Page 56 of Queens and Monsters

“Someone roofied you,” she said, kneeling at my side. “Do you remember anything from lunch?”

I pushed myself to stand, using the walls for support and moved slowly toward the vanity. Pain radiated from my stomach, making it feel as if someone were wringing it out—twisting it. Through bloodshot eyes, I stared in the mirror. My reflection was as pitiful as I felt. Red hair messed, and my complexion pale. Reaching for the cup, I filled it with water, rinsed, and spat. As I was pasting my toothbrush, I remembered Catalina’s question and shook my head.

“I remember eating Mexican with Camila.” I spun toward Catalina. “Oh God, is Camila all right?”

“She’s fine. She’s worried about you, but apparently, her drink wasn’t spiked.”

My temples throbbed as I brushed away the horrendous taste. When I finished, I realized I was suddenly parched, drinking two glasses of water. Looking down at my clothes, I saw my jeans were gone, leaving me in panties, a bra, and the blouse I wore to lunch. I scrunched my nose at the material peppered with vomit. “I should shower.”

“Can you? Do you need help?” She feigned a smile. “I can get Contessa if you’d rather have her.”

Shaking my head caused my temples to revolt. I shut my eyes, inhaled, and opened them. “I think I’m okay.” I lifted a few strands of my hair. “This is gross.” I looked at Catalina. “Who did this to me?”

“Dario and Dante are on it. They’ll find out.”

I pulled my shirt over my head. Afterturning on the shower, I met Catalina’s gaze. “Will you stay here? I’m kind of shaky.”

“Of course.”

Removing the rest of my clothes, I stepped into the shower and lifted my face to the spray. “I don’t remember anything,” I said, speaking louder, “after we went back to the bar.” My hand went to the shower wall for support. “I remember something from before that.”

“What?” Catalina asked.

“Zhdan Myshkin was there. He sat next to me at the bar. He tried to talk to me.” The memories came rushing back. “He touched me, cornered me as I was leaving the bathroom.” My cheeks rose if only for a second. “Camila told him I’d never kiss him and then Piero and Giovanni—they had guns.”

“Did they shoot?”

“No, Zhdan left.” I poured a dollop of shampoo into my palm and worked the lather through my hair. The sweet scent of jasmine and honeysuckle was a welcome change. After conditioning my hair, I sat on the seat and rested as the warm spray continued to rain down.

“Are you going to be able to finish?”

“Yes. I just need a second.”

As I again lifted my face to the spray, tears prickled the back of my eyes. “Dario must be furious.”

“He’s worried. I just sent him a text message telling him you’re awake and showering.”

After rinsing the bodywash from my flesh and conditioner from my hair, I turned off the water. As Catalina handed me a plush towel, I asked, “Were you afraid of marrying Dario?”

Her eyes opened wide.

“You didn’t know him at all,” I prompted.

Catalina nodded. “I was terrified.”

“And still, you did it. You married him. Why?”

Her smile grew. “I was wrong to be terrified. Dario is a good man and a good husband.”

“Zhdan scares me.”

She inhaled. “This is probably the time to tell you that you have a visitor downstairs.”

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped myself in the towel and looked at myself in the mirror. A visitor. Zhdan had said something about me kissing him.

Is he here?

“I’m obviously not up for visitors.” I looked around, noticing the window for the first time. The sun had set, leaving the sky dark. “What time is it?”

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