Page 140 of Fall Before Her Throne

Fallon: We have two main discussion topics. How to run the world, and also our incredible sex lives

Chiara: Uh. Really?

Fallon: Well, me and Leona. Willow continues to reject my brother (his name is Colin, you’ll catch on quick). Zoya is still a virgin

Zoya: I may be a virgin, but I know so much now thanks to Fallon’s inappropriate texts and un-asked-for advice

Leona: I don’t talk about my sex life near as much as Fallon does

Ihad filled Chiara in on each of the girls, but seeing them all text back and forth brought a huge smile to my face. The Queens were complete.

Chiara: Do I have to disclose the status of my virginity to be part of the group?

Willow: No

Willow: Definitely not

Willow: And if you do, Fallon will just run with it, so it’s better for all of us if you don’t lol

Fallon: Yes, those are the rules

Willow: No, they’re not

Fallon: I say yes

Chiara: We’ll leave it a mystery for now

Chiara: Maybe if you’re good, I’ll tell you

Fallon: Yeah, I knew I liked her

Leona: Relax

Leona: Try not to scare her away, please

Chiara laughed, dropping the phone on the bed while we both climbed in. We’d brushed our teeth, made the boys promise to leave us alone, and barricaded ourselves in here for a sleepover. Fallon and the girls kept bombarding the chat, and the two of us ate popcorn while we groaned at an explicit photo Fallon sent.

“I told you,” I said, shoving a handful into my mouth.

“Yeah, we’re deleting that immediately,” she chuckled. “They’re fun. Thank you.”

“It’s what I wished we could have had when we were girls.”

“Can you imagine?” Chiara giggled. “If our fathers found out we were besties with the Head of the Irish Mob?”

I snorted. My father would have had an aneurysm. “No, but I’m glad we don’t have to find out.”

She grinned, snuggling up under the covers. I lay down next to her, facing her. We’d eaten some food. I’d talked to the guys while she took a shower and got cleaned up. Then I’d had my turn, and now we were winding down. It was already really late, but that wouldn’t stop us. We used to stay up all night at sleepovers when we were young.

“Chiara, I need you to do me a favor,” I started.

She gave me a look, tucking her hand under her head. “Well, now I’m suspicious. What kind of favor?”

The best way to get this conversation out of the way was just to ask. “Is it possible for you to get in touch with Lucia?”

Chiara’s eyes widened. “Why? I mean, I guess so, but what for?”

I rolled onto my back. “Well, we need to see if she’d be willing to help us. Or, at least, stop helping her grandfather. It’s hard to keep track of him when she’s clearing the tracks. Do you think she would do that?”