Page 43 of Queens and Monsters

“Gah,” I called out, lifting my face to the ceiling. “I’m so over men making all the decisions. They say it’s about safety. It’s not. It’s about control.”

The treadmill beeped as the conveyor slowed to a stop. Camila held on to the railings and bent at the waist breathing deeply. “My legs are Jell-O.” When she looked up, she was grinning. “I get it. Honestly, I hated it when it was Papá. I don’t mind Dante having control.”

“He’s your husband. I don’t have any control, and I don’t have a husband or a father.”

“You have Dario.”

“Did Dante tell you that Dario convinced Carmine Luciano that Isabella is of marrying age?”

“No,” she said, shocked. “Who does Dario want Isabella to marry?”

“Rei.” My nostrils flared as I said his name, yet I managed to keep tears away.

“I can’t believe Carmine agreed to that.” Her eyebrows danced. “I guess that means you are available to marry Em.”

My arms dropped to my side. “I like Em.”

“But you like Rei more?”

“It’s different. Rei makes my pulse race and my stomach twist. Em is sweet.”

Camila laughed. “He’s my brother, and he can be sweet. He’s also a killer like the rest of them.” Camila’s mouth opened wide. “Wait. So, Dario took you out of the running for Rei?”

Dropping my chin, I replied, “Yes. He’s tried.” What little I’d eaten churned in my stomach. “He promised me to someone else.”

“Shit.” Camila’s green eyes grew wide. “Not Rei or Em? Who?”

“Zhdan Myshkin, Kostya Myshkin’s son.”

She came closer and reached for my hands. “Dario wouldn’t do that.”

My tears were back. “He told me yesterday.”

“We have to change his mind.”

I met her green gaze. “How?”

Camila pouted her lips.

“I thought Rei wanted to marry me,” I said. “And then I thought he didn’t because he didn’t respond to any of my text messages. I found out yesterday the reason why. Dario had both Rei’s and Em’s numbers blocked on my phone.”

She extended her hand. “That I can help. Give me your phone. Mypapádid that to my phone whenever he thought he could control who I talked to. I know how to unblock them.”

A grin lifted my cheeks. “I watched a few YouTube videos and figured it out.”

“Did you get ahold of Rei or Em?”

“Rei,” I replied. “I texted him last night, and he called me back.”

Camila nodded. “No more texting. If Dario is having your phone watched, he’ll see the text messages. Calls only. After you hang up, delete the call from your phone’s call log. It’s not foolproof, but it will make it harder for Dario to know.”

“You’re helping me communicate with Rei? Dario’s your brother-in-law, twice over, and your capo. You’re supposed to follow his rules.”

She shook her head. “I bucked the system and got away with it. If you want Rei and he wants you…” She exhaled, sat on a big plastic ball, and widened her stance to balance. “It’s great for the core.”

“I’ve been thinking about Rei and marriage since last Christmas. When Dario called me to Kansas City, Ithought he would tell me that my wedding date to Rei was set. At first, I was nervous. But when that wasn’t the case, I was mad…and heartbroken. I don’t know Zhdan Myshkin. I know nothing about the bratva. I don’t want anything from Dario. No big wedding.” I slapped my hands against my thighs. “I guess I want one thing. I want his blessing to marry Rei.”

“Weddings are overrated,” Camila said, standing. “Come to the kitchen with me. I need some water.”

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