SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 5

CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW

The parking garage of the hotel where i lodged was too quiet. My heels echoed against concrete, each click bouncing off empty cars and shadowed pillars. It was late, past midnight, but something felt wrong. Off.

My confrontation with Rose and my family had left me drained, empty except for the cold satisfaction of finally seeing behind her mask. I fumbled with my key fob, wanting nothing more than to get to my hotel room and plan my next move.

A car door slammed somewhere in the darkness.

I stopped, listening. Nothing but the hum of fluorescent lights and the distant sound of traffic.

My phone buzzed in my purse. Rose's number. I declined it, but not before noticing my signal had dropped to one bar.

Perfect.

Footsteps behind me. Multiple sets.

I walked faster, cursing my choice of heels. The hotel's elevator was just around

the corner, past a row of concrete pillars. If I could just...

"Going somewhere, Mrs. Rodriguez?"

A man stepped out from behind a pillar. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black. Professional. Two more appeared behind me, cutting off my retreat.

Not a random attack, then.

voice stayed steady despite my racing heart. "And I have a dinner reservation, so if you'll excuse

a nice smile. "I'm afraid your plans have

spray I'd started carrying after signing the divorce papers. "Did my sister send you? Or was

remain anonymous." He stepped closer. "Now, we can

let him finish. The pepper

screamed, stumbling backward. I ran, kicking off my heels as I sprinted for the elevator. The other two men shouted, their

Just a few

in my scalp as someone grabbed my hair, yanking me backward. My purse went

voice was

hands gripped my arms. I fought, kicking, scratching, but they were

be difficult." The first man wiped his streaming eyes. "Said you needed to

over it. Her parting shot, making sure I understood

least have the guts to look me

reminder of what happens to people who

caught me in the stomach, driving the air from my lungs. I doubled over, gasping, but the

understand their role in life." Another blow, this one to my ribs. "Some people need

vision blurred, pain shooting through my body. But I

"That's enough."

cut through the garage

from the shadows. Men in suits,

her fifties but with

She wore a black designer suit that probably cost more than my car, her silver hair swept into a

caught

my

bad day." The woman's voice was