CAMILLA'S POVIt was as if, with every passing day, the ringing of time in my head showed me how the time was running out, and Dante's betrayal also got me broken, but I would not let it get to me. I had to get Jasper and myself out before the wedding or else I'd never be able to if I didn't take any action. The wedding which loomed over my head tightened the noose that strangled any glimmer of happiness. There was only one thing Tom and my father didn't know; they didn't know that I had an exit, and I was going to take it.It all started right when he gave me that unlimited business card when he was still playing a sweet father. Quite vividly, I recall that it instructed me to purchase whatever I needed for both me and Jasper. But the moment that card came into my hands, deep somewhere inside, I knew it was more than buying dresses and expensive stuff, it was my life support.I had sworn that when I came into profit, it would be for myself alone and not for the delight of Father and
CAMILLA'S POV“Make sure you don't do anything foolish, we can't afford any Mistakes."Those words still echoed in my head as I slid through the darkness, Jasper clutched tight against my chest. I was running, my heart racing in a marathon, but I dared not give in to fear. It was now or never. This was my only chance, and I had to be fast. With every step we made an echo reverberated within the silence heavy with musty earth and tension. We were almost there. Almost free.With every glance back, I half-expected the silhouette of Father or Tom to pop out from nowhere and sneak his way up to us. But nothing stirred in that tunnel. My heart was racing with every second spent; at the end of this hidden path lay freedom, freedom in its purest form for Jasper and me. My fingers clutched his small hand. I just couldn't bear to lose him to that abominable place, to Father, to Tom.We emerged onto the edge of the tunnel; the moonlight broke through the treetops. My breath caught in my throat,
DANTE’S POVThe phone slammed onto the wall, still vibrating from the noise it had just made, still echoing in my office. My fists were fisted and I could feel rage building underneath my skin. Every second counted when I had to deal with this betrayal."Dante, we are going to catch the rat, we are working on it," Alex said, matter of fact, and tugged me to spin me around. I shrugged him off.”Working on it? We're bleeding, Alex!" I snarled at him. My heart was racing against my temple. "They're stealing from us, leaking information, destroying everything I built. And Camilla's out there, trapped. What am I supposed to do first? Clean up this mess or save my family?"Alex didn't bat an eye; his face was rock steady. He was used to me losing it, used to the rage that I couldn't always keep inside. "We're close. I've got the team monitoring every communication. The traitor's going to slip up, and we'll be ready."I wanted to trust him, but trust was not that easily earned, not in this w
Camilla's POVIt was an iron chain, each thread bonded me closer to a future in which I had no desire to be. Every time I looked in the mirror, I could hardly recognize the girl standing back. My eyes, once bright and alive, shone dull with nothing but dread. My lips colored crimson red wobbled with words which, with rendition, I couldn't say.Now, this was to be the day that I married a man I despised, a man who treated me no better than as a pawn to make himself look good.My hand ran over the silky fabric of the thing, soft to the touch of my fingers, yet it could have been anything, so ordinary. What was to be a day of love and joy had become an endless nightmare from which I couldn't awaken. I couldn't run away. My father made certain of that. He left explicit instructions for his men to see that my arrival at the Lockwood estate was to be as smooth as it could possibly be, no mistakes, no excuses."Miss Camilla, it's time," Hannah whispered from the door.I didn't run. My feet s
CAMILLA'S POV.This little safe house sat at the corner of the town, at a location no one would ever think it would be. I was still out of breath, owing to all that had just happened: screeching tires, shots fired, the near escape. I said nothing but sat trying to put myself together, with each breath feeling like a jagged cut.He guided me inside, his hand clamped tight over mine. I hadn't let him go since he'd dragged me out of that car. Down the hall, he took me into a room at the end. My heart raced once more, this time for a whole different reason."Jasper's in here," Dante murmured, turning the handle.I swallowed the lump as the knot of nerves twisted within my stomach. My legs quivered, shaking, as I stepped inside.And there, in the crib, my baby boy was fast asleep, serene as ever. With every breath he took, his little chest arched up and then descended. The weight of it all pricked the corners of my eyes with tears: he was safe; Dante had saved him.I ran to him, taking J
CAMILLA'S POV.Dante strode across the room, pulling it open just far enough to speak to whoever was on the other side. His voice was low and controlled, but even I could hear the stress underlying it."What is it?To his right stood Alex, who I was well familiar with when I used to work at Dante's mansion; his face was straight as he said, "John's men tear through the city asking questions, boss, but they are clueless about anything, and nobody has an idea it is you behind this."Relief washed over me for a moment but for just that. My father still might not know yet who'd taken me, but I knew just how relentless he could get, he'd never stop until he found us.Dante nodded at him. His voice was smooth but threaded with an underlay of metal. "Good. Let's keep it that way. Make no slips and stay two steps ahead. I want full updates on their movements.""Yes, sir." Alex inclined his head sharply, cast me one quick reassuring look, and then vanished back outside to leave us with silenc
