Chapter Five
Camila relaxed in the hot water and focused on positive things. She was daydreaming when she suddenly heard her sister’s voices in her bedroom.
Now, what the hell would they be doing there? She heard drawers open and close, and then one of them tried to open the bathroom door. It was a good thing she thought of locking it because she usually didn’t even close the door.
She didn’t know what she should do when she heard them in her closet. It sounded like they were opening and closing the drawers, probably taking some of her clothing and whatever jewelry she didn’t keep in the safe.
When they left, she stood and pulled the drain before stepping out onto the bathmat. She wrapped a towel around her torso and listened with her ear against the door to make sure they were gone before unlocking it.
She rushed to her bedroom door, locked it, and leaned against it, taking several deep breaths. Hoping that it would help with the shaking that started when she heard them.
When she felt steady, she walked into the closet. To anyone else, it looked like everything was tidy, but she could see what they had touched and even started a mental list of what they had taken.
Camila quickly dried off and pulled on the first dress she reached for. She kept noticing what things they had taken and decided they must have had their hands full.
She walked back into the bathroom, pulled the band out of her hair, and brushed it until it lay in a shiny, thick curtain that stopped in the middle of her back.
She had always liked her hair, but that thought brought back the memory of her sisters having cut it when she was eleven years old.
It had looked horrible for weeks until it grew out.
Not only had her family made her miserable, but the kids at school had also made fun of her.
God, how in the hell had she made it through childhood? She had thought about running away a few times and even committing suicide when they’d been extra horrible to her.
However, something had held her back, making her more determined to leave as soon as possible. She graduated early and informed her family that she would be attending college. They had all laughed. A few had mentioned that someone as dumb as her would not be able to get into a college.
But little had they known, she’d been invited to a good college across the country, and she’d received a full scholarship. She still had to work part-time for extras, but it didn’t bother her. All she did was study and work, and she was fine with that.
Camila always wondered what they thought when they woke up one morning and she was no longer there. She’d left a note saying she’d never return. Had they been shocked or relieved that she was no longer there?
She had never thought she would return, but had given in when her mother tracked her down.
It was one of the worst mistakes of her life, and she would never be able to forgive them for what they had done to her.
Camila shook her head. She didn’t want to think about that time.
It always made her feel dirty and violated, and she didn’t want to give them any power over her anymore.
That was one of the reasons she allowed them to come.
To show them that they hadn’t broken her, and that she had thrived and lived a better life than they did.
She added a bit of makeup before leaving the bedroom. She heard voices as she walked toward the dining room. When she came around the corner, her mouth dropped open when she saw Penelope trying to get close to Drake, and he was gripping her arms to keep her from touching him.
“Jesus Christ,” Drake barked. “Don’t ever fucking touch me again.”
“But I can make you ten times happier than my little cow of a sister.”
Camila let that go and stepped further into the room. She almost laughed when her husband looked at her in relief.
“Penelope, there’s no chance in hell you’d be able to take him from me, and you’re only making yourself look pathetic. Now, step away from my husband.”
Penelope had jumped away from Drake and turned her hateful look at her. “There’s no way Drake would have picked you over me.”
“Oh, hell, yes, I would,” Drake said, walking to Camila and wrapping an arm around her waist. He looked down at her with such love that it made tears sting her eyes.
“This woman has everything I ever wanted. She’s beautiful, so incredibly sweet she’d never think of intentionally hurting anyone, so damn smart, and, damn, her body is every man’s wet dream. ”
Penelope scoffed. “Bullshit. How can you want that chubby thing over me?”
Drake looked at her sister. “Because, for one, most men don’t like fake, blonde bimbos.”
Camila lowered her head to conceal her amusement from her sister.
“The ones I know don’t like fake body parts like your lips, boobs, and whatever else you’ve done to yourself. But mostly, men don’t like devious women who take pleasure in hurting others. From what I hear, you and your family took great delight in making her life a living hell.”
Penelope crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Oh, Jesus Christ. She was always so damn sensitive and dramatic.”
Camila pressed her hand against his chest when he stiffened. He calmed instantly when he glanced down at her. She smiled gently. “It’s not worth it,” she whispered.
Drake exhaled and nodded. “You’re right.”
“What are you guys saying?” Penelope yelled.
They looked at her sister.
“Nothing,” Camila said. “How about we sit down to eat? I, for one, am hungry.” She knew it was the wrong thing to say when Aubrey walked in with a smirk on her face.
“If I remember right, you always were,” she said as she sat down.
Before the conversation could go any further, Drake slapped his hand down on the table. “If I hear any more insults from you two, I’ll throw your asses out so fucking fast you’ll skid down the drive. You don’t enter a person’s home and insult them. Do I make myself clear?”
Fortunately, both sisters stiffened in their chairs but pressed their lips together.
Camila had rarely heard that brutal, dark, deadly tone from her husband, and it had never been at her, fortunately.
Before anything else was said, the door to the kitchen swung open, and two maids came out, each carrying two small plates, which they set in front of every person.
Drake mentioned one of the mares that had injured her leg while they were nibbling on their salads. Within five minutes, the girls were back to pick up the plate.
“Thank you,” Camila said.
“Of course, Miss Camila,” they both said together.
Drake reached for her hand as the girls returned with large plates of prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus.
Drake kissed her knuckles before releasing her to eat her meal. She glanced at her sisters when she heard them whispering.
“Isn’t this beef wonderful? My husband raises prime beef.” Camila said, making them both stop and look at her.
They took a bite and nodded. The group ate in silence for several minutes. She saw that the women’s plates were still half full but didn’t say anything. She didn’t care how much they ate.
The maids were back and picked up their dinner plates. Camila wiped her mouth with her napkin as the girls returned with small bowls of sherbet.
One of the maids stopped and turned to Drake. “Sir, a Mr. Sanders called and wanted you to call him back when you have time.”
“Thank you, Paula.”
Drake looked at Camila. “After dinner, we’ll call back.”
Camila nodded and picked up her spoon.
The sweet treat always helped her digestion for some reason.
When she was done, Drake stood and reached for her hand. “I need to talk to you in the office, love.”
Camila nodded and stood.
Drake wrapped an arm around her waist and turned to the other two. “You can spend some time in the garden or in the family room, but I don’t want you roaming around.”
Penelope smirked. “What, do you think we’re going to steal from you?”
“You already have,” Drake said with deadly intent.
Camila was surprised. She didn’t know what he was talking about, and she hadn’t had a chance to tell him about her clothing.
Drake led her out of the room and down the hall to the office.
She was anxious to see what the lawyer found in the papers and tell Drake about her sisters in their room. God, the sooner they left, the better.