Page 78 of Queens and Monsters

Fighting tears, I nodded and picked at the food on my plate, no longer hungry.

“Oh, honey,” Josefina said. “Mia’s close to her time and being out here on the ocean doesn’t always settle well.”

Aléjandro stood and reached for Mia’s plate. “I’ll see if she feels like eating.”

After he was gone, I turned to Rei and Josefina. “It’s okay. Mia hated my sister…and me too.” I shook my head and feigned a smile. “It’s really all right. I’m used to it.”

“The fuck?” Rei said. “Jasmine, that’s not true. It might have been, but Mia called me about you. She suggested that I get you out here on Bella to wed.” His eyes darkened to nearly black. “She doesn’t hate you.”

She did call. That was good to know.

Josefina and Jorge exchanged looks.

It wasel Patr?nwho spoke, “You’re Rei’s wife, and you’re part of this family. We’re happy to have you here. I’m sure it’s just pregnancy. I’ve been told it can be difficult.”

“Men,” Josefina said. “Can be?”

Looking at Rei, I grinned.

He squeezed my thigh. “After lunch, I’ll show you around Bella.”

“And later,”el Patr?nsaid, “you, Jano, and I need to discuss matters.”

“Did you bring a bathing suit and sunscreen?” Josefina asked. “The temperatures are cooler here than south, but on the pool deck, it’s warm.”

“I brought a bathing suit, but I didn’t think about sunscreen.”

“Oh, I’ll have some for you at the pool.” She shook her head. “Your beautiful skin would burn. We don’t want that.”

After lunch, Rei kept his promise, showing me around the multiple decks. Along with the staff dressed in white, there were quite a few men in dark suits. They were hard to miss, especially the one on the lowest deck with the machine gun, or some big gun.

“Guards?” I asked.

“Sí,that’s where boats dock to bring people aboard. No one gets past that first line of defense who isn’t supposed to be here.”

It wasn’t until we were back in our stateroom that Rei mentioned Mia. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“When have we had the chance to talk, Rei?”

He led me out onto our balcony. We sat at the small table. “Now, we have time.”

“No, we don’t. Your father wants you and Aléjandro for a meeting. I’m sure that’s more important.”

He reached across the table and offered me his hand, palm up. Begrudgingly, I laid my hand in his. “Talk to me,preciosa.”

I shook my head. “It’s the same thing, the reason Dario wouldn’t allow you to marry me, why he offered Isabella.”

“Who the fuck is Isabella anyway? His offer didn’t matter. I wanted you.”

Swallowing, I tried to keep my composure. “Isabella is Dario’s uncle’s daughter. She’s a Luciano, like Mia.”

“You’re a Roríguez, like Mia.”

My gaze met his as his words computed. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“It’s the truth. For the record, Mia did call me about you.” He inhaled. “She was the one who told me to propose. She called me a pig for me telling you that you’re mine.”

My cheeks rose in a smile. “I couldn’t believe you proposed.” I clutched my heart. “You did it in front of everyone.”

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