Chapter Nine

Camilla stepped off the bus, her heart pounding with trepidation. From the bus stop, it was just a short walk to the gas station where she was supposed to be picked up.

Shadow had tried calling her earlier, but she ignored his calls and messages. She convinced herself it was for the best. Camilla had made up her mind. If Shadow was with her, her brother might never see reason.

Finally reaching the gas station, she waited at the curb. It didn't take long before a black Mercedes with out-of-state plates pulled up.

The driver lowered his window, and she sucked in a breath. It was Jake. Didn't she tell Fernando to send anyone but him?

"Get in, Camilla," Jake ordered.

"I need to get something from the convenience store," she said quickly, before turning on her heel.

Ignoring his yell, she pulled out her phone and immediately called Fernando. Camilla's brother picked up after two rings.

"Camilla, are you in Juan's car right now?" were Fernando's first words.

"Juan? No, Jake's here. I told you to send anyone but him," Camilla began.

"Jake's there even though I explicitly ordered him…" Fernando trailed off, and she heard someone talking to him in the background. They started to argue.

Camilla's gut feeling told her something was wrong. She recalled the painful way Jake gripped her arm in the diner. He'd been shocked to see her alive, unhappy even.

"Camilla, listen to me," Fernando said urgently. "Juan's body has been found, and my men have reason to believe Jake's the culprit. Under no circumstances do you get in the car with him, you understand?"

A cold chill went down her spine at those words. Camilla's mind took her back to the day of her kidnapping, and she realized Jake was the last person she had spoken to that day.

Her memories of that time had been blurry, but lately, her mind started to clear as she began processing her trauma.

"Brother, I need to call someone," she said.

"Camilla, no—" Fernando's voice was cut off as she ended the call and dialed Shadow's number.

He had every reason to ignore her call, except he immediately picked up. She could hear the wind and the rumbling of his motorcycle engine in the background. He was on the road.

"Camilla? Where are you?" he immediately asked.

"The gas station near the town entrance," she said quickly. "Shadow, I'm in trouble. Jake." Before she could say more, someone snatched the phone from her fingers.

Camilla found herself staring into Jake's cold blue eyes. "You won't need this any longer," Jake said, ending the call and turning off her phone. He kept it inside his jacket pocket.

"You're coming with me, Princess," Jake said with a sneer.

"Like hell I will," she snapped.

Before she could slip away, Jake grabbed her arm and started dragging her out of the convenience store. She tried to fight him, but he was bigger and stronger.

"Let go of me," she hissed under her breath.

"Hey, man, the lady told you to leave her alone," said one of the customers in the store.

He shut up when Jake pulled out a gun. Despair hit her as the puzzle pieces clicked into place.

"You betrayed my brother," she whispered.

No one stopped them as they left the store. She didn't blame anyone because she knew Jake wouldn't hesitate to shoot anyone who got in his way.

"Took you long enough to figure it out," Jake said with a scoff.

They reached his car now. Still not letting go of Camilla, he opened the door to the back seat. He released her but kept the gun pointed at her.

"Get in or else," he said.

Camilla's heart raced, and for a few seconds, she was paralyzed with fear. The old Camilla would have just done as Jake said, but the new her was furious.

"Jake, did you organize my kidnapping?" she demanded, glad her voice didn't waver.

"I paid the Reapers a hefty sum too, and those idiot bikers botched the job," Jake said.

She had to keep talking, she realized, to keep him distracted until Shadow arrived. Her man knew where she was, and as long as they were in Hanging Grove, Camilla still had a chance of getting out of this mess.

Camilla searched his eyes and found nothing but emptiness and cruelty there. That terrified her but she stood her ground.

"Why would you do this? Why put me through all that? Do you hate me that much?" she asked.

"This wasn't the least bit about you. You were just a convenient tool," he said with a laugh.

Her stomach dropped at those words, but she wasn't shocked by them.

"So this was what? Revenge against my brother?" she asked.

"Your disappearance shattered him, and he was never the same. He became weak. My plan was working, then you had to reappear again," Jake said.

"You planned on killing him and taking his place, didn't you?" Camilla asked. "But his men won't follow you. You're just a second-rate crook."

"Enough talking. Get in the car. I won't ask you nicely again," he said.

Hearing the rumble of motorcycle engines in the distance, hope flared in Camilla's chest.

The scene crackled with tension as Jake's furious accusation hung in the air. Camilla's heart raced as she anticipated the imminent clash. She knew she had to act fast if she wanted to escape this dangerous predicament.

" You conniving bitch," Jake said with a hiss.

Jake attempted to shove Camilla into the back seat of the car, but she refused to be cornered. Seizing the opportunity, she drove her knee into his groin with all her might.

Jake's grip faltered as pain shot through him, giving Camilla the chance she needed to break free. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, Camilla darted away from Jake's grasp, her mind racing with possibilities.

However, she knew she couldn't let her guard down just yet. Jake still had his gun. Just as she began to plan her next move, she spotted Shadow on his motorcycle.

