15. CAMI

15

CAMI

T he morning air was crisp when I stepped out of the cabin, the sun barely peeking over the snow-covered mountains. Silver Ridge looked like a magical fairy tale.

“Look at that,” I said, pointing toward the bit of the town we could see through the trees. “Isn’t that just spectacular?”

The town was covered in a thick blanket of snow, but the warmth of the little lights had melted patches away, and it was beautiful.

“That’s quite something,” Mason said, stepping out of the cabin behind me.

I was dressed in yesterday’s clothes. I’d had a quick shower, but I would clean up properly when I got home. The storm had passed, and it was time to leave the dream I’d been stuck in with Mason throughout the night.

I turned to him. “Thank you for saving me.”

Mason smirked. “It wasn’t that dire.”

“I actually think it was,” I said seriously. “I wouldn’t have made it home in that storm. And last night was…” I didn’t have the words to explain how incredible it had been with Mason. Everything, from the food we’d had to the wine to the night we’d spent together and waking up next to him this morning. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” Mason said with a smile, and he leaned down. I stood on my toes to plant a kiss on his lips, and warmth rushed through me. Every bit of contact with him was like that—I was addicted, and I was pretty sure I would never get enough.

“Travel safe,” Mason said. “And if you need anything at all—”

“I know where to find you,” I said with a smile.

He squeezed my hand, and I finally took my leave, walking back toward town.

It was a strange sensation to leave Mason and his cabin behind. I felt torn between the world we’d shared last night and the reality I was returning to. But I could see him again. Of course I could. And the magic we’d felt didn’t have to fade; we just had to incorporate it into our day-to-day life, but we could do that.

I would ask Rae how she managed with Tanner when they’d first gotten together. This wasn’t the first time someone had fallen in love with a rugged mountain man in Silver Ridge.

I smiled at the thought.

When I reached the town, it was still quiet, only just shaking off its slumber. The big Christmas tree in the square was covered in snow, the colorful baubles peeking out, and the lights flashed happily.

These were the kinds of mornings I used to live for—the kinds of mornings I’d loved sharing with Dylan. The idea of it made my heart ache. It was the life I’d thought I would have with Dylan.

But the love I’d had from him hadn’t been the kind of love I deserved.

After one night with Mason, I realized how I wanted someone to make me feel.

Mason made me feel like I was the only woman in the world, like everything needed to stand still because I would be put first, no matter what.

And that was the most incredible feeling ever.

The snow crunched beneath my boots as I walked down the quiet streets.

The decorations around town sparkled in the early light—swags of pine branches dotted with red berries hung in shop windows, handwritten chalk signs promised hot cocoa, and twinkling lights that made everything feel even more magical. The whole town was alive with holiday cheer, and I couldn’t help but feel swept up in it. It was the kind of Christmas spirit I believed should always come with the season and after everything, it felt good to be part of something like this, knowing that I’d helped to make it happen.

I passed a few familiar faces, greeting them cheerfully, and their warm responses reminded me I was truly becoming part of the community. I wasn’t a stranger in this town anymore, and the sense of belonging lifted my spirits as I headed home. Each smile and wave strengthened my connection, grounding me in this new life I was creating. I still wasn’t sure exactly where things with Mason were going, but the thought of him filled me with warmth. Wherever it led, I knew it would be good.

For now, I would focus on the rest of the day.

Rae and Tanner had invited me over to their place for lunch, and I was looking forward to it. I still had some things to discuss with Rae for the Christmas party, and then there were plans still to be made for Christmas Day. Of course, they had suggested I spend that day with them, too. And why not? Being part of their family Christmas felt like another step toward making this place my home. And now that I’d spent time with Mason, getting to know him a little better, I felt like maybe we could invite him, too. He’d probably say no, but it was worth a shot. Besides, Rae was great at convincing people to come out of their shells. Look at what she’d managed with the Secret Santa drawing.

I reached my cottage, the little home nestled in the snow, looking like something straight out of a storybook. The wreath I’d hung on the door was covered in a light dusting of snow, but the sight of it made me smile. Home. I was starting to feel like this place could really be that for me.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside, a rush of warmth greeting me as I shrugged off my coat and boots. I still had some time before heading to Rae’s, so I decided to take a longer shower than I’d had at Mason’s before getting ready.

