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.

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

Camille

he could complete the turn, a van swerved onto the road ahead

shouted,

below the window line, her heart hammering against her ribs. This was no random attack. No ordinary carjacking. This was precise.

This was Rose.

James returned fire through the broken glass, his

Ms. Kane," he ordered. "Backup will

in time. Rose had planned too carefully for that. Had waited four weeks, lulling them

could hear birds singing in

moving," James warned, peering through

gear approached the car from both directions, weapons raised. Camille counted six of them. Too many, even

signal, I want you to run for the trees,"

her head. "We stay

job is to

one attacker, but others grabbed him, dragging him from the car. Camille heard the sickening sound

into the car, 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

heavy. The car door beside her opened, and fresh air rushed in, momentarily

told

dear? Some things

She forced her

stood there, looking down at her with a small smile. Her hair was different,

Camille managed, the word

agreed pleasantly. "Miss

at her, but her body wouldn't cooperate. Her movements were slow, uncoordinated. Rose easily

any way to greet your sister

killed him," Camille gasped, thinking