DANTE’S POVI woke up early before the light of early morning and my anticipation gnawed at me. Today would be different. Camilla had seemed so determined last night, her eyes had flamed with determination when I'd said we'd start training this morning. She'd had almost a feral aspect to her, one I didn't recognize. It wasn't about survival anymore. It was about defense and protection of her son.My son.I rolled out of bed and padded into the kitchen for a quick coffee. My phone vibrated on the counter, and I snatched it up, knowing there would be more updates from Alex about John's men. Sure enough, the messages confirmed my thoughts: they were still screwing around, no closer to figuring out that it was me. Definitely had no clue Jasper was mine. Then, though we were yet in a place of safety, this feeling inside that the time was running out would not go away.I tossed on a t-shirt and headed to the back of the safe house where I'd set up a small training area. I reached the door
CAMILLA'S POV.The safe-house window framed the gloomy morning sunlight, dancing across the floor as I finished yet another hard day of training with Dante. He was fast-turning my body into one surprising instrument of agility. But the most astounding thing to me was just how much fun it actually was to sit around with him. With each session, I grew more confident in peeling the layers of him; each hour spent together, excited my heart."Alright, Camilla," Dante pulled at his sweaty body, speaking low into the room. "Time-out. You're doing great, but there's something I want to talk to you about."I straightened, curiosity getting the better of me, wariness too. Something in his tone had shifted; I could feel the weight behind the words. "What?" I asked, crossing my arms.He did, and the silence between us grew thick with unspoken words. "It's about me, who I really am."My heart did that stupid skipping-a-beat thing, as nerves washed over me in a wave. "Okay." I pushed on, sensing th
Chapter 171: A Second ChanceCamilla's PovStanding before me was the woman that I once thought was dead. She stared at me. Her steely resolve faltered to tears glistening in her eyes."What did you just call me?" shaking she whispered "Mom? Do...do you know me?"I swallowed hard, my stomach twisted up with nerves. "Yes, I know you," I said, and I could barely keep the shaking out of my voice. "I grew up seeing your picture in my parent's house. They told me you were my biological mother… but that my father, John, killed you. I—I thought you were dead.”“Who were the parents who raised you?” she questioned with a stern expression.“Your brother, Benson, and his wife, Olivia.” Carol's face crumpled, and the sight caught at my chest. She shook as she extended her hands toward me. "Camilla…my daughter. I—I had no idea.""Mom," I whispered. "You were alive, all these years.And with that, consumed with sobs, she pulled me into her arms tightly. It was as though all that noise going on a
Dante's POVThe air hung heavy in the room. Ella sat on the ground at the center of the dimly lit basement, her face a mask of defiance though bruises colored her pale skin. I was leaning casually against the table with Ella's phone in my hand, observing her."You're going to prove stubborn to the end, aren't you?" I said icily.She sneered, her swollen lip curling in defiance. "You'll get nothing from me, Dante."Alex was leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded over his chest as he regarded Ella. "We've tried every method. She's either too loyal or too scared."I clenched my fist. The image of Anthony pulling strings behind her seemed seared into my brain. "Or both," I muttered.The phone buzzed on the desk, and I sprang up, and picked it up-the flashing unknown number danced across the screen. Alex took another step closer, taut."Answer it," he said.I nodded and took it to my ear but didn't say anything. The other line was silent too. And then I just waited. The silence hun
Camilla's POV"Dante, you need to sit down for this," Alex said. His voice came out measured, and I could feel the weight of it. Even Dante's eyes seemed to fill with tension though he leaned against the pillows, he looked much better than this morning, but the body still wasn't up and working just yet.I sat on the edge of the chair beside him, watching as the flicker of every emotion crossed his face. My heart could be pounding against my chest, and I wasn't about to show evidence of it."What's wrong?" Dante asked more like jabbed.Alex gave a quick glance my way before he turned back to him. "Ella faked her pregnancy."His face contorted further, a scrunched-up mess as his gaze soured into an accusing scowl. "What?”"She bribed the doctors," I said. "Also the one that diagnosed and confirmed your condition the first time, the doctor knew about the poisoning but gave us a wrong diagnosis on purpose.” The silent seconds ticked over before Dante's hands actually fisted. "Why? What
