Page 17 of Shadow

The next time she woke up, she’d be back at her brother’s compound and she’d never see Shadow again. The thought filled her with dread.

“I said no,” Camilla said. She tried to bat his hand away, but he was twice the size of her and he only tightened his grip on her arm.

“Don’t make me angry,” Jake warned. “You know what would happen.”

Camilla did. Jake was her brother’s bogeyman. She’d seen firsthand how Jake had dealt with her brothers’ enemies, and the aftermath wasn’t pretty.

“Let her go.”

Camilla’s heart raced as she heard that familiar voice, a lifeline in the midst of chaos. Jake, consumed by his own determination to see her back home, initially didn’t register the warning.

He remained fixated on Camilla, his grip tightening with each passing second. But then, there was a distinct click, and suddenly Shadow stood a few feet from them. He pointed a gun at Jake’s head.

Finally, Jake noticed they weren’t alone. The color drained from his face as he turned to face Shadow.

“I don’t like repeating myself,” Shadow’s voice was low and threatening. “Release her this instant, or you’re a dead man.”

Camilla stole a glance at Shadow, struck by the coldness in his eyes. She knew this side of him existed, but seeing it in action was still jarring. Shadow was a Death Seeker, after all.

Grateful for Shadow’s intervention, Camilla couldn’t help but feel a surge of relief. Camilla’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched the tense standoff unfold between Shadow and Jake.

She could feel the weight of Shadow’s gaze on her, a silent demand for explanation. With a deep breath, she found her voice.

“Shadow, don’t shoot him. I … know him,” she said, her words rushed but firm.

Shadow’s expression softened, his brows furrowing in confusion at her plea.

“Know him?” he echoed, clearly puzzled by her sudden defense of Jake.

“Trust me on this, killing him would only cause you and your MC problems,” Camilla urged, her voice pleading.

She couldn’t bear the thought of the violence escalating any further. Shadow hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching hers for reassurance. Finally, he nodded, though the tension in his posture remained palpable.

“Step away from her. Good. Keep that distance,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, Jake complied, stepping back with a scowl directed at Camilla. She could sense his frustration, but she knew she had made the right decision. Jake kept looking at her, then at Shadow. He probably came to a conclusion he didn’t like, because he deepened this scowl.

“He’s the reason you don’t want to come back home, isn’t he?” Jake asked, his voice laced with venom.

Camilla tensed, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for Shadow’s reaction. Shadow’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he turned his gaze to Camilla.

“Why? Who’s your brother?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Camilla’s throat felt dry as she struggled to find the words to explain, but before she could respond, Jake’s mocking laughter filled the space between them.

“Fernando Hernandez. Didn’t she tell you, biker? Oh, this is rich,” Jake sneered, the smirk on his face twisting with satisfaction.

“Hernandez?” Shadow repeated, his tone incredulous as he processed the revelation.

He looked at Camilla, his expression unreadable, but she could see the storm brewing behind his eyes. She knew he must be grappling with a whirlwind of emotions—betrayal, anger, confusion.

He didn’t deserve to find out the awful truth this way. At that moment, Camilla wished she could turn back time and tell him everything—who her family was and why she didn’t feel like she belonged. Maybe it would’ve changed things … but it was too late now.

“My relationship with my brother is complicated,” she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

It felt like a feeble attempt to justify her actions, but it was the only explanation she could offer in that moment.

“So now you know the truth, biker. Tuck that gun away. Let me bring her back home and we’ll forget this ever happened.” Jake’s voice cut through the tension, his words dripping with arrogance.

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