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.

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

a nice smile. "I'm afraid your plans

pepper spray I'd started carrying after signing

stepped closer. "Now, we

him finish. The pepper spray caught him

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

Just a few

my hair, yanking me backward. My purse went

very nice." The first man's voice was rough with pain and rage.

I fought, kicking, scratching, but they were

wiped his streaming

shot, making sure I understood just

going to kill me," I spat, "at least have the

A reminder of what happens to people who don't know when

the stomach, driving the air from my

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

My vision blurred, pain shooting through my body. But I wouldn't cry. Wouldn't give Rose the

"That's enough."

the garage like a whip crack.

I saw dark figures emerging from the shadows. Men

woman. Tall, elegant, probably in her fifties but with an ageless

a black designer suit that probably cost more than my car, her silver hair

eyes that caught me.

one of my

very bad day."

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