Faye was curled in a ball on their living room floor when Camilla raced into their house. A foul stench slammed into her, but she ignored it as she sank onto the rug, pulling her best friend’s head to her lap. From the state of the living room: the pile of dirty plates and cups, rumpled notes strewn over the floor and couches, she could make one conclusion. Faye didn’t get the bad news about her boyfriend today.
“What’s going on?” Camilla whispered. She stroked her friend’s greasy hair, careful not to tug on the knots. “Talk to me.”
Faye adjusted, lying flat on her back as her red-rimmed eyes met Camilla’s clear ones.
“Vanya is getting married.”
“What do you mean he’s getting married?” Camilla asked. Her best friend had said it a few times that she wasn’t keen on a marriage until she had at least gotten her MSc. “To you? You didn’t tell me that.”
“Not to me, Cam. Pay attention,” Faye snapped. Camilla almost chuckled. She was always the dramatic one or girl in need. Switching roles felt good. Faye sat up, inching away until she was resting against the couch. “He’s getting married this week. Friday. He broke up with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Said he couldn’t be with me anymore. And, and that’s okay, right?” Faye asked. She couldn’t answer. Her past relationships had been nothing to write home about, especially since she couldn’t offer most of the men what they wanted from her. “I know that couples break up all the time. But how is he getting married the week after? How? You know what that means?”
Camilla shook her head. She wasn’t sure about anything at this point. She suspected Vanya to be a scumbag, but this was a stretch. Faye sat up and crossed her legs.
“It means he has been cheating on me for the course of our relationship, if not, the entire relationship. You can’t just marry on a whim,” Faye murmured. Camilla would have nodded, but her parents married only a few days after meeting each other. People had done crazier things, including her. “When you saw him at the store, he was probably getting stuff for his bride-to-be.”
“Right. So, what are we doing to do?” Camilla asked.
The resignation on Faye’s face made Camilla grab the other woman’s shoulders. They could hatch a two-way revenge plan. Revenge on him for breaking Faye’s heart, stealing her shoe, and ruining her phone. By the time they finished with the moron, he would never cheat on another woman.
“Cry?” Faye whispered.
At that, a few tears escaped Faye’s eyes. Camilla pulled her into a hug, patting her friend’s back as wheels rolled in her devious mind. Vanya must suffer for this.
“If anyone should be crying, it’s him,” she murmured. How could she punish him?
“How can he post the pictures of their pre-wedding shoot on his story without caring if I’ll see them?” Faye asked. She plucked the phone from the couch and shoved it into Camilla’s palm. “Just tell me, when did he have time to take those pictures with her?”
On the screen was a picture of Vanya and his bride-to-be, a pretty green-eyed lady.
“What the fuck?” Camilla stated. Tapping on the screen, she shook her head as more pictures of Vanya and his fiancé loaded. There was one of them at a dinner. “Wow.”
“Yeah,” Faye said, swiping furiously at her cheek. “That’s exactly what I thought, too.”
“That bastard? Have you called him?” Camilla asked. “You need to contact him.”
Faye let out a sob, her hands going over her mouth. “To say what? Hey, I just saw your pre-wedding photos. Have a married life? I wish you the best? Or, I’m happy for you? Which, Cam? Cos I’m far from happy.”
Camilla wrapped her childhood best friend in a hug. Crying wouldn’t solve the problem, but she let her cry into her arms.
“It’s okay, Faye. You’ll be okay.”
“It’s not okay…”
Crossing her legs, Camilla tried to get Faye to look at her. It might not feel like it right now, but it could have been worse. Faye could have married the cheating bastard. It was better to find out now than much later.
“It’s really not okay, Cam. It’s not.”
Faye was right. It wasn’t okay. They had to teach Vanya a lesson. She pulled Faye up to her feet. They could handle Vanya later, but her friend needed a shower right now.
They entered the bathroom, and Camilla helped Faye out of her clothes. Setting the water to warm, she pushed Faye under the shower.
“I should have believed you then,” Faye whispered. “I’m sorry I kicked you out.”
“You didn’t kick me out,” Camilla said, laughing to ease the tension. Her best friend looked like a deer caught in the headlights with her puffy eyes and her rat nest of a hair. “I volunteered to leave.”
Faye nodded, but it didn’t take time for her to be crying again. Camilla joined her in the stall. She spent more time consoling her friend than bathing. Minutes later, they both emerged out of the bathroom, soaked.
