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.

a nice smile. "I'm afraid

after signing the divorce papers. "Did my sister

anonymous." He stepped closer. "Now, we can do this

him finish. The pepper spray caught

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

Just

grabbed my hair, yanking me backward. My purse went

voice was rough

fought, kicking, scratching, but they were too

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

Rose written all over it. Her parting shot, making sure I understood just how powerless I

to kill me," I spat, "at least have the guts to look me in

of what happens to people who don't know

in the stomach, driving the air from my lungs. I doubled over, gasping, but the men holding

some people don't understand their role in life." Another blow, this one to my ribs. "Some people need

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

"That's enough."

through the garage like a whip crack. Female.

eyes, I saw dark figures emerging from

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

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

it was her eyes that caught

of my attackers started, "our

very bad day." The woman's voice was ice. "Release her.