Page 50 of Queens and Monsters

The shuffle of shoes on the hallway floor caused the man to turn. With a feigned grin, he took a step back and lifted his hands as if to surrender. Giovanni and Piero were approaching fast, their guns drawn.

“There’s no need for that,” the man said. He took a step back. “Once you’re with me, you’ll forget ever kissing anyone else.”

“She’s never going to kiss you,” Camila said.

Piero came to my side. “We should get you back home.”

The two guards holstered their guns.

The man disappeared around the corner.

I blinked as the fog of the unknown man dissipated and my bodyguard came into view. “Who was he?”

It wasn’t Piero who answered. It was Giovanni.

“Zhdan Myshkin.”

Camila slapped Giovanni’s arm. “How did you let him get so close to Jasmine?”

“Ma’am, we didn’t see him until he had taken the seat.”

I reached for Camila. “Stop. It’s not their fault. I think I want that second margarita.”

“Jasmine,” Piero said, “I think it’s best if we go back to the penthouse. Contessa can make you a margarita.”

“No.” I swallowed and stood straighter. “Zhdan is gone. Camila and I want margaritas, don’t we?”

She grinned. “More now than ever.”

We walked back into the bar and retook our seats.

“Dos más,” Camila said to the bartender.

This time, he looked past us to Giovanni. Camila turned and lifted her eyebrows at her bodyguard who then nodded to the bartender.

Giggling, I lowered my chin and reached for my mostly finished drink. When Camila swiveled toward me, I whispered, “You’re my hero.” I licked some of the salt from the rim before slurping the last little bit of my melted drink. “I’m glad we’re getting another.”

Camila lowered her voice. “Seriously, I’ve watched my mom and sister be the best dutiful wives and submissive women…Don’t get me wrong. A little submission in the bedroom is great, especially when you love and trust the man in control. While I may be living their lives, I’m not living it the way they have. Dante appreciates my opinion. He’s the one who told Giovanni to do as I say.” She leaned closer. “Girl, the power is a bit intoxicating.”

I chewed on my lower lip as two more margaritas arrived. “Does that mean if you say this isn’t our only stop, we could go somewhere else?”

Camila scrunched her nose. “After that encounter with Zhdan, do you want to go anywhere else?”

“It’s over. He’s not coming back.” I shrugged. “Why not?”

Chapter

Seventeen

Reinaldo

The cartel plane touched down at the small airport east of Kansas City, the same airport where we’d landed in the past. Since the alliance was first brokered, it seemed as if this was becoming a usual stop. That said, there was nothing usual about this trip. I was here for one reason: to get Jasmine. I wasn’t naïve enough to assume my goal would be reached without a fight.

Diego and Felipe, the two guards I brought with me from Sacramento flanked me, one in the front and the other in the back, as we descended the stairs, stepping into the cool late-winter air.

It was nearly one in the afternoon. Peering over the tarmac, I saw the Missouri sky was filled with shades of gray. The whole world looked monochrome,trees waiting to bud and dormant grass waiting for the sun to bring it back to life. The scene was a stark contrast to Northern California. Even in the winter, our sky was blue and trees green.

The car Diego secured was waiting near the hangar. After a thorough check of the vehicle, Diego drove, and Felipe sat beside him in the front seat. I should have slept on the airplane. I didn’t. Instead, I did more research into the connection between Kostya Myshkin and Leah Renner.

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