They changed into something dry, and she led Faye to her room, tucked her into bed, and closed the curtains. While her best friend slept, she cleaned up the rooms. All done, she returned to the living room to get Faye’s phone and rewatch Vanya’s story.
Vanya’s Ïnstagram story was full of cosy pictures. Camilla had a tough time believing he would switch so fast. What if she called to blast him? That was too easy. They needed to do something more that would leave a longer and lasting impact.
She settled on a text to her twin brother, Calvin. Three of them grew up together. Camilla. Calvin. Faye. And when KJ came, he joined the squad. She used to think KJ and Faye would end up together since they were closer as kids and teens, but those two didn’t talk as much anymore. Faye was concerned with getting her degree. KJ was too busy with work and getting into women’s panties. Before Calvin married his wife, Hana, he had also been a playboy.
Minutes passed without Camilla getting a reply from Calvin. He was good at ignoring her theatrics, a skill she prayed KJ never learnt. She hit him with a new and attention grabbing text. Both brothers claimed Camilla was a spoilt, demanding brat. She and Faye would disagree. She was only a sweetheart who liked attention a little more than her male siblings. Besides, she was their only sister. They had to indulge her.
Cam: I need hired goons to beat up a guy.
Vinny: CAM! ARE YPU CRQZY?
Calvin would lose his mind if he knew she still had his number saved with that childhood nickname he loathed. He already had to deal with her calling him baby brother when she was only older by fifteen seconds.
Cam: Calm down so you don’t make any more typos.
Vinny: That’s it, I’m calling dad. They shouldn’t have let you stay alone. You are always in trouble.
Not true. Well, only a bit. Camilla May McKenna was adventurous and humans couldn’t resist annoying her. Of course she would have to retaliate. She was her own karma. She had to be. Faye was hurt and crying her heart out. Someone had to pay.
Cam: Wait. It’s not me this time. And I’m old enough to stay on my own. I don’t need their permission or blessing.
Vinny: Dialling dad already. Start talking now Camilla or I’ll also call mum. What have you gotten yourself into?
The mention of her mother terrified her. Leila May McKenna was the best mother any human could wish for until you fucked up. And she was always messing up. Her mother was not in support of her moving out of the house, but her father prevailed.
Cam: Stop it. It’s not me, it’s Faye.
Camilla chewed on her bottom lip, wondering what amount of information to reveal to Calvin. He always treated her like his sister. Faye was a part of their family.
Cam: Vanya is getting married.
Vinny: Shit. Is she okay?
Cam: Not really.
Vinny: Should I ask Angel to come over?
Camilla snorted. Her brother called his wife Angel. He was right to do so because his wife was one.
Cam: I’m not sure she wants others to know.
Vinny: I’ll stop by later to say hi.
Cam: Don’t act like I told you anything.
Vinny: My lips are sealed. I’ll bring pringles
Cam: You better. I also need an invitation to the wedding. Two cards for both of us.
Vinny: I don’t know what your plan is. But the answer is no. Vanya has always looked sketchy to me. Maybe it’s a good thing it ended. Who knows?
Cam: Wrong timing.
Vinny: Of course I won’t say it to her face. Look, I have a meeting later, wish me luck.
The annoyance left Camilla’s body. Their arguments never lasted long, anyway. She loved them too much to hold on to the fake anger. Calvin would always come through for her in an actual state of emergency.
Cam: Best of luck, Calvin. I love you. #fighting
Cam: Don’t forget the invites
Vinny: No.
Cam: You have more connections. Help.
Vinny: Bad idea. No.
Cam: She deserves closure.
Cam: If you don’t help us, you’ll forget everything you planned to say at your meeting.
Vinny: ????
Cam: Vinny. Please.
Vinny: I’ll see what I can do. Don’t do anything stupid until I get back to you on that. Promise?
Cam: Bible.
For the McKenna kids, saying bible was the one way to establishing they were telling the truth. For now, she would trust her brother’s decision. If anyone had the power to get them an invitation to that wedding, it was Calvin Kyle McKenna.
