Page 32 of In the Shadows

He cuts me off with a smile as his fingers grasp my chin and bring my eyes up to meet his. “I can work wherever I need to, love. Perks of being the boss.”

“I thought Crew was the boss.” I raise a brow at him.

He chuckles and wraps an arm around my shoulders as he steers us back toward the living area. “He wishes.”

His touch is oddly comforting, and I try to think back to the last time I felt at ease when someone touched me. Years probably. My father was never much for physical contact, I can’t imagine many Mafia bosses are, and Chloe always kept me at arm’s length in that regard. I don’t know that she meant to, or if it was just instinctive for her.

I never had the time for boys, only having had my first kiss on my sixteenth birthday. Jeremy had had a crush on me for a year, and I always turned down his advances until that party. I started the evening by killing a man for stealing from us, and I felt so out of control. So guilty, that when he approached me later in the night, I allowed him to kiss me. It was okay, but then I had nothing to compare it to so for all I know I had the world’s worst first kiss.

And yet, when these men touch me, my body comes to life in a way it never has before.

I shake off the unwelcome thought as I’m guided into the living room. Bishop helps me lower into an armchair in the corner, and I’m immediately engulfed in soft fabric and the mingled scent of them.

“You good, love?” His brows tug together.

“I’m fine.” I roll my eyes at the concern. It’s nice to have someone worry about me in a way outside of obligation like the staff at my father’s mansion. When I fell off my bike and skinned my knee, they were concerned because they had to be, not because they cared. And my father didn’t believe in showing weakness, so anytime I did, I would be dragged over the coals for it.

His eyes flare with something akin to heat as he crouches in front of me and grasps my chin between his fingers. At least the bruising on my face is starting to fade, even if the rest of my body shows all the proof of the beating Charles’s men gave me. “You might want to wrangle the sass, love. Our patience isn’t infinite, and you’re only going to be protected by your injuries for so long.”

My mouth pops open in surprise, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t find a response.

He chuckles. “I think I like rendering you speechless, Camilla.”

I glare at him under my thick lashes, but he looks nothing but amused as his eyes move over my face and indecision fills his eyes.

The longer I’m surrounded by these men, the more confused I am about what I’m doing here. Why haven’t they handed me over yet? And if it’s because I need to take my place as the head of the De Marco family, why haven’t they taken me to my uncle to finish recuperating?

I’m about to ask the question when Bishop shoves himself to his feet and collapses into the three-seater beside me, his phone already in his hand.

I sigh and lean my head back against the soft cushion.

I need a plan.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

BISHOP

Iwatch her over the top of my phone as she watches whatever shitty reality television show she’s chosen today.

She’s pulled her legs up beneath her on the large armchair and has wrapped the throw blanket that likely still has the tags on it around herself, but she’s not paying any more attention to what’s playing on the TV than I am.

She’s lost inside her own mind, and I can’t help but want to dig through her thoughts to understand what’s put that dejected look in her eyes.

My obsession with Camilla grows by the day, and I become less and less able to control myself around her. I steal every single touch I can, but it’s never enough. I want more. I need more.

I feel like a broken record when I say it’s never been like this before, but I can’t understand what makes her so different. Why does she have to be the one that piques my interest when no woman has ever been able to to this degree?

I have a million emails to reply to, a report from the manager of our underground casino about someone counting cards to read, and a plan to make for our future Mafia queen, but I can’t drag my attention from her for long enough to do any of it.

Footsteps in the hallway drag my gaze from her. If it’s Kaos, we’re in for another fight, and I want to be able to shield her if I need to. I don’t think I would, but he’s been unpredictable since his father died. He’s not the same kid I grew up with, who I trained with, and who was by my side as we took our positions in this world, and I don’t think there’s anything that can bring him back now.

Kovu appears in the doorway, his eyes wild and worried as he surveys the room. Knowing what he’s like with Camilla, I likely should have let him know we were in here, but watching the ruthless man worry about the tiny woman who has captured our attention is a little too amusing to pass up.

There’s a cut on the corner of his lip that’s still bleeding, and there’s a fresh black eye blooming, which has my eyebrows raising. I don’t think he had anything he needed to go out and do this morning, but we don’t exactly tell each other everything either.

There’s a quiet gasp from beside me, and I can only assume she’s seen his injuries. I can’t imagine it’s anything new for her to see a little blood, but she was the same the other day when he came home covered in some poor asshole’s blood. She worries about him, and I’m not too big to admit I’m fucking jealous of that.

Maybe it’s because he’s allowed himself to touch her, to care for and provide for her while she’s been unable to do it herself, while I’ve remained in the corner. A quiet sentry watching and learning about the woman who so easily stole my obsession.

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