Page 35 of We Will Rise

“You may have been ahead to begin with, but you don’t have the element of surprise anymore, and now that we’re on an even playing field, I suggest you prepare for war, because that’s what we’re doing.”

I don’t bother waiting for his response before I follow my family with a smug sense of satisfaction that we finally got to be the ones delivering the shocking blow, and not on the other side of it as we have been all too often recently.

As I walk, I press the earpiece in my ear. “You get the trackers on all the cars?”

“Sure did,” Wyatt tells me. “That was quite the show you just put on. You know they’re going to hit back hard, right?”

“I’m counting on it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CAMILLA

Luca and I walk in comfortable silence away from the fake gravestone we had commissioned for Kovu’s funeral.

We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish today. We successfully pulled one over on Caleb, we exposed him for the lying piece of shit he is, and we’ve brought Kovu back from the dead, which means he’ll be able to leave the compound and stop going stir-crazy being stuck within the four walls.

“How are things going down by the docks? You said the other families aren’t importing as much as they normally do, is that still the case?” I ask. Luca has been taking care of things while my life has been blowing up, and I’ve never been more grateful to have had a ready-made number two when I stepped into the role.

His intense amber eyes flick down to meet mine before he brushes his fingers through his thick black hair. “I was down there yesterday. There’s still imports happening, but not at the same rate as when your dad was alive.”

I sigh. “Do you think it’s because it’s their lack of faith in my leadership?”

“No. I think it’s your relationship with the Legion. They think you’re going to be given preferential treatment because you’re fucking them, and I believe this is their way of testing that theory. Drop our income enough that the Legion are forced to step in and take action for you not meeting your portion of the bylaws.”

I stare up at him for long moments as I process what he’s just told me. I knew this was coming. I knew this was a possibility. But I didn’t think it would happen so fast.

“I think you’re right,” I admit. “Our other assets are doing well, and Hills Global can make up what we’re losing at the docks in the short term, but we’re going to have to find a more permanent solution sooner rather than later.”

He nods. “You and those men of yours need to decide how you’re going to proceed from a professional standpoint and bring that to the other families. Otherwise, I’m not sure they’ll bring their business back to the docks at all.”

I drag my bottom lip between my teeth and contemplate my options. Some days I wonder if it would be easier if I just handed over leadership and spent my life enjoying my men and our time together, but I know that’s not an option.

Leaving them isn’t one either. Not one I could live with at least.

But I’m not seeing any other choice.

I always knew being with them would be hard, but I had no idea how much of my life would be impacted by our relationship.

Luca’s phone rings, and he answers it quickly, listening to what the person on the other end of the line is saying before abruptly ending the call without saying a word.

“We need to go,” he says, his eyes darting around the cemetery.

“Go where?” I ask.

“The docks. Something’s going down.”

He rushes toward his black Mustang, and I slip into the passenger side without hesitation.

I pull my phone out and type out a quick text to the guys to let them know where we’re going, and Luca takes off right as I press send.

Never a dull day.

Luca weaves in and out of traffic without fear or hesitation, but the same cannot be said for me. I thought I was a spicy driver when I got behind the wheel of a powerful car, but I see now that I’m tame compared to him, and I spent an entire summer doing offensive driver training with my dad just in case I was ever in a car chase.

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I find a few messages in the group chat waiting for me.

Crew: Wait for us before you do anything. I don’t want you walking into a trap.

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