2. Camille

Chapter 2

Camille

D ante moved with a predator’s precision, calculated and deliberate as he eased the Bugatti’s door open. Every creak sent chills down my spine. The car shifted, teetering on the edge, and my breath caught. I didn’t dare look down.

“Peaches,” Dante called, his voice calm but firm. “Come to me. Now.”

I stared at him, frozen. “I can’t. If I move, the car might tip with Kage still in it.”

Dante looked at Kage, who said quietly, “Trust me, man. I’ve tried talking her into leaving me here, but she’s as stubborn as they come.”

Kage’s eyelids were drooping, like he was struggling to stay awake. When he closed them for too long, I gave him a little pinch. His eyes flew open, and he glared at me. “What the fuck did you do that for?”

“I was making sure you were still alive,” I snapped.

“Well, I am. Look, just let Dante help you out?—"

“I’m not leaving you here,” I screamed.

My words hung in the air, each of us reading between the lines: I’d rather die than live without Kage.

But that didn’t mean I wanted to die.

Despite the loss I’d suffered so far, I had my sisters, my dad, my friends, and not just Kage, but Dante and my ex-boyfriend, Ty, too.

Three guys that in the past weeks had made me feel more alive than I ever had before, even if Ty was hell-bent on pushing me away.

Finally, Dante nodded. “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’ll counterbalance the car with something heavy—keep it stable while you get out. Then I’ll grab Kage. Got it?”

I wanted to argue, to fight against the idea of leaving Kage even for a second, but I just nodded.

Dante moved quickly, scanning the area. His eyes landed on the log nearby. Using his legs, he lifted one end of the log up a few inches and I saw the immediate strain the weight put on his muscles. His jaw, throat and arms bulged, and he took several deep breaths before he lifted the log even higher, his face contorted with effort. He leaned back, dragging the log several feet before he had to put it down and repeat the process.

“Oh, God,” I whispered as Dante got closer. His breaths came in deep, controlled gasps and he let out an occasional grunt until the log was beside the car.

Dante looked at me and said, “I’m going to put it on the rear passenger side of the car because that will give us the most stability. I won’t do it until I can raise it high enough and put it down with enough control that it won’t push the car closer to the edge.”

I bit my lip and nodded. That meant he had to get under the log, push it higher, then drag it over the car’s body before he dropped it. Given the way he’d struggled to move the log, I wasn’t sure that was possible. “Dante–”

“I’m getting you out, Peaches. I’m getting you both out. I promise.”

I smiled sadly. He sounded so confident. I knew if he failed, it would destroy him.

“No matter what happens, I will always be thankful to you for fighting for us. And I don’t mean just in this moment,” I said before I carefully unclipped Kage’s seatbelt and moved it out of the way. I leaned into Kage, buried my face in his neck and prayed. His large hand rose to clasp the back of my neck.

I heard Dante maneuvering the log then the Bugatti shifted slightly, then steadied. Terrified, I lifted my head. Dante stepped back, his face streaked with sweat and dirt, but his blue eyes were locked on me. “It’ll hold.” He moved slightly to the side of the opening, giving me enough room to scramble past him. “I’m going to count to three. On three, climb over Kage’s body and jump past me. Then I’ll grab him.”

I shot a look at Kage. “I’m so scared. What if…what if it’s not enough? I don’t want to lose you.”

Kage gave me as close to a smirk as possible given the situation. “You think I’ve gotten us this far only to let you go now? No. I’m Kage fucking O’Hare, and there’s still so much to say to you, do with you, and do to you. I’m not giving that up.”

“But what if…”

“If it happens, then it was my time. You’ll be okay. You’ll have Dante and you’ll have Ty. But it’s not going to happen. So jump, Camille. Believe in us the way I do.”

I swallowed hard, holding his words close to my heart, before I gave him a soft kiss, trying to convey and communicate so much in the seconds that passed. I remembered all too clearly the feel of his mouth on mine after I confessed my love to him. I’d been filled with the knowledge of how much he wanted me, how much he adored me.

“I love you, Rebel,” Kage whispered, his shaky breath brushing against my lips.

My heart nearly stopped.

Those words – they were the first time he’d said them to me. Had he ever told a girl he’d loved her before? All the women he’d been through, all the girls he had left behind, and he was saying that to me. The girl who his sister had tried to turn him against – the girl who had brought nothing but trouble into his life. I wanted to tattoo those words onto my brain.

“I love you too, Kage,” I whispered, the words hitching at the back of my throat.

I squeezed his hand one last time before letting go, then looked to Dante.

“I can’t catch you because I need to grab him. You need to jump past me.”

“Got it.”

On three. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“One…two…”

I glanced at Kage again and he just smiled, his jaw tight. Go , he mouthed.

“Three…”

I scrambled over Kage’s body, the car groaning beneath me. My feet hit solid ground, and I stumbled forward catching myself on my hands. Twisting around, I saw Dante grab Kage by the arm and shirt.

Kage’s weight dragged him down, but Dante held on. A guttural roar escaped him as he yanked Kage free, both of them collapsing to the ground just as the Bugatti slid over the edge. The sound of it crashing down the cliff echoed through the canyon.

I scrambled to them. Kage’s face was ashen, the front of his shirt almost completely red.

“Kage?” My voice cracked.

But his eyes remained closed. Either he’d passed out or…

Dante knelt beside Kage and checked his pulse. “He’s alive.”

Tears blurred my vision as I pressed my hand to Kage’s cheek. “Stay with me. Please.”

Dante placed a hand on my shoulder. “He’s strong, Camille. He’ll fight.”

I nodded, holding onto that hope with everything I had.