Page 42 of Queens and Monsters

Coughing and reaching for his neck, he spat out, “El Patr?nwill hear?—”

I pulled my blade from its sheath. The sight stopped Nicolas’s sentence. “If you disrespect my future bride ever, it won’t be my arm at your throat.”

“You think you can threaten me?”

I shrugged as I put the blade back. “Seems like I just did.Buenas noches, Nicolas. I’ll report tomí padrewhat happened tonight.” With that, I turned and walked away.

Chapter

Fourteen

Jasmine

I’d done as Dario said and stayed in the penthouse. More specifically, I stayed in my room, hoping that Rei would call me back. Finally, I fell asleep. Contessa must have come in during the night or early morning as there was a tray of food when I woke. I hadn’t been downstairs for dinner. There was nothing I wanted to say to Dario.

My eyes were puffy and sore. A shower and dressing did little to help my mood. There was one option for me. Technically, I was leaving the penthouse, but not by much.

Taking the elevator, I went down one level to Camila and Dante’s apartment. Camila had been in a similar situation with her father promising her to Rei. I sought advice. “Hello,” I called as the doors opened.

“Down here.” Camila’s voice, sounding distressed, came from the hallway to the right, the opposite direction from their living room and bedroom.

Panicked by possibilities, I hurried her direction. I came to a stop at the door to their workout room.

Wiping perspiration from her forehead, Camila grinned. Her feet were moving fast on the inclined treadmill. “I’m almost done,” she panted. In front of her were large windows showcasing the dreary late-winter gray sky.

“You sounded like you were in pain or danger.”

“I am,” she said with a laugh. She tilted her chin toward a screen. “This program is full of hills, and I hate it.”

I leaned against the doorjamb. “Then why do you do it?”

She continued to run. “I used to swim every day. After a few months of not exercising” —her cheeks pinkened— “not exercising without Dante because that can be a workout.”

Pressing my lips together, I shook my head.

“I thought I was gaining weight.”

Scanning Camila’s frame as the treadmill started to slow, I doubted she was larger than a size four. In workout pants and a tank top, she was youthful and beautiful. If she was considered overweight, I needed to go on a strict diet. “You look fantastic.”

She used her towel to wipe her face again. “Thanks.” Camila inhaled. “What brings you back from school?” She did a double take in my direction and her smile faded. “Are you all right?”

“Dante didn’t fill you in?”

“He’s been working constantly especially since Antonio was killed. Antonio had been the one helping Dante run Emerald Club and now…”

I hadn’t given that news any time in my brain. Now I recalled Dario mentioning that his cousin’s husband was killed. “How is Giorgia?”

“Not well. Mia wanted to come back here for the funeral and to console Giorgia. Apparently, they were always close. Aléjandro won’t allow her to travel with the baby due in a little over a month. And because Antonio and Giorgia never had children, the famiglia is making her move back in with Francesca.”

“You mean Dario is making her.”

Camila pressed her lips together and nodded. “Dante agrees. He says it’s too dangerous with the threats from Herrera and until things settle with the bratva.”

Settle—as in giving me to them as a sacrificial lamb.

Pushing that away, my thoughts went to Mia. She too was married and a childless widow before she was made to marry Aléjandro. “Dario won’t make Giorgia remarry, will he?”

Camila shrugged.

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