Page 25 of Shadow

Her stomach dropped at those words, but she wasn’t shocked by them.

“So this was what? Revenge against my brother?” she asked.

“Your disappearance shattered him, and he was never the same. He became weak. My plan was working, then you had to reappear again,” Jake said.

“You planned on killing him and taking his place, didn’t you?” Camilla asked. “But his men won’t follow you. You’re just a second-rate crook.”

“Enough talking. Get in the car. I won’t ask you nicely again,” he said.

Hearing the rumble of motorcycle engines in the distance, hope flared in Camilla’s chest.

The scene crackled with tension as Jake’s furious accusation hung in the air. Camilla’s heart raced as she anticipated the imminent clash. She knew she had to act fast if she wanted to escape this dangerous predicament.

“You conniving bitch,” Jake said with a hiss.

Jake attempted to shove Camilla into the back seat of the car, but she refused to be cornered. Seizing the opportunity, she drove her knee into his groin with all her might.

Jake’s grip faltered as pain shot through him, giving Camilla the chance she needed to break free. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, Camilla darted away from Jake’s grasp, her mind racing with possibilities.

However, she knew she couldn’t let her guard down just yet. Jake still had his gun. Just as she began to plan her next move, she spotted Shadow on his motorcycle.

Shadow wasn’t alone. Riding alongside him were Rooster and two other bikers. He had brought backup. That gave her relief, but it was momentary.

Camilla’s breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with Shadow. Without a moment’s hesitation, he dismounted from his Harley. In one fluid motion, he drew a revolver from inside his jacket.

“You’re of no use to anyone dead!” Jake yelled.

She dared to look over her shoulder and swallowed when he pointed his gun right at her head. She froze, realizing these might be her last few seconds on earth. Regret filled her. This would’ve never happened if she didn’t go behind Shadow’s back.

“Camilla, get on the ground!” Shadow ordered.

His words broke her momentary paralysis. Camilla tasted the dirt as she dropped to the ground, her heart pounding in her chest. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the world around her blurred.

And then, in an instant, the silence shattered as both Jake and Shadow unleashed a barrage of gunfire. The deafening roar of the shots rang in Camilla’s ears, drowning out all other sound save for the thunderous pounding of her own heart.

Fear gnawed at Camilla’s insides as she surveyed the horrific scene before her. The other bikers were shouting, their voices hard to make out. She spotted Jake first, lying unmoving on the ground. Good riddance, she thought. Camilla then quickly sought out her man.

There, she saw Shadow on the ground, crimson spreading across his jacket. A cry of alarm escaped her lips as she scrambled to her feet, racing to his side. Rooster was already there, bent over Shadow, checking his vitals.

“Rooster … is he...” Camilla’s voice faltered, the words catching in her throat.

She couldn’t bring herself to voice her worst fears. Shadow wasn’t moving and she started to go numb. No, this couldn’t be happening. She was talking to him just now. God, this was so unfair.

“He’ll be all right,” Rooster reassured her, his tone firm. “He was just shot in the shoulder.”

At first she had a hard time processing his words but finally they got through. Shadow wasn’t dead, just hurt. A wave of relief filled her.

Camilla knelt beside Shadow, her hands trembling as she reached out to him. He opened his eyes, groaning in pain, but when his gaze met hers, a small smile graced his lips. In that moment, all of Camilla’s worries seemed to dissipate.

He reached for her hand, and she grasped it tightly. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over. She almost lost him today, she realized.

“Don’t cry, baby,” Shadow whispered. “I’ll be all right.”

It was crazy that he was reassuring her despite being in pain. That was just like her man.

“I thought you were gone,” Camilla confessed.

“No,” Shadow said softly, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll always be here for you.”

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