Friday came faster than Camilla thought it would. Calvin had tried and failed to talk her out of her plan for revenge. Everything she needed for the wedding was in her bag. If she had her way, that wedding would end in tears. That was if it even happened.Camilla’s door opened, and Faye walked into her room wrapped in a blanket like a burrito. Her mouth fell open in shock.“What is this?” Camilla asked, pointing her makeup brush at the mirror. The past few days had been kinder to Faye. Her friend wasn’t eating as much, but her hygiene had improved. “Why aren’t you dressed yet?” Faye sat on the bed, the blanket hiding her frame. Her friend had lost weight in days while her ex partied constantly. His social media posts were proof. Vanya must pay. “Cam, I think we should let it go,” Faye whispered. Camilla dropped the brush on the table and turned so she was directly facing her best friend. “We only dated for two years. Some women had it worse.” “Are you, are you for real now?” Camill
Sweat gathered on Camilla’s palms. She brushed them over her dress and nodded. “Yes.”Their eyes met, and he nodded. Pulling her into a brief hug, he said, “I really tried, Cam.”Camilla smiled against his neck and broke the hug. He stayed back in the car while she sashayed to the entrance with as much confidence as she could. Calvin was watching her, so she couldn’t fuck up. One of the men at the door stretched out an arm to stop her from entering the church.They didn’t speak to her, their lips tilted in a grim smile. Everything in her head yelled at her to turn back and join her brother. It wasn’t too late. But she ransacked her bag for the invite Calvin gave her and offered it to the man on her left. He took a long look at it and nodded. The man on the right opened the door, and she stepped into the church. The doors shut behind her, and her heart drummed faster.Why did she feel like she had walke
Maksim was livid. He had been since they left Nightfall Hills. He paced his office, going unbelievably still when his right-hand man, Ivan, entered. The curtains were closed, how he liked it, and the entire place was dark, save for the corner light and lamp on the table. He snapped his fingers, a sign for the man to talk immediately.“Did you find her yet?” he asked.Ivan stood at ease, a wire curling from his ear to inside his suit collar. “Not yet, boss.”Rage coursed through Maksim’s veins. He sank into his chair and laughed bitterly.“Boss?” Maksim said, disgust slithering into his voice. He gripped the armrests so hard his nails broke. God help that lady because if he found her, he would wipe her off the face of the earth. She should have taken the subtle warning the priest gave him. No one, not even the don, the Grand Sinner himself, could end a wedding. “You have twelve hours to find that young
Photos was the first app Maksim checked. She had too many pictures for him to sift through. Nothing in there showed her name. Just tons of pictures of her in different poses and various hairstyles.She was pretty. But weren’t the evil ones always the prettiest? Who sent her to him?Soft knocks on the door had him shoving the ring and test into his drawer. He asked the person to enter, and a maid walked in with her head bowed down. Her black-and-white uniform creased as she bent to tilt the dead man’s head. He never killed senselessly, but Boris’ death would serve as a warning to everyone. If he could kill his own men, how much more a foe?Two men entered after the maid. He waved off their greetings as they dragged the dead body out of his office. The maid quietly cleaned as he resumed searching the phone. He could easily guess who the maids next subject of gossip would be. Him. As long as they served the meals and made themselves availabl
Maksim spat out blood. Poor maid. She would have to redo the cleaning. Pinching his nose to ease the bleeding, he grabbed the tissue box on the table and stuffed some of it up his nostrils. Papa drew closer, but Maksim stood his ground, ready for another attack. He should have expected the first.“She was right,” Papa said, stabbing him in the chest with his finger. “You’re a bastard.”“Papa.”“Don’t call me that.”“I. Don’t. Know her,” Maksim said.The lines on Papa’s forehead deepened, a sign that this was a futile conversation. His father always believed the worst of him. Why should today be different? He had long accepted that fate. Gently pulling out the soiled tissue, he tossed it to the trashcan by the door and sank down on the table.“One bastard is enough for the family,” Papa said. “You don’t know her, yet she&rsq
