Page 71 of In the Shadows

Davenport chuckles, and the sound grates on my nerves. “Because I’m sick of answering to them, sick of following their fucking rules, and of being denied what is rightfully mine. They will fall, just like all the rest before them.”

I roll my eyes. We aren’t the first to try to bring order to the underworld of the city, but we are the only ones who succeeded, and that seems to be part of his problem. Clearly, he’s forgotten about all the disputes we’ve resolved on his behalf.

Crew: Any idea where the meet is?

Kaos: Not yet.

Bishop: Can one of you see if we can install something in his booth at the strip club? Seems a lot of his business is happening there at the moment.

Kovu: On it.

“What are you going to do if they figure it out?”

“By the time they catch on, it’ll already be too late. Once we have Knight in our corner, it’ll just be a matter of turning one more of the old timers, and we’ll have the majority.”

I groan and lean my head back in my seat. This motherfucker just keeps digging his own grave, and I can’t wait to throw him in it.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

CAMILLA

Iroll over and curl up against the hard wall of muscle beside me.

Every night, Bishop sneaks out of bed as if I don’t notice, and at six thirty, he crawls into bed, his movements slow and exhausted as he drags me against him.

I’m not sure what he’s doing each night, but I’d put my money on it being about Charles. Ever since we were followed on our way back to the complex, the tension between the four of them has been off the charts, and I’m beginning to wonder if my being here is doing more harm than good.

Soon, it won’t be an issue. My cast is coming off my wrist today, which means it’s almost time for me to take my place as the leader of the De Marco family.

The thought used to bring me joy. I know that’s fucked up because half my role will be killing and maiming those who betray me, but this is all I’ve ever known, and the prospect of being the boss used to excite me.

Now it has dread pooling in my belly.

Leaving the safety of this complex, of being away from the men I’ve become so attached to leaves my mouth dry and tasting of ash.

Admitting I have feelings for them, all four of them, has my heartbeat speeding up and my body tensing, but it feels right. I never thought much about relationships, figuring I’d probably marry for power rather than love, but now that I know them, know how good it can be, I’m terrified of losing it.

“You’re thinking awfully loud this morning, love,” Bishop murmurs against my throat, his warm breath sending a shiver across my bare flesh.

Like normal, I’m only dressed in one of Kovu’s shirts, and it does little to protect me from them.

“My cast is coming off today,” I whisper.

“I know.”

“And that means I’m leaving.” The words turn to ash on my tongue, and I bury my face in his chest as if it will do anything to protect me from reality as it crashes over me.

One second I’m pressed against him, his arms wrapped around me, and the next my back is flat on the mattress with his body hovering over mine.

“No,” he growls.

My eyes widen as he settles himself between my thighs, his huge erection pressing into my belly and making it hard to think of anything other than him. “But that’s what Crew said.”

“I don’t care,” he snaps. The anger radiating off him should scare me, but it doesn’t. If anything, it makes me ache for him. The need for them all has been increasing, and every stolen touch makes my skin burn.

I sigh, dejection spreading through my veins.

“You’re not going anywhere, Camilla. You’re mine. You’re all of ours. And there’s no way in hell I’m letting you go.” Every word out of his mouth sounds an awful lot like a promise, and the part of my heart I’ve never allowed to hope springs to life.

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