34. Camille

Chapter 34

Camille

“ N o,” I said, my voice sharp, as I glared at Kage, Dante, and Ty. The small, dimly lit coffee shop felt stifling with their eyes on me, all three of them staring at me as if I was a child who didn’t know better. My heart pounded, adrenaline rushing through my veins, but I wasn’t going to let them see that. I crossed my arms over my chest, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“We just want to keep you safe—” Dante started, his tone gentle, almost pleading. But I wasn’t in the mood to be coddled.

“So, shadow me,” I cut him off, my voice harder than I intended. “Track me on your phones. You’re all practically glued to my side anyway.” My fingers tapped against my arm, the restlessness rising inside me. I knew they were trying to protect me, but it felt like they were suffocating me instead. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—just sit back and hide.

Kage’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching on the table in front of him. I could see his patience fraying in the dark way his eyes narrowed. “It’s not the same, and you know it,” he said, his voice rising with frustration. “We’re trying to do what’s best for you?—”

“What’s best for me is to stay,” I shot back, standing my ground. I refused to be intimidated by him, even though his anger was rolling off him in waves. “Do whatever you need to do to feel like I’m safe, but I’m not going home.”

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. The guys exchanged looks, silent communication passing between them. They thought I was being stubborn—irrational even. Maybe I was, but running wouldn’t solve anything. If someone was after me, hiding wouldn’t protect me. They’d find me no matter where I went. I was better off staying close, where I could keep an eye on things.

Kage’s gaze burned into mine, his frustration barely restrained. I could feel it simmering just beneath the surface. “Fine,” he finally ground out, his voice low, dangerous. “We’ll all track your phone. But if I get even a hint that you’re in danger, I’ll kidnap you myself, Camille. Don’t doubt it.”

A shiver ran down my spine at his words, and I wasn’t sure if it was from fear or the thrill of his protectiveness. My heart thudded in my chest, my body responding to the intensity in his voice. I forced myself to roll my eyes, trying to break the tension. “Since you guys get to track me, it’s only fair I get to track you too, right?”

Their glares told me they weren’t amused. “Jesus, I’m joking,” I muttered. Then again, why shouldn’t it go both ways?

But before I could say anything more, Ty stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor with a loud screech that made me flinch. His face was tense, his eyes dark and shadowed. “If we’re done here, I’ve got somewhere to be,” he muttered, storming out of the shop.

My chest tightened as I watched him go. I knew the weight of what we’d discovered about his family was crushing him. The thought that his own blood could be involved in something this dark—it was eating him alive. I pushed back my chair, ready to follow him, but Kage’s hand shot out, wrapping around my wrist in a firm grip.

“Don’t,” Kage said quietly, his tone softer now. His hand was warm against my skin, grounding me, pulling me back from my instinct to chase after Ty. “Give him time to clear his head. If you go after him now, it’ll only push him further away.”

I sighed, slumping back into my seat. He was right, as much as I hated to admit it. Ty needed space, and I had to respect that, even if it hurt to watch him walk away.

“So, what now?”

“Let’s head home,” Kage said. “It’s been a long day. We all need to recharge.”

In the car, the tension between us lingered, heavy and unspoken. Kage drove, and I sat in the back with Dante. His hand slipped between my thighs, resting there casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world. The touch was warm, comforting, and my pulse quickened at the intimacy. I glanced at him, catching his soft smile, and I returned it, though the nervous energy still hummed in my veins.

As I turned to look out the window, I caught Kage’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He didn’t say anything, but I knew he hadn’t missed where Dante’s hand was. His expression remained unreadable, his control as steady as ever.

“You should text your sister,” Kage said. “It makes sense for us to all get together and share what we know.”

I nodded, pulling out my phone.

Need to meet. Found evidence that might be linked to what we’re looking into.

It wasn’t long before my phone buzzed with a call.

“What did you find?” Bianca asked.

"First, you need to know something,” I said cautiously, bracing myself for her reaction. “The guys know.”

She took in a sharp breath. “Camille, I told you I didn’t want anyone else involved yet.”

“It made sense to tell them, Bianca. They were with me when I found something. And it’s big.”

She sighed, frustration and resignation blending into the sound. “Fine. What did you find?”

“We have enough evidence to connect Silas’s family, Ty’s family, and Ava. But we’re still not sure what it all means yet.”

“Holy shit,” Bianca breathed, the sharpness in her tone fading into shock. “This is huge.”

“Yes, but you can’t tell anyone yet. Not even the conciliantis . Not until we know more.” My grip on my phone tightened, knuckles white with the strain.

There was a long, heavy pause. I could practically hear Bianca’s mind whirling. “Fine. I promise. You're with the guys now?"

"I'm with Kage and Dante."

"Stay with them, Camille. Don't take any chances."

"I won't."

As I ended the call, Dante reached over, pulling me into his side, his arm draping over my shoulders. His touch was warm, reassuring, but my mind was still spinning with everything we had yet to figure out. I leaned into him, grateful for the comfort.

From the driver’s seat, Kage’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, locking on me. I sensed the tension radiating off him now. His gaze lingered on where Dante’s arm was around me, and I felt the jealousy rolling off him in waves. Not so much because Dante was touching me, I suspected, but because Dante was comforting me, and Kage wasn’t.

I met Kage’s eyes in the mirror and smiled softly. The edges of his mouth twitched in response, but he looked away quickly, his focus returning to the road.

When we finally arrived at the chateau, I dragged myself to the kitchen table, feeling the exhaustion from the day creeping into my bones. Behind me, Dante moved in close, his hands sliding over my shoulders. His fingers dug into the tight knots in my muscles, massaging away the tension that had been building all night. I closed my eyes, letting out a small sigh as my body began to relax under his touch.

“You’re seriously tense,” Dante said, his voice low and soothing.

“Gee, I wonder why,” I murmured then moaned. Dante’s hands worked magic, the pressure of his fingers sending warmth coursing through me.

Kage walked into the room, his presence instantly registering. I opened my eyes to meet his gaze. There was possessiveness in his expression again, but this time it was mixed with something hotter.

“It’s been a big night,” Kage murmured, his gaze on Dante and me as he leaned against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest. My cheeks reddened under the heat of his stare. I couldn’t quite read what he was thinking, but I was sure from the look of desire on his face it was dirty. “Camille’s probably still full of adrenaline and needs to work it out of her system. Isn’t that right, Rebel?”

I knew exactly what that look meant. He wanted to fuck me. The fact that he was talking about getting me off so casually while Dante rubbed my shoulders made me feel both uncomfortable and incredibly horny.

“Thanks for your concern, but I can work the adrenaline out of my own system,” I said, testing him.

“You could,” Kage agreed. “But we both know that wouldn’t be nearly as fun.”

Dante sighed. “And that’s my cue to leave,” he muttered, kissing the top of my head.

“Where do you think you're going?"

Dante’s gaze darkened. “Sorry, but I’m not exactly in the mood to watch you make Camille come while I sit here twiddling my thumbs.”

“Good,” Kage said with a smirk. “Because the only thing you’re going to be ‘twiddling’ is Camille’s pussy while I watch.”