Page 36 of We Will Rise

Kaos: We’re only a few minutes behind you.

Camilla: Don’t come. You can’t come to every single thing I need to do for the business.

Bishop: Between the four of us, I’m pretty sure we could.

Kovu: I call dibs on little lamb duty.

Camilla: Luca’s with me. I’ll meet you back at the compound once I’m done.

Bishop: Are you sure?

Camilla: 100%. I don’t want the other families thinking I can’t do anything without you guys by my side. They’ll never respect me if I don’t stand on my own two feet every now and then.

Crew: Okay, Little Menace. Be safe.

I breathe out a sigh and drop my phone in my lap. I’m honestly surprised they didn’t insist on coming, but maybe they can look past their overprotective instincts in order to see my point.

Or maybe they’re going to come anyway and were just placating me.

Could go either way.

“They on their way?” Luca smirks.

“No, I don’t think so. I told them not to come.”

He glances over at me with a rare smile that tugs at his dimples. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a great job considering all that’s been thrown at you since you took over. Things will settle down with the other families, and if we’re lucky, Knox will be a better leader than his cousin once we take Charles down.”

“One can only hope.” I half laugh. “Thank you for all that you’re doing while my time and energy are tied up dealing with Charles and Caleb.”

He gives me a nod rather than responding as he pulls into the docks about twenty minutes earlier than I thought he would. That sure was some effective driving, even if I did think I was going to die most of the way here.

Once the car comes to a stop, I climb out and straighten my black dress. This isn’t the outfit I would like to be wearing while I’m down here, but this is going to have to do. I just hope I don’t have to run anywhere because my sleek Louboutin pumps may look hot as fuck, but they’re not exactly made for running.

There’s a ship docked with people carrying small crates off one by one and a forklift and crane working on the bigger ones.

“What’s going on?” Luca asks Marshall, our replacement dock manager after the last one betrayed me and almost got Crew and I killed.

He’s worked for my family for almost as long as I’ve been alive and has always been loyal. Honestly, I’m surprised it took as long as it did for him to get a promotion. In his midfifties, his hair is graying and his skin is wrinkled from years of working in the sun.

“This shipment isn’t in the logs, and I can’t even figure out where it came from because there was only one crew member on the ship.”

My eyebrows rise into my hairline as I take in the huge ship. I don’t know a whole lot about what happens before they arrive here, but I think most people would have a hard time sailing one of these on their own.

“I’m assuming you asked the captain?” I ask.

“Couldn’t. He’s dead in the bridge.”

My mouth drops open as a wave of anxiety washes over me. Oh fuck.

“Stop everyone right now,” I order as I scan the docks for the containers that have already been unloaded.

Marshall whistles loudly while I cross to a wooden box one of the workers has just put down on a pile of others.

Without pausing, I pick up a crowbar from the ground and pop the lid off before digging through the contents of the container.

I look over my shoulder to see Luca doing the same thing a few yards away from me, and I nibble at my bottom lip as I dig deeper until my hand wraps around something that makes my heart stop in my chest.

I pull it out and find myself staring at a cooler. My stomach drops as I turn to face Luca, who is holding an identical one.

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