Page 58 of In the Shadows

At the very least, it gets me out of the complex and away from the princess.

The longer she’s in our space, the more I resent her for her presence.

Logically, I realize she doesn’t have a choice in the matter. The others have told her that she’ll remain within the complex until she’s finished healing, and maybe even past then. But that doesn’t stop me from fucking hating her.

I creep toward the mouth of the alley, ducking between a dumpster, when Davenport turns around suddenly.

I wonder if he knows he’s being watched. Surely he doesn’t believe he can get away with trying to overthrow the Syndicate. I’m certain he can’t truly be that stupid.

But men who have it will always allow power to go to their heads.

“Any luck finding the girl?” the dealer asks, his voice hoarse and croaky. The effect of too much meth if I had to guess. Don’t these assholes know they shouldn’t sample the product? It’s a bad fucking idea to shit where you eat.

Charles turns to him, his eyes cold. “No. The little bitch has disappeared off the fucking grid. I should have known he was going to fuck me when he started training her to take his place as head of the family.”

“And you’re sure she’s not dead?”

“No. I’m not certain of that. But until I see her rotting corpse myself, I have to assume she’s alive and somewhere in the city.” Every word out of his mouth is strained, and I’m more than a little tempted to tell him exactly where he can find his would-be wife.

But I can’t do that to my brothers.

As much as I despise her very existence, handing her over to Charles would hurt them, and after everything we’ve lost, that’s not something I’m willing to do, even if that means putting up with their obsession for however long it lasts.

One thing is for sure, though, it won’t be forever.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

BISHOP

Turns out, even though I’m a sadistic asshole, I don’t like seeing Camilla in pain.

I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but she’s been snappy since she woke up, and now she’s curled up in the middle of the bed with a pillow pulled over her head at midday.

I stand by the door watching her, my hands fisted in my suit pockets, as I rack my brain trying to work out what we’ve done wrong. It’s only been me here today. The others are all out doing something or other, leaving me to keep Camilla company, something I was excited about until she bit my head off for changing the channel on the television.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and text Kovu. He stayed with her last night while I was at our casino, keeping an eye on things.

Bishop: Was Cami acting weird last night?

Kovu: Weird how?

Bishop: Grumpy and fatigued?

Kovu: Oh yeah, she got her period. Should have seen her face when she asked for a tampon.

I groan and rub my hand down my face. His being amused by her mortification probably hasn’t won us any favors.

Bishop: Thanks for the heads-up.

Kovu: Gotta get used to this shit having a woman back in the house, brother. Get in the game.

I roll my eyes and shove my phone back into my pocket. We haven’t really had to deal with periods with the other women who have lived with us. She skipped hers every month, I suspect because she knew the only reason myself and Kovu were interested in her was between her legs. But that’s not the case here.

I couldn’t care less if Camilla is bleeding, I’ll take her all the same.

Making the decision that I’m not having her feeling sorry for herself all day, I walk into the adjoining bathroom and open the cupboard above the sink. Once I have the pain meds in hand, I move back into the bedroom and round the bed before placing the aspirin down on the bedside table and carefully peel back the blanket.

“Bishop, I meant it when I told you to fuck all the way off,” she snaps, grasping for the covers, but I’m quicker.

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