Page 53 of Queens and Monsters

My next move was a text message to Jasmine.

“I’m on my way to the penthouse. You’re leaving with me.”

Chapter

Eighteen

Reinaldo

“Weapons,” the famiglia guard said, standing by the elevator in the parking garage.

Begrudgingly, I handed over my gun and two knives. I still had one blade strapped to my ankle in case of emergency. Thankfully, the guard was too busy gathering Diego’s and Felipe’s guns to question my honesty. It wasn’t a matter of being truthful, simply deceitful through omission.

We entered the elevator, and the guard flashed his card, whisking us up into the Kansas City skyline. No one spoke as the testosterone emanated through the air, clenched jaws, balled fists, and tightened muscles abounded. If we were any less human, we’d be pissing on the walls.

The elevator doors opened.

A quick scan of the foyer filled me with disappointment. Jasmine wasn’t waiting for my arrival. The tall guard at Dario’s office door stood to attention as we neared. He and the elevator guard exchanged a few words, too inaudible for me to hear.

I spoke to Diego and Felipe.“Quédate afuera.”

They both nodded, accepting my order to remain outside the capo’s office. Speaking in Spanish was my way of showing the famiglia who was superior.

The tall guard opened the door, pushing it inward. With a dip of my chin, I stepped through the threshold. The capo sat behind his desk, not unlike the way I’d seen him numerous times. As the door closed, a flash to my left caught my attention. I saw the assailant out of the corner of my eye before spinning and facing him head-on.

There wasn’t time to call for my guards. This was my fight.

The attacker was young and cocky.

Fuck him.

He swung his knife, swiping the air.

Grabbing his wrist, I took him down to the floor. My knee landed on his chest as I secured his knife at his neck, a trail of blood trickling from where I nicked his flesh. The entire episode took only seconds.

“Stop,” the capo said. He stood from his chair. “Impressive, Reinaldo.”

The knife stayed at the kid’s throat. “Should I expect more of your soldiers to come from passages behind the bookcases or maybe through the door?”

Dario gestured with his chin. “Let him up.”

Gritting my teeth, I did as he said. The kid gasped as I stood to my feet. “I expected more from you, capo. You want to cut me, do it yourself.” I forced a grin. “Didn’t I hear at one time you had the nicknameThe Blade? What’s the matter, too old now?”

The capo scoffed. “If I wanted you cut, I would have done it myself.” He tilted his head toward the door, wordlessly telling the kid to leave.

The kid opened his palm.

I looked at the knife in my hand and back to him. “I’ll give it back when I leave.”

“You’ll give it back now,” the capo said.

I sheathed the blade in my empty holster and took a seat across from the giant desk. Leaning back, I crossed my ankle over my knee. “Where is Jasmine?”

“She’s out.”

My boots slammed onto the floor as I stood. “What the fuck? You know it isn’t safe for her out there.”

He lifted his hand. “You wanted to talk to me man-to-man.” He sat in his big leather chair. “Then talk like a man, not a hotheaded kid.”

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