Maybe I’d wear the ridiculous Christmas sweater Rae had given me as a joke. It wasn’t like I had anyone to impress… well, except Mason. But it was all in the spirit of Christmas, and it would be totally cute.

I hummed to myself as I headed down the hallway, my thoughts full of holiday cheer and the warmth of the people in this town. But just as I reached the bathroom, something caught my eye—a flicker of movement in the living room.

I stopped cold.

My heart skipped a beat as I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat.

Three men stood there, watching me with cold, calculating eyes.

My heart pounded, and my legs felt like they’d turned to stone. I didn’t recognize two of them, but the third… the older man with the hard, weathered face was the same guy who’d been following me near the bakery that day.

The one I’d confronted.

I’d felt like such a fool, thinking he’d been following me, but now, seeing him here in my home, the fear hit me like a freight train.

I’d been right.

“Sit down,” one of the men barked, his voice sharp and dangerous.

I didn’t move. My mouth went dry, and my mind turned to scrambled egg. I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on.

“I said, sit down,” the older man repeated, his tone low and menacing.

He took a step toward me, and that snapped me into action. I backed up slowly, my body trembling as I made my way to the chair by the fireplace. I didn’t sit, though—my legs wouldn’t bend, wouldn’t cooperate.

Eventually, they gave way, and I collapsed on the chair.

“What do you want?” My voice was barely a whisper, shaky and terrified.

The older man—his eyes narrowing—took another step closer, his hand resting on the back of the couch as he surveyed the room. “You’re Camilla Whitman, aren’t you? You’ve been making yourself pretty comfortable here in Silver Ridge.”

I swallowed hard, my blood rushing in my ears. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He chuckled darkly. “Don’t play dumb. We know about your Dylan Campbell. We know about his dealings with Viktor Kovalenko’s organization.”

I frowned. I had no idea what they were talking about.

“He was in deep, and you were right there by his side.”

I shook my head. Somewhere, the name rang a bell, but so vaguely I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“I don’t have anything to do with that,” I stammered. “I don’t even know who that is. Dylan and I aren’t together. I left him a couple of months ago. I didn’t know—”

“Save it,” the man interrupted, his voice cold. “You might have left him, but you’re still connected. And now, with all those pictures you’ve been posting on social media, you’ve made yourself pretty easy to find.”

My blood ran cold, fear twisting my insides. My social media posts. All the pictures I’d taken, the events I’d helped plan, the photos I’d shared of my life in Silver Ridge… I’d thought I was creating a new presence, a new life for myself so I could have a new audience who could maybe turn into new customers. Instead, they’d seen them. They’d been using it to track me.

“Tell us where Mason Thompson is,” the man demanded, his voice sending a fresh wave of panic through me. Confusion followed right on its heels.

Mason? What did they want with Mason?

“Mason?”

“The locals know him as Bear,” one of the other guys said.

Shit. So they really knew who he was.

“I don’t know where he is,” I lied. “I’ve seen him once or twice around town, but I don’t know a whole lot of people. I’ve only been here a short while and—”

“Don’t lie to me,” the man snapped, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve been seen with him. You’re close to him.”

“I don’t know anything!” I cried, the panic taking over. “Please, I swear, I don’t know anything!”

The men exchanged glances, and for a moment, I thought they might actually leave. But then the older man took another step closer, grabbing my arm in a vice-like grip. “We’ll be watching you,” he growled, his breath hot against my cheek when I turned my head and tried to back away. “You’d better hope you’re telling the truth. And if you’re not, we’ll be back.”

He shoved me back, and they marched away, leaving through the front door. I collapsed into the chair again, my body trembling as the tears welled up in my eyes. I could barely breathe, my chest tight and my mind running in circles.

How had my life come to this? One moment I’d been deliriously happy, and the next… this. How had I gone from trying to build a new life in a small, safe town to being terrorized by men who thought I had answers I didn’t even understand?

One thing was clear: this wasn’t over. They wanted Mason. My posts, my connection to Dylan, had somehow brought these people to town. Mason had been hiding out here for years, alone. He’d finally opened up and let me into his home and his life, and now he was being hunted.

And it was all my fault.