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The Devil She Knows 59
Camille"Do you know where your heart lies?" My breath stills while I look at her, hoping she won't find some way to change the subject."Yes," she answers after a long moment, her expression becoming self-conscious and knowing. "But it might be better to be torn between two men who want you, than the situation where you know one wants you and the other just sees you as a thing he has no plans to love, or treat like a human being."Thank God, she's trusting me. A weight lifts from my shoulders and I step into the shoes of the friend I've always wanted to be to her."Is that what it's really like?""Yes."We stare at each other for a few awkward moments of silence while I wait for her to elaborate."You know about Zakh and me, don't you?" She speaks finally in a hushed voice. As if she's scared the trees might hear her."I do. Why didn't you tell me?""I was scared. I'm still scared.""Don't be."The vein at her temple pulses. "I love my parents with all my heart, but no one knows what
The Devil She Knows 60
CamilleThe tension drains from my body the moment I pierce through the water.The neon blue lights at the bottom of the pool come on, and I feel like I'm swimming in the sea. In my angst-filled state, I'd probably feel better in the sea, with the crashing waves rippling over me. But at this hour I'd probably get myself in trouble.It's nearly one in the morning.I was awake yesterday at this time too, but I was in the hot tub with Alessio, where we seemed to be two different people who'd lost themselves to lust.Now I'm by myself, faced with the sting of uncertainty. And the sting of Gytha's words, because Alessio didn't come home.Of course, I assumed he was with her, and I couldn't sleep. Then I made the mistake of going through my emails and found one that was sent yesterday morning from the lawyer in Russia who is dealing with the vineyard I inherited from my grandfather.I'd forgotten all about it since I had so many other things on my mind, and I'd already started the process o
The Devil She Knows 61
Camille"I don't think that's what brought you out here though, is it? Ehlga said she heard you screaming like you were having a nightmare. Another one.""I didn't know she was awake." Or that she could hear me. God, that's so embarrassing."She's up sometimes at this hour, baking.""Oh.""You're still having the same nightmares?"I nod. "They don't stop. I have the same one over and over again.""With the crest?""Yes." I bite the inside of my lip.His shoulders relax and he looks like he's considering something, but I don't know what. We haven't spoken about my nightmares or the crest in weeks. I thought he'd brushed it off, even if he believed me."I spoke to your father about the crest, and I looked into it."A rake of shivers climbs up my spine, and my jaw loosens. There's no way he would have spoken to my father or looked into anything if he didn't think it was important. Or suspect something."Did you find anything out?""No. And your father said he didn't know the Butyrskayas.
The Devil She Knows 62
AlessioAleksander Ivanov stands and looks at me.His dark gaze then wanders to all the men in the room who make up the Bratva leadership.We're at the headquarters building in the city. There are thirty of us seated around the large rectangular table in the center of the boardroom.I'm sitting on Aleksander's right with the senior Brigadiers. My brothers are opposite me in order of age with Leif next to them.This is the leadership meeting everyone has been waiting for, to hear my official decision. Apart from Leif, the only other two people in here who know my choices are Zakh and Aleksander.Tonight I also become the official Sovietnik. The tension in the air is the same—if not worse—than when I retook my oath at Raventhorn Hall.My choices will affect everyone here and I know they won't be happy when they find out I've demoted Uther.Aleksander already knows and is already fuming, and the others are like sharks trying to catch the scent of blood as they analyze me.From the moment
The Devil She Knows 63
Alessio"I believe you chose my family to take care of the Bratva because you believe we can handle things in the way they should be.""That's exactly why I chose the Scarfonis, but Uther has always been a part of that setup. You must understand my concerns." His voice echoes his displeasure. "To be honest, if things were like they were before I elected your father, I would have overruled this decision in a heartbeat.""Maybe you just need to trust me."He laughs without humor. "I'm going to need a hell of a lot more time to get to know you first before I can trust you. Last year our organization almost fell apart. Over a thousand years of a formidable legacy and it almost disintegrated on my watch. The Scarfonis were my plan to rebuild. The setup your father put togetheristhe Komarovski Bratva. That's why there was no question when it came to my decision to choose your family.""Then rest assured I've done the right thing and I've chosen the right people."He looks at me for a long m
The Devil She Knows 64
AlessioToday is my wedding day.The day is finally here and I feel different to how I thought I would.Leif and I are in the dressing room at Hammond Castle, the wedding venue. This place is more suited to me.Camille and I will be getting married in the ocean view private gardens.The wedding will take place in half an hour, and everyone, including her, is here and ready.Leif adjusts the purple sash on my shoulder, making sure it sits perfectly against my Knights tunic. The bearer of the Odin rune wears this sash when he's getting married.Leif was entrusted with mine after the Reaping. He's giving me that proud father smile again, and I slip into one of my moments where I appreciate all he's done for me.He's dressed in his tunic too, but as he's officiating the wedding, he's wearing a white cape with a metal laurel leaf securing it around his neck."Your mother would have certainly loved to be here today to see you get married." Leif's voice carries that sentiment again.The same
