Page 6 of Theirs to Rule

“Dante?” Camille’s voice pulled me back to reality but the hollowness in my chest remained. She looked at me closely, her brow furrowing in concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” I muttered, avoiding her gaze.

“Dante…” she said. “Look at me.”

I did, sighing at her piercing gaze. “I was just thinking about someone.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I shook my head.

“I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t take no for an answer if I had something bothering me,” she said softly.

She was right. I’d tell her talking would make her feel better and then I would coax it out of her. The difference between us, however, wasnothingshe could tell me was going to make me feel better.NothingI did was going to change the past. I could only make sure it never happened again.

“I was just thinking about how much this whole situation sucks,” I finally said. It wasn’t a complete lie. I hated seeing Kage lying in that bed, unresponsive. Part of me hated how I’d do anything to make Camille happy, even if it meant letting her love someone else. Most of all, I hated that she was too good for me. She just didn’t know it yet. One day I’d have to tell her, though, and I knew that day was coming soon.

I stood, walked toward Camille, took her hand, and gently pulled her up until she was standing. I kissed her forehead and hugged her. She snuggled into my embrace, curling her arms around me and leaned her head against my shoulder.

Suddenly, the door to the hospital room swung open. Officer Conroy, the man who’d interviewed us right after Kage killed Silas, stepped in along with another uniformed officer. I kept my arm around Camille’s waist as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the sterile white walls, adding a grim tone to the already tense atmosphere.

Conroy's gaze landed first on Kage then on me before moving to Camille. "We need a statement about the events leading up to Mr. O'Hare's admission here," he said, his voice flat.

Camille's grip on my hand tightened.

“We already gave a statement to the officer who came to the scene,” I said. It had taken me leaving Camille with Kage and roaring up and down that mountain road on my bike before I’d gotten a strong enough signal to call 911, but luckily that hadn’t taken more than five minutes.

“Yes, you did. NowIwant to hear your statement,” Conroy said calmly.

I glanced at Camille then nodded subtly, encouraging her to speak. She took a deep breath, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of anger and fear as she told Conroy exactly what had happened. As she spoke, my muscles tensed at the nightmare she was describing. Once again, I was flooded with fury and the need for vengeance given the real possibility that she and Kage could have died.

"Officer Davis was the one we told you about, the third attacker, only he blamedyoufor it,” Camille murmured. “And when I sensed he was lying, he shot Kage. He chased us in his patrol car and now his body is at the bottom of the cliff. His gun, too.”

Conroy scribbled notes, his expression unreadable. "And how did yousensehe was lying about me being the attacker?”

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself not to interject. I didn’t like people doubting her.

“I just did. And when he turned around, I saw the scratches on the back of his neck. The ones I’d left on my attacker, which I’d also told you about.”

“Did he confess that he was the one who he attacked you?”

“His confession came in the form of him pulling his gun on us,” she shot back, her confidence unwavering. “And I’m sure when you test his gun against the bullet that was in Kage, you’ll feel just as certain as I do that Davis was a criminal.”

“All that means is he shot Kage. It doesn’t prove why.”

The other officer in the room shifted uncomfortably, exchanging a glance with Conroy. Conroy closed his notepad, his jaw set tight. “We'll investigate immediately. If you remember anything else, Camille, contact me." He handed Camille his business card then hesitated. “I’m sorry this happened to you.” His gaze went to Kage. “And I hope Mr. O’Hare recovers.” With that, the two officers left as abruptly as they had entered.

Once the door closed, Camille slumped against me, her body trembling slightly.

“You did good, Peaches,” I murmured, my lips brushing the top of her head, careful to avoid the bandage covering the new stitches at her temple. “It’s over. You’re safe now.”

“It’s not over,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Not until Kage wakes up. Not until he’s okay.”

I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my eyes. “He’s going to wake up. He’s too damn stubborn not to. But until he does, I’ll be right here. With you. Always.”

She nodded, leaning into my touch for just a moment before turning back to Kage. I stayed close, watching her, knowing that no matter how strong she was, she’d need me to be her anchor in the storm.

Whatever it took, I wasn’t going anywhere.

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