Camilla's POV"You're positive she went inside?" I whispered, clenching the steering wheel tightly. I was staring into the entrance of the hospital, my nerves heightened.Alex's voice scratched in my earpiece, firm but wary. "Positive. She just went in. Do you want to back up?” I bit my lip, my fingers dancing on the wheel. "No. Go back home and keep an eye on Dante. It's something I need to deal with myself. Weeks of suspicious behavior on Ella's part had set warning bells ringing in my mind, and today I was going to finally confirm what my gut had been screaming at me all along.I pulled my coat tighter against the biting cold and stepped out of the car. The air was sharp, that kind of chill that burrowed deep in your bones, but I didn't notice. My attention was razor-sharp as I walked briskly across the parking lot and into the warm, sterile lobby of the hospital.Keep your head down. Act normal.The soft chime of the elevator doors slid open, releasing me onto the fourth floor,
Camilla's POV My breath caught as I watched Dante slumped against the headboard, hacking into his lungs. A bit of blood trickled from between his lips and onto his palm and down his hand, spilling onto the sheets. My heart boomed in my chest loud enough to block everything else."Dante!" I shrieked, scrambling onto the bed beside him. "What's going on?”His head swung once in a poor attempt at shaking. "I. I don't know," he spoke in low tones.I grabbed a towel, pressing it to his mouth in hopes of halting the stream of blood while my hands violently shook. "Don't speak. Just breathe. I'm going to call Alex," I said, reaching for my phone.It rang once, and then Alex answered."Camilla? What's going on?""Get here! Now!" I ordered. "Get a doctor, the one that knows what he's doing. Dante is coughing out blood!""What? Is it-""As soon as possible, Alex!" I cut him off, hooking the disconnect button.Dante's hand clutched mine weakly, his eyes searching for mine. "Camilla. I'm fine,"
Camilla's POVI stirred the coffee in my mug, my gaze darting to Dante, who sat on the bed edge, rubbing his temples. He was pale, far too pale. The composed veneer he always wore slumped in exhaustion."You don't look good," I said, placing the mug on the nightstand and sitting beside him.Dante let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard. "I just need some sleep, Camilla. That's all.""No, it's not," I said, laying a hand on his forehead. He wasn't warm, but his skin felt clammy. "You have been pushing yourself too hard. You look sick, you are going to see the doctor.""I'm fine," he muttered, waving me off. “I don't fall sick.”"Dante, stop being stubborn," I snapped. "If you're fine, then just humor me. Let me take you to the hospital."Before he could disagree, a knock was heard at the door. I gave him a pointed glance before crossing the room and wrenching the door open.There she was, standing with her luggage in hand and looking between regret and resolutions swimming
Camilla's POVThe chill of the night leaned against my skin as I watched Dante's car and a few other cars following him disappear into the distance. Something wasn't quite right with it; it sat in my belly like a weight of bad news. The gestures had been measured, urgent-unnatural. Dante just wasn't one to go off without a scheme in his pocket, and experience told me his schemes came with danger clinging to them like an over-attached lover.I slid into my car, grasping the wheel. "What are you up to now, Dante?" I muttered under my breath.I hung back, careful to stay several car lengths behind. The road opened up before me, twisting and turning into a secluded area. My headlight was off, guided by the dim light of their tail lights.A place where they had stopped gave me the heebie-jeebies; it was dark, isolated, and quiet except for the rustling of leaves in the wind. I could feel my pulse as I drove a distance away and got out of the car.I dropped into a crouch, quiet, and made my
Dante's POVThe only noise within the study room was the whir of machinery around me, all watching and waiting for something to happen. I leaned back in my chair, peering up at the screen in front of me displaying Kate's position. She was sitting in one of the rooms, completely unaware of the bug within her phone as she ran nervous fingers through her hair."You've been watching her every day, you really think he'll call her?" Alex asked, standing behind me."He will," I said, my tone cold with certainty. "Anthony's too smart to leave without trying to tie up his loose ends. And Kate? She's the weakest link."Alex ceased pacing and faced me. "Do you trust her?"I looked at him. "Trust her? No. But guilt makes people do some pretty unpredictable things. She'll lead us to him.”The moment I'd stopped talking, her phone flared to life. My heart quickened, I sat up, gesturing for Alex to quiet. Kate reached for it gingerly and answered."Hello?" she whispered, and the word shook.There wa
Ella's POVI was seated cross-legged in the plush chair in the guest house; the only sound was that of the air conditioner humming away in the dark. I had been staring for minutes on end at the phone in my hand as if it held all the answers I needed. Anthony's name flashed across the screen, I'd been waiting to hear from him for a while now. I answered immediately. "Anthony," I said smoothly, careful that the eagerness didn't leak into my voice. "What a surprise."His voice came through sharp and urgent, and for once betrayed his façade of calm. "Ella, how are things going? Has there been any progress?"I let a small, appeasing smile slide onto my face as my eyes strayed to the window where, below me, sprawled the estate. Dante's empire was heady to look upon, and for the first time, I was inside. Well, it had taken years of planning. "It couldn't go any better," I replied, my tone airy but edgy. "I have gotten closer to Dante, and he has started trusting me again.”"And Camilla?" H