The Devil She Knows 65
Camille"I now pronounce you man and wife," Leif announces with a proud smile. And just like that I become Camille Scarfoni. "You may now kiss the bride."Alessio leans in and kisses me.The kiss, as soon as it touches my lips, feels different in all the right ways. It holds the passion we've shared mixed with lust and a promise for later.It's a real kiss. Something I know my father wasn't expecting.Can he tell it's real?I know Lorelai can.I'm all sorts of nervous, but this kiss takes me out of reality.I wondered how I would feel today getting married to Alessio. Not Richard.What I feel is that thrill. Like I'm flying close to the sun again, but I don't want to turn back. I haven't even thought about being bound to the Knights. Even though Alessio is in his tunic, I feel like I'm truly married to him, and this is the first time my heart hasn't been conflicted.We pull apart and our few guests clap. Dad doesn't. He keeps his hands at his sides and his face stern.Ehlga is the fir
The Devil She Knows 66
CamilleI feel like a new woman as I walk through the revolving glass doors of Mira's private practice. There's a lightness about me I'm sure people can see, and I feel more confident.Alessio and I returned from our honeymoon last night. We had the most amazing time. He sailed me around the Caribbean, stopping at every island, where we frolicked in the sea and sun by day, then made love under the stars at night.I didn't want to leave and return to the real world.When we did, it was nice to get a message from Mira letting me know she was back from Russia.Since I'm not back on campus until next week, I thought it would be great to catch up with her today.As I walk into the elevator, I catch sight of my very tanned skin. A dead giveaway of the fun I had in the Caribbean with Alessio.I hope I don't look like I had too much fun.The last time I saw Mira, I was left worrying about what she thought of me. Now that Alessio and I are married, I'm still worried. Mira is someone I want to
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The Devil She Knows Epilogue
Camille"It's going to be so strange coming back after the summer and not seeing you," Lorelai says, sitting straighter."I know. I was thinking that the other day."We're under the tree on Raventhorn's campus. I'm waiting for Alessio to pick me up, and she's waiting for Dmitri. This is the first of many dates her father has arranged with him, and I know she's not happy about it.Although she's smiling, I also know she's still putting on a brave face because of Zakh. By now, everyone knows what he did and that he's basically being hunted.Lorelai and I haven't spoken about it much, but I know she's hurting deeply."You know you'll still see me, right?" I smile. "I just won't be at college for a year." Today, I did my deferment for next year. I'm due in January, but I have no plans to walk around campus in my pregnant state. We have another month of classes before the summer. By the time I get back, I'll be just over five months pregnant. I plan to resume my course the year after next
The Devil She Knows 96
CamilleThe next two days are awful, but Alessio is still with us.I've been sitting next to his bedside watching him fight for his life and hoping he'll come back to me.I pay attention to every sound on his monitors and watch for signs of anything and everything when the nurses and doctors check his vitals.I continue praying as the next day passes with the same results.His words keep ringing through my mind.We're not done yet, we're not done yet, we're not done yet.I just hope he knows I'm with him. Wherever he is, that's where I am, too.Heart, body, mind, and soul. He always had me long before I knew I'd given myself to him.Two weeks slip by and Alessio is still the same. I feel like I'm dancing on the edge of insanity.The doctors have kindly arranged for me to sleep next to him when I can, so I stay all night.Everyone is hoping he'll pull through and wake up soon, so everything has been put on hold, including Leif and Evgeni's funerals.On Friday night, I fall asleep next
The Devil She Knows 95
CamilleI look around frantically, not knowing what the hell to do but thinking this is an opening. A possible chance to escape, just like the one Dad told me to find. I just have to summon courage and look for my chance.We tear down the road off the building site, and then we're on a country road with the woods on either side.The sound of a motorcycle rips through the air. A sound I will never forget.The lazy day I remember at Raventhorn fills my head with the image of me sitting next to Lorelai by the tree, watching the motorcyclist rebel drive onto the campus.He's here again.I look behind me and see Alessio on his motorcycle tearing down the road. He's fought death to come and save me. I also spot Malik's car not far behind.Alessio shoots the wheels of the car. The tires blow, making Richard lose control of the vehicle.We run off the road, fly through the air for a few seconds, then land with a heavy thud on the ground. The car still has a lot of speed on it though, so it ke
The Devil She Knows 94
