Page 24 of We Will Rise

Camilla pretends not to notice them for a few moments, her eyes still locked on the sky. It’s not until Charles and Caleb each pull out a seat across from her that she looks at them, and she feigns surprise exactly as we planned.

My little menace is playing her part, and they have no idea they’ve walked into our own trap.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CAMILLA

“What are you doing here?” The surprise in my voice is fake, but they have no way of knowing that.

Charles leans back in his seat with a pleased look tugging at his features. His dark eyes are satisfied as a smirk falls to his lips. If only he knew he wasn’t really the one with the upper hand.

Caleb drops his elbows to the table and leans forward, his hair falling around his shoulders as his eyes that are so similar to Kaos’s peruse my cleavage.

Pig.

“We thought we could have a little chat,” Caleb says.

“Pass,” I reply, my eyes darting toward the car Crew’s in, just like we planned. Every moment of this interaction is scripted, and they don’t even know it.

“Well, according to your very busy schedule, we have the next two hours of your time,” Charles tells me, and I pretend to look shocked.

“I’m meeting an investor.”

“You’re looking at him.”

I sigh and allow my shoulders to drop as I reposition my sunglasses on the bridge of my nose. “What do you want?”

“We came to offer our condolences for your loss,” Caleb says, but he doesn’t bother masking the glee in his tone, and it takes every ounce of control not to reach for the gun in my purse and put a bullet between his eyes. It would be so fucking easy to end this right here and now, but that’s not the plan. It would also be really freaking hard to get away with murder in broad daylight in the middle of a crowded restaurant, even if it is tempting as hell.

“Like you’re not the one that ordered the hit.” My tone is devoid of emotion, but just thinking of the hours I believed Kovu was dead makes my heart ache.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Caleb deadpans.

“That’s funny, because the guy I tortured for answers described you right down to what you were wearing the day you did the deal.” I raise a brow at him, and a hint of surprise crosses his face. “I wouldn’t bother lying to me if I were you. I think we’re past that.”

He considers me for long moments before he nods. “So it would seem.”

“What is it that I can do for you?”

“We came to see if you’re willing to reconsider our offer,” Charles tells me, and a scoff escapes my throat before I can swallow it.

“Let me guess, if I help you take down the Syndicate, you’ll spare their lives. And if I don’t, they’ll all die like Kovu did?” I keep my voice flat but allow a sliver of emotion into my tone when I say his name, selling my grief the best I can.

“You really are a smart one, aren’t you, Camilla?” Caleb smirks.

“I don’t think we’re here to discuss my intelligence,” I retort. “And if we were, you’d know better than to give me such an idiotic compromise. You think I’m going to give you anything after you had the man I love killed?” My voice wobbles ever so slightly, as planned, and I wipe away a fake tear from beneath my dark sunglasses.

“Don’t you want to save the rest of them?” Charles asks.

“I’ll save the rest of them without making a deal with the devil,” I snap. “And when I’m done, the two of you will be wishing for death, just like the guy you hired to kill Kovu was.”

They stare at me for long seconds as if they can’t believe this isn’t going as they planned, but surely it can’t be coming as a surprise to them. I turned them down the last time they came to me with this offer, and I’ll make the same choice every single time they’re stupid enough to think I’m going to join their side of this war.

“You’re making a mistake,” Caleb growls.

A smirk tugs at the corners of my lips. “No, you made a mistake, Caleb. Actually, you’ve made many, but the most recent is forgetting that there’s nothing more powerful than a woman scorned. I suggest you give up on me joining forces with you and start planning for how you’re going to survive the war I’m going to reign down on you for taking Kovu from me.”

It’s long seconds before either of them respond as each of them stares at me like they’ve never had a woman stand up to them before, which, to be fair, is likely the case.

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