Page 16 of Shadow

Camilla quickly typed a response, telling him her day was nothing out of the ordinary—a blatant lie—but she didn’t want him to get further involved in her family mess.

Refusing to contact her brother after she was freed had been her choice, and she stood by it. Still, as she headed to the park, part of her wished Jake wasn’t there, but he was, sitting at one of the benches at the entrance.

Camilla took deep breaths before joining him.

“What are you doing here, Jake?” Camilla asked, her voice firm.

He frowned, his gaze piercing as he studied her. “I’m the one asking the questions here,” he retorted sharply.

Camilla bristled at his dismissive tone. For years, he had treated her as nothing more than a pawn in her brother’s organization. But now, she felt a sense of empowerment, a newfound resolve to assert herself and her independence.

She wouldn’t let her past define her choices anymore.

“Correct your tone or I’m gone. You can explain to Fernando that you saw me, but soon lost sight of me,” she warned, her voice unwavering.

Jake’s expression shifted, a hint of surprise flickering across his face as he regarded her more closely.

“You’re different,” he observed, his tone softer now, tinged with curiosity.

“I’ve changed,” Camilla affirmed, her resolve unwavering. “You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

“Then tell me,” Jake urged, his voice gentle yet insistent. “What really happened to you, Camilla?”

Taking a deep breath, Camilla began to recount the events leading up to her disappearance, omitting the details of her budding romance with Shadow. Some things were too personal to share, even with someone from her past.

“The Death Seekers—they’re the ones keeping you here? I came to Hanging Grove to work out a deal with them. The organization needs a new weapon supplier because we’re on the verge of territorial war with a rival gang,” Jake said.

“No one is making me stay here. I chose that decision because … I needed time to heal,” Camilla said.

“You’re afraid of Fernando’s reaction, but Camilla, he’s your brother. He’ll understand, and we’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens to you again,” Jake pointed out.

Camilla couldn’t shake the feeling of unease settling in her gut. Jake had assumed she would just come with him, like some obedient lamb. She had to correct him.

“My meeting with the Death Seekers can wait. My priority is to bring you back safely home,” Jake said, pulling out his cell phone.

Camilla’s heart thundered against her ribs as panic surged through her veins.

“Wait,” she blurted out.

“Don’t you want your brother to know you’re safe?” Jake’s fingers hovered over his phone, his expression tense with suspicion.

“Fernando can know I’m safe, but I have no intention of going back with you,” Camilla said. “This is my home now, Jake.”

“You’re out of your mind. I understand you’ve been through a lot, but that ordeal probably messed with your train of thought,” Jake accused, rising to his feet.

Camilla remained stubbornly seated, refusing to budge despite his expectant gaze.

With an impatient sigh, Jake reached out and gripped her arm, expecting her to comply. Camilla recoiled, shoving him away with a surge of defiance.

She realized then that Jake was too entrenched in his own agenda, and she shouldn’t have entertained the idea that she could convince him to back off and handle things her own way.

“Let go of me,” she hissed, her voice trembling with anger and fear as Jake’s grip tightened on her hand.

His expression softened momentarily, but determination hardened his features once more.

“Don’t make this harder on yourself, Camilla,” Jake said.

There was almost a plea to his words. Camilla knew he would use force if he deemed it necessary. Camilla suddenly had an image of Jake grabbing her, rendering her unconscious and throwing her in the back of his car.

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