Page 66 of They Will Burn

“Hi.” I force a smile to my lips. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“Let’s have a look at this arm of yours.” Elias places a bag down in the middle of the table and rummages through it while Leighton sits across from me.

He turns to me and lifts the arm of my T-shirt before carefully dabbing alcohol onto the wound.

I wince despite myself but manage to keep my body calm as he cleans the blood away until he can see the bullet wound clearly. I knew as soon as it happened that it was only a flesh wound, but if this is what a minor bullet wound feels like, I don’t want to repeat this anytime soon.

“Luckily the bleeding seems to have mostly stopped on its own,” he tells me as he wipes away the last of it. “Wyatt showed me the footage, and you’re lucky as hell this didn’t get you in the chest.”

I feel Crew’s eyes burning into the side of my face, but I ignore him. I’m going to be in a whole lot of trouble if all four of them find out what I did.

“If Leighton pulled a stunt like that, she wouldn’t be sitting for a week.”

My eyes widen, and when I meet her eyes, there’s a soft pink blush on her cheeks. “Luckily you refuse to teach me how to shoot a gun then, huh?”

“Exactly, pretty girl,” he rumbles, and I can’t help but smile at the two of them. They’re very sweet together, and it makes my heart ache for that kind of affection. Obviously, I know each of my men is attracted to me, but will they ever look at me like Elias looks at Leighton? With so much love, even perfect strangers can see it?

I brave a look at Crew and find his brows furrowed as he watches every move Elias makes, his eyes locked with the bullet wound. They may not show the world what I mean to them, but as long as they show me, that’s all that matters.

I yawn and allow my eyes to fall closed. The gentle hum of the television is the only sound within the quiet apartment.

Elias and Leighton left a little while ago, after Leighton and I really hit it off. She’s sweeter than any of the friends I’ve had in the past, but I kind of love that about her. I can be the woman I’ve always felt on the inside while showing the world the cold, callous mafia princess my father trained me to be.

When she invited us to visit the Scarlet Lounge sometime, I immediately accepted, causing Crew to chuckle knowingly. I assume it’s a club of some kind because I’ve never heard of it aside from my dad telling me the Syndicate holds some of their meetings there. But regardless, I think I’d like to see Leighton again.

Crew is on the phone to Bishop giving him an update, and I’m hoping that means we’ll be able to go home soon. I’m exhausted, and the anesthetic Elias injected into my arm when he stitched me up is beginning to wear off.

There’s a gentle click near the back of the apartment, and my eyes flutter open as another yawn escapes. I haven’t taken the time to look around since we got here, but I chalk up the sound to one of the neighbors.

When I hear it again, my stomach flips, and I sit up slowly, keeping my eyes locked on the room past the kitchen. I think it’s a laundry room, which means there’s more than likely a back door. I know all the safe houses have multiple entrance and exit points in case you have to escape quickly, and I swallow heavily.

I carefully stand, keeping my movements small as I make my way down the short hallway to the bedroom Crew carried me into earlier.

“Crew—”

Before I can get the word out, the entire building shakes with an explosion that throws me into a nearby wall.

My head smacks against the hard drywall, and stars dance in my vision as dizziness threatens to overwhelm me.

“Camilla, fuck!” Crew’s voice comes from farther in the room, but my eyes droop closed. The smell of smoke lingers around me, and despite how hard I fight to remain conscious, it’s only a few moments before I lose the battle and allow the darkness to swallow me whole.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

CREW

Ileave Camilla resting on the couch and move into the bedroom at the end of the hall. It’s been a while since we’ve been here, but we have a cleaning service that comes in once a week to make sure when we do need it, it’s ready for us. The bed is neatly made, and the sparse space is clean, but I’d much rather be at the compound. We’re too exposed here.

This safe house doesn’t have the same security that the one outside the city does, but under the circumstances, this was the best choice, especially when we were cornered and had to leave the car in the middle of the road.

I drop down onto the corner of the bed and run a hand through my hair as I dial Bishop’s number. We need a plan, because while we’re here, we’re as good as sitting ducks.

“How is she?” he answers, and I can’t help but bark out a laugh. Oh, how things have changed.

“I’m good, thanks, son. How are you?”

“Dad,” he warns.

I huff out a laugh. “Camilla is okay. Elias came to stitch up her arm, and she’s resting right now.”

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