Revenge was a dish best served cold. Camilla didn’t agree. Revenge was a dish best served in the church with a fake pregnant test result and an astounding slap. To celebrate her successfully executed revenge, she was on a shopping spree today. The clothes she didn’t get the day Vanya interrupted her, she would get them today.Stomping out of her room with her purse swinging from her hand, she paused in front of Faye’s door. She wanted her best friend to join her on the spree. Faye was lively this week, but she wasn’t satisfied yet. Her friend loved movies, but they had watched nothing new this week.“I’m coming in,” she said, already opening the door. Her best friend was sprawled on the bed, her laptop and books open in front of her. The thought of being in the same position made her shudder. “Seriously? What’s all this? I don’t envy you.”Faye laughed. “I don’t envy me, ei
Vanya smirked, and Camilla inched closer to her door. That meant she had really seen him earlier. It wasn’t her imagination at the window. It was him.Was he stalking her? What did he want now? To take her new phone? She wasn’t releasing it.“I’m not giving you my phone,” she stated. Hitting the back of the driver’s seat, she told Alvin, “Why did you let this fool into my car? You should have at least called me.”“A fool?”“Look, Vance or Viper or Vagabond or Villain or whatever your name is,” Camilla started, turning to the man with a look akin to disgust. “I don’t have time for this.”“Your life stopped being yours the moment you walked into that church,” he replied. Camilla could only stare at him in shock because he had a lot of nerves breaking into her car. Smashing her phone wasn’t enough, and now, this? She retrieved her ph
Calvin would die if anything happened to his pregnant wife. They were lucky that she didn’t lose her pregnancy after that nasty incident with Hana’s father. She couldn’t take the risk. But she couldn’t go with him.“Van—” The glare he cut her made her shut up momentarily. “Let’s say I agree to your crazy offer. How long will this last?”“Until we get that child out of your womb. It’s mine, right? We slept together. How dare I choose to marry someone else?” he teased. Camilla’s blood froze in her veins. That… would be impossible because she wasn’t pregnant. She hadn’t even seen this man naked. “Be ready. I’ll come pick you up by 4 pm tomorrow. No luggage. Just you.”Vanya exited the car and shut the door. She didn’t relax, and when he opened her door, she was surprised one of her arteries didn’t burst. Too tensed to move
Camilla froze. Her heart raced shamelessly, and emotions she thought herself no longer capable of feeling flooded her. This was their first meeting since he dropped her at KJ’s house. She should pry his hand off her, scold him, or leave. But she did none of those things. It had been months.God, she missed her husband so much. So fucking much it was hard to fully express the loss without breaking down in tears.“Alek.”“Cam.”Camilla’s hand dropped over Alek’s, and she knew the feeling was mutual. He missed her too. If not, he wouldn’t be here with flowers. Or here at all. Her tea was getting cold, but she didn’t care. The shop was empty, so she didn’t have to hide or pretend. She wanted her husband here.Operations didn’t start until 5. So she liked to have an hour of silent reading before the hustle. But she didn’t mind sharing her solitude with Alek. He was the only one worthy of shar
The alarm on Maksim’s phone went off at exactly 3:45 pm. He shot to his feet and grabbed the bouquet of sunflowers on his desk. Outside the store, people went about their daily activities. But it was only a matter of time until his wife showed up.His wife.Maksim had never thought of Camilla as anything but that, though they had been separated for months. She hadn’t changed her mind about their ending. Not as if he had asked her. He lacked the courage to do that, so he had resorted to stalking her.That was how he knew her routine. That she would walk past this store and head to the coffee shop ahead of it in ten minutes. The man in charge of the shop would be late, but Camilla would wait. And when he finally arrived, he would apologise for coming late. It was the same routine over and over again with her. But with each day, she had grown less skittish and read more books.He couldn’t say if she still read romance, but she read a lot more now.
