SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 162

The morning sun sparkled on the lake as Camille prepared to leave. The

overnight stay had been a brief but needed escape from the constant pressure of the past months. Victoria stood on the deck, waving as Camille loaded her bag into the car.

"Come back next weekend," she called. "Bring Alexander next time. I need civilized company out here."

Camille smiled, knowing Victoria was far from lonely with her staff and security team in constant attendance. "I'll call you tonight," she promised.

Alexander had left early that morning, called back to the city for an urgent meeting with the FBI. He'd wanted to postpone his return until he could travel with Camille, but she had insisted she would be fine with her security detail.

"Four weeks without a sign of Rose," she had reminded him. "And I'll have two cars of security personnel. Go handle the FBI."

Now, as her driver James held the door open for her, Camille felt a flicker of unease. The peaceful night at the lake had lowered her guard slightly, a dangerous thing when Rose might still be out there, waiting.

Their security detail followed the same protocol as always, one car ahead, one behind, maintaining constant radio contact. Camille sat in the back, watching the trees pass by her window. The rural landscape was beautiful, so different from the city she'd grown accustomed to.

"Ms. Kane," James said, breaking into her thoughts. "Security team ahead is reporting a traffic accident blocking the road. They're checking alternate routes."

Camille nodded, feeling a slight tightening in her chest. Coincidences made her nervous these days.

They were about forty minutes from the city when James spoke again, his voice tense. "Ma'am, I've lost contact with the lead car."

Camille sat up straighter, instantly alert. "What about the car behind us?"

"Trying them now." James pressed a button on his radio, then shook his head. "No response."

Fear crawled up Camille's spine like a cold hand. "Call Alexander," she ordered, reaching for her own phone.

No signal. The bars on her screen had disappeared completely.

slowing the car as they approached a bend in the rural highway. Trees pressed close on both sides, their branches

Camille

could complete the turn, a van swerved onto the road

shouted, drawing his

ribs. This was no

This was Rose.

shattered as bullets hit it. James returned fire

down, Ms. Kane," he

that. Had waited four weeks, lulling them

Camille could hear

James warned, peering through the

car from both directions, weapons raised.

to run for the trees," James said quietly.

shook her head. "We

my job is to

fired, hitting one attacker, but others grabbed him, dragging him

hitting the floor at her feet. White gas hissed out, filling the space with acrid fumes. Camille tried to hold her breath, covering her mouth and nose with her sleeve, but the gas

blurred. Her limbs grew heavy. The car door beside her opened, and fresh

solid. A grunt of pain told her she'd hit her target. She

fighting, sister dear?

it anywhere. She forced her eyes to focus through

there, looking down at her with a small smile. Her hair was different, short, dyed black, but her eyes were the same.

the word slurring despite her

Rose agreed

tried to lunge at her, but her body wouldn't cooperate. Her movements were

chided. "Is that any way to greet your

killed him," Camille gasped, thinking of James lying motionless outside