Chapter Six

Camilla whistled to herself as she helped prepare the diner for opening time. Three days had passed since their date on the lake, and she and Shadow couldn't get enough of each other.

The past three nights, they alternated staying at her tiny apartment or his room at the clubhouse. He was the first face she saw in the morning and the last before she fell asleep. Camilla thought the passion between them would start dying down, but the exact opposite happened. She wanted more and more of him and it seemed he felt the same way.

" There's that smile on your face again," Betty, another waitress her age, remarked. " Your boyfriend did something to make you happy?"

" Well, we're going out on another date tonight," she said. Nothing could top their first date, but a girl could hope, right?

Camilla arranged the condiments on the tables, Betty raised an eyebrow.

"Another date in the same week? You two are practically attached at the hip lately," Betty remarked.

Camilla chuckled, feeling a warm flush creeping up her cheeks. "Something like that," she admitted, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

Betty leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So spill the details. Where's he taking you this time?"

Camilla paused, a playful glint in her eyes. " I don ' t know yet," she admitted.

Betty looked clearly intrigued. "Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be amazing. You two seem perfect for each other."

" Enough chitchat, ladies. We're about to open," Ted reminded them.

The morning crowd spilled in and Camilla got to work. Around 11:00 AM, the crowd died down, save for a lone customer that entered the diner.

"Camilla, I know that's my area, but could you take that guy's orders? I'm going on my cigarette break," Betty called out.

"Sure thing," Camilla said.

Camilla's heart raced as she balanced the coffeepot in one hand and a menu in the other, weaving through the empty tables toward the customer. Camilla couldn't wait to go on her lunch break, so she could text Shadow.

As she approached the customer, a sense of unease settled over her, although she couldn't explain why. Camilla smiled politely as she reached his table, setting down the coffeepot and menu before him.

Before she could even utter a greeting, he grabbed her arm with a force that made her instinctively recoil. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at the man, her breath catching in her throat.

Recognition hit her like a ton of bricks as she met his dark, hawk-like gaze. Jake Collins, Fernando's right-hand man. That scar on his jaw was unmistakable. For a moment, Camilla felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room.

Her mind raced as she struggled to find her voice, panic coursing through her veins like wildfire. She knew she needed to stay calm, to handle the situation carefully.

However, the sight of Jake sitting before her sent a chill down her spine, and she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled in the pit of her stomach.

All good things had to come to end , a dark voice inside her head whispered.

"All this time, we searched for you, thinking you're dead and you're here, playing waitress? Do you have any idea how worried Fernando was when you disappeared?" Jake demanded.

Camilla swallowed hard, feeling a surge of guilt and anxiety wash over her.

"We'll talk, but not here," she said quickly, casting a furtive glance around the diner. The last thing she needed was for their conversation to be overheard by prying ears. "And I didn't just leave on my own, I was taken."

Jake's expression softened slightly at her words, but the skepticism still lingered in his eyes. After a moment of consideration, he nodded in reluctant agreement.

"My lunch break's at 12:30," Camilla continued, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside her. "I'll meet you at the town park. All right?"

Jake hesitated, clearly torn between suspicion and curiosity. Eventually, he relented with a terse nod. He finished his coffee in silence, before rising from his seat and making his way to the cashier to settle the bill.

Camilla watched him go.

"Camilla, are you okay? Who was that man?" Betty asked, concerned, but Camilla could tell she was curious too.

She had never shared her past with anyone, and hoped things would stay the same.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice a little shaky.

Camilla managed to make it to her lunch break without falling apart. She left the diner and felt her phone vibrate. Looking at the screen, she saw it was Shadow, asking her how her day was going.

Camilla quickly typed a response, telling him her day was nothing out of the ordinary—a blatant lie—but she didn't want him to get further involved in her family mess.

Refusing to contact her brother after she was freed had been her choice, and she stood by it. Still, as she headed to the park, part of her wished Jake wasn't there, but he was, sitting at one of the benches at the entrance.

Camilla took deep breaths before joining him.

"What are you doing here, Jake?" Camilla asked, her voice firm.