“Safe. Sonia and the rest of the girls and women we found have been taken care of.” Maksim knew the man wanted something more, so he waited. Antony didn’t disappoint him by saying, “Some of our guys aren’t so happy Oleg had to die the way he did. So here’s what we will do—” “No deal,” Maksim interrupted. Antony chuckled, a hand going over his belly. “You haven’t heard me out.” He said nothing, and the other man added, “I’m guessing you don’t want to see this Sonia. I’m as curious as you probably are. Is that her real name? Why do you look so much like her? Why did Oleg keep her in such a place after she birthed the heir to his throne?” “What do you want?” “Nothing. For now,” Antony added. “But soon, we might need your help. If you agree, I’ll let you know where Sonia is.” Maksim dropped the file on the bench. It was still open, so he gazed longingly at the picture. He had lost Camilla and Doris, could he lose his mother? How was he certain it was her? His he
The living room was quiet. Maksim and Christian sat on the floor. A few times, he glanced at the phone in his hand, expecting it to light up with his wife’s name. Things had progressed from bad to worse since the day she overheard his conversation with Vanya. Before that day she was only giving short replies, but now? She said nothing. A few people around him had suggested a change of location to help her mood, so now they were camped in Christian’s other apartment. It was located Nightfall Hills. But Camilla hadn’t reacted to the move, not even Doris’ appearance. He brought the housekeeper to cheer her up. Their relationship had improved. He wasn’t sure if those two spoke. But whenever he was around them, both women were always quiet. “What do you keep looking at?” Christian asked, snatching his phone from him. Maksim shrugged. His head fell back to the couch he was propped against. He wished for so many things he would never have. “She’s leaving me.” “How
Camilla was still asleep when Maksim left the room. There was a smile on his lips as he stepped out. He had to arrange pillows in a long line so she wouldn’t know he was gone. Christian called as he got into his car. At first, they had agreed for his wife to move to Nightfall Hills. A change of location, as was suggested by everyone and also get her closer to her family. With his enemies dead, she wouldn’t have to worry about her safety. But he wanted her to go home when she felt better, close to the version of herself he took months ago.The call lasted seconds. They would visit his friend but might end up not staying. He would have to ask her first. As he got closer to his destination, he pulled out his phone to call Ivan. Camilla was slowly getting better, and he needed to check on her. He had never left the house without informing her first, but he hadn’t wanted to wake her up this morning. She looked cute. He also had Ivan at home for emergencies.A
Alek was taking too long to get out of the bathroom. Camilla patted her foot on the floor. She had the option of knocking, but he would demand her voice. Talking still felt strange. While in captivity, she had gotten used to the silence. Her voice didn’t save her when those men had her on the floor. She had begged them to let her go, but…But what?A mental block paused her thoughts. The memories after that were too fuzzy. A blank wall she couldn’t get past. Something bad had happened. That was for sure, even if she didn’t know what it was now. The only person’s touch she could tolerate was Alek’s. Even Doris’ doleful eyes couldn’t get her to allow more body contact. Her body was revolting against something her brain and mind was stopping her from remembering.The baby was gone. Their baby. Alek hadn’t blamed her. He didn’t even mention it. That was supposed to be the surprise. The final addition to their ha
They could get another baby. If not this year, then next. The most important thing was Maksim had his wife back. Even if she had becoming unbearably quiet. Camilla was awake now. He could tell from how she pulled the cover over her shoulders.Maksim had tugged it down at night to hug her while she whimpered in her sleep. There was no conclusion on the rape. The tests for STIs had also come up negative. Dr Igor mentioned the absence of semen, but according to him, that could also be because of how long ago the assault happened. For now, they couldn’t conclude on if she had or hadn’t been molested. Only Camilla could answer that question for him.The blood was from losing their baby. A baby he couldn’t protect. Maksim stood by the bedside table, his hands fisted at his sides as he stared at the woman on the bed. She looked like his wife, but she wasn’t. She was someone else. A broken version. Her back was turned to him, and in his hand, he held a roma
Couldn’t the car possibly go faster? Left to Maksim, he would have swam across the river, but that would have been a stupid move. How would he carry Camilla after finding her? Now he was in a car with Ivan behind the wheels. His driver had arrived while he was talking to the men.After today’s display at the house, he was sure no one would question his authority for a long time. Before their fear of him fully dissipated to be replaced by respect, he would fish out every single one that had partaken in Camilla’s disappearance and eliminate them from this earth. If that was the only thing he would do as a Grand Sinner, he was completely fine with that.Maksim had never thought of himself as good, even the time with Camilla hadn’t changed that view he had of himself. But the incident of this morning had revealed he had the capacity for more. For true evil.The car slowed as they reached a lonely path. The road was rocky. Trees lined each side of t
If Maksim wasn’t going to listen to Doris at all, the use of his full name had grabbed his attention. She had never called him that. That being said, she stormed out of his sight. Baby? Camilla was pregnant? She wasn’t one to keep secrets from him. Not ones as huge as this. Think, Mak. Think.Wait. She promised to give him a surprise when they reunited. Was that it? No. No!Rage penetrated Maksim’s frame. On his feet, he went to their room. All plans to wait for Dmitri’s reveal dissipated into thin air as the housekeeper’s words danced in his head.Baby.Their baby.He lied to her.He promised to protect her, and he didn’t.In their room, Maksim grabbed two guns and attached silencers to them. For every of Papa’s man he met on the way to his office, he put a bullet in the centre of their forehead. Bodies fell around him. He had the element of surprise and silence for the attack. By the time he arrived at Pa