Shadow wasn't alone. Riding alongside him were Rooster and two other bikers. He had brought backup. That gave her relief, but it was momentary.

Camilla's breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with Shadow. Without a moment's hesitation, he dismounted from his Harley. In one fluid motion, he drew a revolver from inside his jacket.

"You're of no use to anyone dead!" Jake yelled.

She dared to look over her shoulder and swallowed when he pointed his gun right at her head. She froze, realizing these might be her last few seconds on earth. Regret filled her. This would've never happened if she didn't go behind Shadow's back.

"Camilla, get on the ground!" Shadow ordered.

His words broke her momentary paralysis. Camilla tasted the dirt as she dropped to the ground, her heart pounding in her chest. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the world around her blurred.

And then, in an instant, the silence shattered as both Jake and Shadow unleashed a barrage of gunfire. The deafening roar of the shots rang in Camilla's ears, drowning out all other sound save for the thunderous pounding of her own heart.

Fear gnawed at Camilla's insides as she surveyed the horrific scene before her. The other bikers were shouting, their voices hard to make out. She spotted Jake first, lying unmoving on the ground. Good riddance , she thought. Camilla then quickly sought out her man.

There, she saw Shadow on the ground, crimson spreading across his jacket. A cry of alarm escaped her lips as she scrambled to her feet, racing to his side. Rooster was already there, bent over Shadow, checking his vitals.

"Rooster … is he..." Camilla's voice faltered, the words catching in her throat.

She couldn't bring herself to voice her worst fears. Shadow wasn't moving and she started to go numb. No, this couldn't be happening. She was talking to him just now. God, this was so unfair.

"He'll be all right," Rooster reassured her, his tone firm. "He was just shot in the shoulder."

At first she had a hard time processing his words but finally they got through. Shadow wasn ' t dead, just hurt. A wave of relief filled her.

Camilla knelt beside Shadow, her hands trembling as she reached out to him. He opened his eyes, groaning in pain, but when his gaze met hers, a small smile graced his lips. In that moment, all of Camilla's worries seemed to dissipate.

He reached for her hand, and she grasped it tightly. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over. She almost lost him today, she realized.

"Don't cry, baby," Shadow whispered. "I'll be all right."

It was crazy that he was reassuring her despite being in pain. That was just like her man.

"I thought you were gone," Camilla confessed.

"No," Shadow said softly, his gaze unwavering. "I'll always be here for you."

"He needs to see a doctor," Camilla insisted, her voice firm as she turned to Rooster.

He nodded in agreement.They scrambled. An hour later, they arrived at Hanging Grove Medical, where Shadow was taken in for treatment.

As the medical staff worked to extract the bullet lodged in Shadow's shoulder, Camilla took a moment to make an important phone call. Not telling her brother she was alive right after her rescue was a terrible move on her part, Camilla could see that now.

"Jake's dead," she began when her brother, Fernando, answered. She recounted the events that had unfolded, the danger they had faced.

"What about you? Are you hurt?" Fernando's concern was evident in his voice.

"I'm unharmed, thanks to Shadow," Camilla replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

" Camilla, for God 's sake. Come home," Fernando said, voice strangely vulnerable.

****

Camilla remained resolute. "No, we tried doing it your way. If you want to talk, you can visit me here," she said firmly. "Either way, my decision is made. I'm staying here with Shadow in Hanging Grove, Brother."

Reluctantly, Fernando agreed. They ended the call, leaving Camilla to gather her thoughts as she waited for news of Shadow's condition.

Entering the room where Shadow was being treated, Camilla was unsurprised to find Rooster and his other MC brothers there. Rooster caught her eye and without a word, he ordered everyone out, giving them privacy.

Camilla offered him an appreciative smile before taking a seat beside Shadow's bed. He made space for her, his gaze filled with warmth despite the pain etched on his face.

"We need to talk," Shadow began. She nodded, knowing they shouldn't delay this conversation.

"You can't run off just like that, Camilla. I thought I meant more to you," Shadow began.

"You mean the world to me," she replied. "That's why I did it. I thought by settling this myself, I was protecting you. But look how that turned out. I'm so sorry for putting you through this, Shadow."

Shadow reached out, his touch gentle as he cupped her cheek. "No one could predict what happened," he said reassuringly. "Next time, talk to me first before doing anything reckless. We're in this together."

"I will," Camilla promised.

She then hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I talked to my brother."

Shadow's eyebrows furrowed slightly in concern. "What did you tell him?"

"That if he wants to talk, we'll do it here," she explained. "But I put my foot down and told him firmly that my place is here with you."

"Do you think I'll have to fight him?" he asked.

Camilla thought for a moment, considering her recent conversation with Fernando. "Jake's betrayal would hit him hard. But I think I could convince him I'm much safer here with you," she said with confidence.

"Good," Shadow said.

Camilla settled in beside Shadow and stayed with him until he fell asleep.