CamilleMy heart has been smashed into so many pieces it's impossible to count them all. It's no different to all the grains of sand in this world.My mind and body are disconnected, and my soul weeps for losing the love of my life. All that is left of me is an empty shell with nothing but a void inside.The only thing I can feel is the spark of life created with love in my belly, calling to me to stay alive. But I've already failed as a mother because there's nothing I can do.In my terror and grief, I'm here sitting on the floor of the bedroom I was taken to after Mira killed Dad, feeling sorry for myself.I don't know what this place is. It seems like Mira conducts something medical here. Apart from the armed guards, on my way up I saw offices and labs with clinical staff. I also saw other storage rooms and bedrooms like this.We're on the third floor, so quite high up with no possible way of escape. If I were to even try, I'm sure this shitty tunic Mira forced me to wear would get
The Devil She Knows 93
AlessioEverything is gray.I'm not sure if I'm alive or dead, or in a dream.My mind searches around the gray nothingness and the vast expanse of the void before me.I feel nothing at first, then something warm caresses my cheek. My name is spoken, soft and sweet, and I wonder if it's her.Camille. Did I make it? Did I find her? Did I save her?My wife.My eyes flutter open, but the grayness that looks like thick smoke prevents me from seeing anything. Then a light that's far too bright shines down on me, and I blink rapidly.At first, the ceiling of my living room comes into focus, then a man's face hovers before me.It's Leif's on-call doctor, Dr. O'Brien.Leif...Camille...At the thought of their names, reality crashes into my mind and I bolt up."Easy, there," Dr. O'Brien says, laying a heavy hand on my chest and pushing me back down. I'm on the sofa, and a quick glance at the bandage wrapped around my body suggests I took a hit in the blast.Gytha moves toward me, with worry in
The Devil She Knows 92
CamilleA chill rushes over me. "What do you mean? What did she do to me?""Even though she wasn't ethically allowed to be your therapist, she gave you medication to stop you from remembering."I cover my mouth, holding in the wave of shock that's ripping me apart. I can't believe what I'm hearing. Only God knows how hard I tried to remember, but I was never going to be able to because Mira was suppressing my memories with medication. I was such a fool to believe she was the person she portrayed to be. She was never the fucking motherly figure. All along, she was my enemy."You allowed her to do that to me.""I had no choice. She did everything she could to control our lives and make sure you didn't remember what happened. But the nightmares were always a worry even when they went away.""She told me it was my brain's way of trying to remember.""It was, and we feared you'd see something to trigger those memories. Or you'd just remember everything by some miracle. The whole thing torm
The Devil She Knows 91
CamilleI roll my head to the side and groan. Someone strokes my cheek, and I open my eyes.At first, my vision is hazy, but when everything comes into focus, I find myself staring at a gray concrete wall. The light around me reminds me of the kind you'd use for a storage room.My cheek is stroked again, and I turn my head to find Dad hovering over me. He has a long beard, blood-shot eyes, and his face looks like someone did a number on him.We're on the floor, and my head is nestled in his lap. It takes me a moment for my brain to connect and remember. Remember all he did and what he took from me. My family and my life.The instant I remember, I scream and jump out of his hold."Get away from me!" The panic in my voice is mixed with rage and fear."Camille, please."I back away into a wall, crashing hard against the surface. Then I notice the real problem we've found ourselves in.We're in some sort of cell, and while I am free, there are chains attached to Dad's ankles, keeping him
The Devil She Knows 90
Alessio"Leif..."A creak sounds outside the door. Another follows, and another.It's footsteps on the floorboards. Since it's not coming from the front entrance, I know it's not Zakh or Malik, so it must be someone else who's already here.Readying my gun, I get up and charge through the door. Whoever the fuck is here, and isn't supposed to be, is going to die a very painful death.I move out into the hallway, looking around frantically to see who it is but find nothing.When I turn around, something sharp enters my neck; then there's a tinging pain that feels like I'm being stung by a bee.I touch the spot and feel... a fucking dart?I pull it out and look at the sharp needle at the end, quickly realizing when spots speckle my vision that it's a tranquilizer. Like the kind our enforcers use when they want to bring people in for interrogation. Before my mind can truly register what's happening, my arms go numb then limp at my side.This can't be an ordinary tranq. I'd be out like a l
The Devil She Knows 89
Alessio"I'll be with you in a few hours." I balance my phone between my ear and shoulder while I pick up the last contract document from the pile on my desk."Try not to stay at work too long," Leif says, his voice sounding raspy over the phone. It still holds that melancholic tone I feel. "Losing yourself in work isn't always best.""I know. I still feel off." I swivel my chair around and gaze out the window toward the skyline. Rain is falling, so outside is a little darker than it should be for this time of day. It suits the sullen mood I can't seem to shake."I feel the same, my boy. I've been questioning my actions and decision to keep you a secret since we found out the truth. I can't express how guilty I feel about that.""Uncle, you rescued me from certain death. Of course, you were in the right for keeping me a secret." I know if I were him, I would have done the same thing. And I pray I'll never be in that position. "I owe you my life, and I still think of you as my father.