He frowned, his gaze piercing as he studied her. "I'm the one asking the questions here," he retorted sharply.

Camilla bristled at his dismissive tone. For years, he had treated her as nothing more than a pawn in her brother's organization. But now, she felt a sense of empowerment, a newfound resolve to assert herself and her independence.

She wouldn't let her past define her choices anymore.

"Correct your tone or I'm gone. You can explain to Fernando that you saw me, but soon lost sight of me," she warned, her voice unwavering.

Jake's expression shifted, a hint of surprise flickering across his face as he regarded her more closely.

"You're different," he observed, his tone softer now, tinged with curiosity.

"I've changed," Camilla affirmed, her resolve unwavering. "You have no idea what I've been through."

"Then tell me," Jake urged, his voice gentle yet insistent. "What really happened to you, Camilla?"

Taking a deep breath, Camilla began to recount the events leading up to her disappearance, omitting the details of her budding romance with Shadow. Some things were too personal to share, even with someone from her past.

"The Death Seekers—they're the ones keeping you here? I came to Hanging Grove to work out a deal with them. The organization needs a new weapon supplier because we're on the verge of territorial war with a rival gang," Jake said.

"No one is making me stay here. I chose that decision because … I needed time to heal," Camilla said.

"You're afraid of Fernando's reaction, but Camilla, he's your brother. He'll understand, and we'll make sure nothing like this ever happens to you again," Jake pointed out.

Camilla couldn't shake the feeling of unease settling in her gut. Jake had assumed she would just come with him, like some obedient lamb. She had to correct him.

"My meeting with the Death Seekers can wait. My priority is to bring you back safely home," Jake said, pulling out his cell phone.

Camilla's heart thundered against her ribs as panic surged through her veins.

"Wait," she blurted out.

"Don't you want your brother to know you're safe?" Jake's fingers hovered over his phone, his expression tense with suspicion.

"Fernando can know I'm safe, but I have no intention of going back with you," Camilla said. "This is my home now, Jake."

"You're out of your mind. I understand you've been through a lot, but that ordeal probably messed with your train of thought," Jake accused, rising to his feet.

Camilla remained stubbornly seated, refusing to budge despite his expectant gaze.

With an impatient sigh, Jake reached out and gripped her arm, expecting her to comply. Camilla recoiled, shoving him away with a surge of defiance.

She realized then that Jake was too entrenched in his own agenda, and she shouldn't have entertained the idea that she could convince him to back off and handle things her own way.

"Let go of me," she hissed, her voice trembling with anger and fear as Jake's grip tightened on her hand.

His expression softened momentarily, but determination hardened his features once more.

"Don't make this harder on yourself, Camilla," Jake said.

There was almost a plea to his words. Camilla knew he would use force if he deemed it necessary. Camilla suddenly had an image of Jake grabbing her, rendering her unconscious and throwing her in the back of his car.

The next time she woke up, she'd be back at her brother's compound and she'd never see Shadow again. The thought filled her with dread.

" I said no," Camilla said. She tried to bat his hand away, but he was twice the size of her and he only tightened his grip on her arm.

" Don ' t make me angry," Jake warned. " You know what would happen."

Camilla did. Jake was her brother's bogeyman. She'd seen firsthand how Jake had dealt with her brothers' enemies, and the aftermath wasn't pretty.

"Let her go."

Camilla's heart raced as she heard that familiar voice, a lifeline in the midst of chaos. Jake, consumed by his own determination to see her back home, initially didn't register the warning.

He remained fixated on Camilla, his grip tightening with each passing second. But then, there was a distinct click, and suddenly Shadow stood a few feet from them. He pointed a gun at Jake's head.

Finally, Jake noticed they weren't alone. The color drained from his face as he turned to face Shadow.

"I don't like repeating myself," Shadow's voice was low and threatening. "Release her this instant, or you're a dead man."

Camilla stole a glance at Shadow, struck by the coldness in his eyes. She knew this side of him existed, but seeing it in action was still jarring. Shadow was a Death Seeker, after all.

