Page 44 of Queens and Monsters

“Did it bother you not to have one—a big wedding?” I asked as we made our way down the hallway, past the elevator, and into the kitchen. Having a wedding like Dario and Catalina’s was never a dream of mine.

“Honestly, not in the slightest. We had a priest and a license. Papá wanted to annul our marriage. Because it was blessed and legal, he finally saw the light.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out two water bottles. “Here.”

I took the cool bottle and sat on a tall stool at their breakfast bar. “Do you think Rei and I could do the same?”

She shrugged. “How worried are you about Dario being upset?”

“I want to say not at all, but the truth is on a scale from zero to ten, I’m a nine.”

Camila pressed her lips together and hummed. “What if you two wed in Mexico?”

“Why would we do that?”

“Because marriages in Mexico are recognized in the US.” Her green eyes opened wide. “I have an idea but first tell me ifthis is what you want.”

My heartbeat accelerated and my skin chilled. My mind told me that my physical reaction was because I was a rule follower. My heart knew what it wanted. “It’s what I want.”

I didn’t need the permission of a parent. I was an adult. “Maybe, if I can’t have Dario at my wedding, I could have another parent.”

“Cat?”

Taking a drink of water, I shook my head. “No. My mother.”

Camila sat at the seat by my side. “Your mother. I’m sorry. I assumed she had passed away.”

“No, incarcerated.” I’d never been able to say it with such ease. I turned to Camila. “She’s out of prison. I haven’t seen her in over seventeen years.”

“Oh my gosh. That is amazing. Where is she?”

“I believe she’s in Kansas City.” She was in the pictures Dario showed me. “I don’t know for sure.”

“How did you find out?” Camila asked.

“Dario told me about her release and that she wanted to see me. That’s the other reason he called me back to Kansas City. I want to go to the Arts District to ask about her, but I never learned to drive, and I can’t ask Piero.”

“I can drive. Dante would want me to take Giovanni. He could drive us.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, we could have lunch at Taha Mexican Kitchen. I’ve been craving spicy food.”

“I would love to get out of here, but there’s a reason I was thinking of the Arts District.” I exhaled. “Nevermind, it doesn’t matter. I don’t think Giovanni will agree.”

“Why?”

“Because the pictures Dario showed me of my mom were taken at the Green Lady Lounge, bratva territory.”

Camila let out a long breath and sat back. “How is your mom connected to the bratva?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know that she is. Dario said she’s been asking questions. I was born in Kansas City. Before we moved in with Dario, Josie and I lived in South Blue Valley. I did a deep dive on Leah last night and accessed court records. She was imprisoned at WERDCC. That stands for the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center. It’s in Vandalia, Missouri. Since she was convicted in Missouri, it makes sense that she was incarcerated here.”

“Do you think she met people in the bratva in a women’s prison?” Camila asked.

“I wonder a lot about her. I never did before, but now that I know she’s close…”

Her lips opened in a gape. “Oh, the Green Lady Lounge. Isn’t that where Rei and Em took you Christmas Eve?”

“I don’t have any other ideas.”

Camila scrunched her nose. “I want to help you, Jasmine, but I don’t feel comfortable going into enemy territory, and I don’t think you should either.”

“I don’t know why not. Dario wants me to marry Zhdan. I’d live in that territory.”

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