em.” She shook her head. “They should have known better.”

The hum of the elevator moving reverberated through the foyer. Catalina squeezed my knee. “They’re coming up. Please go upstairs.”

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