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.

it's Ms. Lewis now." My voice stayed steady despite my racing heart. "And I have

a nice smile. "I'm

I'd started carrying after signing the divorce papers.

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

didn't let him finish. The pepper spray caught him directly in the

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

there. Just a few

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

The first man's voice was rough with pain and

arms. I fought, kicking, scratching,

said you might be difficult." The first man wiped his

parting shot, making sure I understood just

me," I spat, "at least have the guts to

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

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

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

vision blurred, pain shooting through my body.

"That's enough."

the garage like

emerging from the shadows.

in her fifties

a black designer suit that probably cost more than

it was her eyes that caught me. Sharp,

my attackers

have a very bad day." The woman's

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