Page 68 of Queens and Monsters

With each word, my eyes grew bigger, and my lips opened. “Who would do that?”

“Elizondro Herrera. He wants to take over the Roríguez cartel. Hasn’t the capo told you anything about the war?”

I shook my head. “He’s used the wordwar, but I thought it was all about the bratva in Kansas City.” The name tasted sour on my lips. “Myshkin. But your parents, thankfully, weren’t hurt.”

“I guess we could say that Jano’s baby saved them.”

“You keep saying that. I think Mia has had something to do with the baby too.”

His smile returned. “You’re right.”

The hum of landing gear lowering filled the plane. I gripped the arms of the chair, my knuckles blanching.

Rei prized my fingers away from the seat and held my hand. “We’re safe.”

I nodded. “It’s the takeoffs and landings that I don’t like.”

“How do you feel about helicopters?”

My eyes nearly bugged out. “Why?”

“Because we’ll be flying in a helicopter to Bella. It’s better than aboat at night.”

I leaned back against the seat, contemplating the abrupt change of course my life had taken. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I was having lunch with Camila. Since that time, I was roofied, proposed to, married—to a man I hardly knew—flown to California, and was about to take a helicopter into the Pacific Ocean to stay on a drug lord’s boat.

“Preciosa, are you okay?”

“It’s been a lot for one day.” I met his gaze. “I’ve never been on a helicopter.”

“I predict you will have many firsts.”

My core twisted as my nerves prickled. It wasn’t like I wasn’t expecting sex. Rei told me he wanted me that way the night he was in my bedroom. That didn’t mean I wasn’t both nervous and excited. Camila made it sound like sex was the greatest thing in the world. There was no doubt my body responded to Rei. It had since that unexpected meeting in Dario’s living room.

That subject was put on hold as Diego drove us to a large mansion. “Whose house is this?” I asked, entering their gates around three in the morning.

“Nicolas Ruiz. We won’t bother them. They have a helipad, and this is where we’ll be picked up.”

Helipad.

“You were serious about the helicopter?”

“Man of my word.”

Ruiz.

“Is this where Catalina and Camila lived?”

“No, Andrés and Valentina’s home is on a cliff near the ocean.”

“That’s right. Catalina’s dad is Andrés Ruiz.”

Rei squeezed my hand. “It’s weird to think that you haven’t been out here with the recent weddings.”

“Not famiglia.” Remembering Dario’s apology, I sighed.

“You’re my family now, Jasmine.Mí mamáwill welcome you with open arms.”

As we approached the front door of the Ruiz home, it opened. A tired older gentleman greeted us in a bathrobe and slippers. Rei apologized for the hour of our visit.

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