Page 4 of We Will Rise

“Dealing with the fire department. We think the fire next door was a distraction.”

My jaw tics under the pressure, but I give him a tight nod in response.

I unlock the car, and Kaos passes me with Camilla, carefully climbing into the back of the SUV with her cradled in his arms. Before she came along, I didn’t know he had a gentle bone in his body, not after Bianca, but she’s brought his softer side to the surface.

Bishop walks ahead and takes the driver’s seat, his phone in his hand as he types furiously. It’s in our nature to run damage control before dealing with our own emotions, but I have a feeling we’re all closer to cracking than ever before.

“I want whoever tampered with Kovu’s car found and delivered to the basement of the compound as soon as possible. Mobilize all our allies, I want this finished.” My voice is hoarse, and normally I would be the one to run point on this, but I need to be with my family.

They need me.

And I need them.

CHAPTER TWO

CAMILLA

Ithought I knew pain.

I thought it hurt when my mother died, but if I’m honest, I was too young to understand that she was gone forever, and by the time I realized I’d never see her again, the pain had dulled.

I thought it hurt when I found out my father promised me to a man twice my age who would use me as nothing more than a trophy wife, but that pales in comparison to the agony ravishing my body.

I even thought it hurt when I found out the men I loved had betrayed me.

But I realize now that I’ve never known true pain, and I don’t know how I’m going to survive more of this.

He’s gone.

Kovu’s gone.

Every time I think those words, the ache in my chest intensifies, and I cling to Kaos tighter.

This is the cost of falling in love. It’s why I always promised myself I’d keep whoever I ended up with at arm’s length to protect myself.

But nothing ever could have prepared me for the men of the Legion, and I was fucked from the moment I woke up in their care, I just didn’t know it yet.

Tears roll down my cheeks and soak into Kaos’s shirt, but he doesn’t seem to mind as his hold on me tightens. I wonder if he realizes he’s the only thing stopping me from falling apart.

The drive back to the compound is completely silent aside from my sobs, but I can’t help it. I can’t hold myself together when my entire body is in agony from the crushing emotions battering down on me.

“We’re home, Princess,” Kaos murmurs as the car comes to a stop.

I don’t bother lifting my head, knowing I must look like a wreck. The carefully crafted makeup I did before we left just a few hours is likely smeared down my face and his shirt, but I can’t bring myself to care.

I’m lifted from his arms by one of the others, and it only takes me a second to realize it’s Bishop, his distinct scent washing over me as he wraps me up in his arms as if he can shield me from the world. But that’s simply not possible when you live the kinds of lives we do.

For the first time in my life, I wish I was born somewhere else. Somewhere far away from Mafia life. Somewhere a world away from the pain that it’s caused me, from the loss I’ve endured, from the enemies that are set on our downfall.

I’m barely conscious of the steps Bishop takes, assuming he’ll take me to my bedroom. But it’s not until the elevator dings that I realize we’re heading up to their rooms.

Bishop carries me down the hallway and stops in front of one of the doors, but it’s not until I lift my head that I realize it’s Kovu’s.

“I thought being around his stuff might help, but if you think it’ll make it worse, we can go into my room.”

I open my mouth to say something, but quickly snap it shut when I realize I don’t have anything to say. How does he know exactly what I need without me ever having to ask for it?

I nod, and some of the tension falls away from his shoulders as he shoves the door open without jostling me against his chest.

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