Page 35 of Queens and Monsters

“I’m now the famiglia, Jasmine. The others don’t matter. We’ve lost soldiers, so have the cartel and bratva. As I said, there are rogue soldiers who don’t want the agreement here in Kansas City to work. Last week, that danger hit close to home. Antonio, my cousin’s husband, was killed with a car bomb outside Emerald Club.”

“And by me marrying Myshkin’s son, that will somehow stop? What if you can’t trust them? Whathappens to me?” I had an idea. “Is Catalina a distraction with these wars?”

“Yes and no. Having people we care about is a liability. Catalina knows to stay safe.”

Rule follower.

“If I could decide for myself who I want to marry, I’d no longer be a distraction for you.” When he didn’t speak, I added, “I’d like my phone unblocked.”

“You will marry Zhdan. Neither Reinaldo nor Emiliano is your concern.”

My grip of the chair’s arms intensified. “I want to at least talk to them.”

“I’ve convinced Carmine that Isabella is of marrying age. She’s a Luciano. Jorge is thinking over the proposal.”

The small hairs on my arms rose to attention as his words shattered my fragile feeling of self-esteem. Unwilling to give into the tears burning my eyes, I kept my voice steady. “The answer you meant to give me earlier was that I’mnotof worth or value, not enough for the cartel. You think you can substitute Isabella for me because of last names.” I stood.

“You’re not leaving the penthouse,” he said.

Turning, I gave him my best smile. “We’ll see.”

Chapter

Twelve

Jasmine

As I made my way up to my room, bits and pieces of my conversation with Dario cycloned through my mind, obliterating anything else with hurricane-force speed.

I’ve been promised to the son of Dario’s sworn enemy.

My phone was blocked—Rei and Em hadn’t ignored me.

My mother was alive, out of prison, and looking for me.

Dario gaveel Patr?nanother option for Rei to marry—a better option, a Luciano.

Isabella.

Disappearing into my bedroom, I shut the door, closed my eyes, and leaned against the barrier.A deep sigh came from my lips. No longer did I see the penthouse as a luxurious mansion in the sky. I saw it for what it truly was and what it made me.

It was a gilded cage, and I was a prisoner in my own home. That wasn’t the way I used to see it, but the veil had been ripped away. By offering Isabella, he made it clear that I wasn’t worthy.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that my suitcases had already been deposited on my bedroom floor. Scanning the room, I wondered how different my life would have been if my mother had never been arrested or incarcerated.

What would life be like with her?

I was relatively certain she wouldn’t make me marry someone I didn’t even know.

Josie didn’t like to talk about our mother, and my memories were nonexistent. Not knowing the details of one’s own past created a void I didn’t realize I’d hidden for most of my life. Curiosity spurred more questions than answers.

Why did Josie detest her so much?

What did our mother do to warrant the hatred of a person who taught me to see good in everyone?

I wasn’t willing to take my new fate sitting down. Fighting Dario’s decision alone was not possible. I needed help. Taking my phone from my purse. I went back to the first floor in search of the man who could help. I found Armando sitting at the tall library table in the front sitting room. With his jacket off and his holster showing, he was reading his tablet.

Armando looked up from the screen and smiled as Icrossed the threshold. “Jasmine.” There was a welcoming tone to his deep timbre.

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