Grateful for Shadow's intervention, Camilla couldn't help but feel a surge of relief. Camilla's heart hammered in her chest as she watched the tense standoff unfold between Shadow and Jake.

She could feel the weight of Shadow's gaze on her, a silent demand for explanation. With a deep breath, she found her voice.

"Shadow, don't shoot him. I … know him," she said, her words rushed but firm.

Shadow's expression softened, his brows furrowing in confusion at her plea.

"Know him?" he echoed, clearly puzzled by her sudden defense of Jake.

"Trust me on this, killing him would only cause you and your MC problems," Camilla urged, her voice pleading.

She couldn't bear the thought of the violence escalating any further. Shadow hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching hers for reassurance. Finally, he nodded, though the tension in his posture remained palpable.

"Step away from her. Good. Keep that distance," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, Jake complied, stepping back with a scowl directed at Camilla. She could sense his frustration, but she knew she had made the right decision. Jake kept looking at her, then at Shadow. He probably came to a conclusion he didn ' t like, because he deepened this scowl.

"He's the reason you don't want to come back home, isn't he?" Jake asked, his voice laced with venom.

Camilla tensed, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for Shadow's reaction. Shadow's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he turned his gaze to Camilla.

"Why? Who's your brother?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Camilla's throat felt dry as she struggled to find the words to explain, but before she could respond, Jake's mocking laughter filled the space between them.

"Fernando Hernandez. Didn't she tell you, biker? Oh, this is rich," Jake sneered, the smirk on his face twisting with satisfaction.

"Hernandez?" Shadow repeated, his tone incredulous as he processed the revelation.

He looked at Camilla, his expression unreadable, but she could see the storm brewing behind his eyes. She knew he must be grappling with a whirlwind of emotions—betrayal, anger, confusion.

He didn't deserve to find out the awful truth this way. At that moment, Camilla wished she could turn back time and tell him everything—who her family was and why she didn't feel like she belonged. Maybe it would've changed things … but it was too late now.

"My relationship with my brother is complicated," she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

It felt like a feeble attempt to justify her actions, but it was the only explanation she could offer in that moment.

"So now you know the truth, biker. Tuck that gun away. Let me bring her back home and we'll forget this ever happened." Jake's voice cut through the tension, his words dripping with arrogance.

Camilla's fists clenched at her sides, her chest tight with indignation. How dare he address her like that, as if she were a pawn in some twisted game? Even as fury coursed through her veins, she knew deep down that Jake was right about one thing—he expected her compliance, and he was likely to get it. After all, he suspected her feelings for Shadow ran deep enough to cloud her judgment.

Before she could move, Shadow stepped forward, his presence commanding and protective. With a swift movement, he grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet his intense gaze.

"Do you really want to go with him?" he demanded.

Camilla's heart hammered and she adamantly shook her head.

"No, I don't," she admitted, her fingers trembling as she reached out to gently cup his unshaven cheek.

Despite the tension and uncertainty surrounding them, she found solace in the warmth of his touch, in his possessive look. She knew she owed him an explanation, but in that moment, all she could feel was relief. He wasn't about to let her go without a fight, and for that she was eternally grateful.

"You heard her. Camilla's not going anywhere," Shadow said.

He slid his arm around her, pulling her close to him in a protective embrace.

Camilla felt the weight of Jake's gaze boring into her, his silent threat hanging heavy in the air. She squared her shoulders, refusing to cower under his intimidating presence.

"This won't end well and you know it," Jake warned.

Camilla wasn't backing down. "Tell my brother I make my own choices now," she declared, her grip on Shadow's jacket tightening.

"Now leave, before I change my mind and shoot you," Shadow told Jake.

For a moment, Jake seemed to consider his options, his eyes flickering with anger and frustration.

"You'll pay for this," he spat, before finally turning on his heel and storming away, leaving them alone in the tense silence.

Once the threat had passed, Shadow released Camilla. "You owe me an explanation," Shadow reminded her.

Camilla met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes," she agreed, drawing in a deep breath. "It's time for me to come clean."