13. Camilla
Am I in some kind of parallel universe?
That’s pretty much the only reason I can come up with that the Legion has taken me in as some kind of…charity case? House guest? I’m not really sure what I am, but for the last five days, I’ve had one of them with me at all times. They don’t leave my side, not even for a minute. The closest I’ve come to alone time is when I go to the bathroom, and even then, they carry me in, sit me down, and come back before I can finish washing my hands. Yeah, privacy is not a thing here. Wherever here is. I’m no closer to working that out, or what they’re playing at, or what I’m going to do if, by some miracle, they decide to let me go.
I’ve been trying to get a feel for each of them, because although I know who they are and what they do, I don’t know anything about the men who make up the Syndicate. No one does. They’re an enigma, and I get the feeling they like it that way.
So far, I’ve only been alone with Bishop and Kovu, but they haven’t given me much. For the most part, we watch old crime movies, and they fuss over my injuries, but we don’t talk, which at this point I’m pretty sure is by design.
Kaos comes each day for a couple of hours, but all he does is glare at me with contempt. I don’t know why he bothers coming at all, because he’s yet to say a word to me, but without fail he shows up, sits in the chair by the door, and when he can no longer handle my presence, he leaves with a grimace, muttering under his breath.
The only one I haven’t seen is Crew. He barked orders at me, and then he left without another word and hasn’t returned. The most disturbing part is that I care at all. Why do I give a shit that he hasn’t been around? Is it just me being petty because he was so bossy and I fell in line like it was the most natural thing in the world? Or is there more to it?
I try not to think about the attraction I feel for these men, because falling for men like them would be my ultimate downfall. It wouldn’t be a matter of whether they handed me over to Davenport or not, it would be which one of them would destroy me. I’ve heard the rumors. I’ve even met a couple of the women who have been with them intimately, and I can tell you right now I wouldn’t survive it.
“Are you in pain, love?” Bishop asks from the chair beside me. It seems to be his spot, while Kovu normally takes up the space beside me on the huge bed. I’ve never spent any time in or on a bed with a guy up until the last few days, and every time he gets up and leaves, I’m hit with a mixture of relief and disappointment.
“No.”
“Then why are your eyebrows doing that thing they do when you’re hurting?”
I glare at him. “My eyebrows don’t do anything when I’m in pain,” I snap.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re grouchy today.”
“I am not grouchy.”
“Sure you’re not.” He smirks as he leans back in his seat.
“You know, I don’t need to have a babysitter here at all times. I’m sure this door has a lock on it, so you can lock me in and get on with your lives.”
“There is.”
“So why don’t you use it? Why do you guys spend your whole day in here with me and sleep in these uncomfortable-looking chairs when I’m sure you have one of these big fancy beds in your own rooms?” This is the most I’ve said in days, but it’s like once I opened the floodgates, everything I’ve been thinking about for days comes pouring out of me. “Is it because you think I’m going to snoop? Because I can’t even stand in the shower for five minutes, what makes you think I can snoop?”
He watches me for long moments as he tries to decide what he’s going to say to me. This is what he does. He assesses the situation, assesses the person sitting on the other side of the table, and then he finds their weakness. Bishop has made so many of New York’s elite sign over their lives to the Syndicate, and he’s the reason they were able to get to where they are. Of course it’s Crew who’s in charge, but it’s Bishop who wheeled and dealed to get them there. “I don’t think you would snoop.”
“Then why are you and Kovu taking shifts like you’re babysitting me?”
“That’s a very good question, Camilla.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No, it’s not.” He smirks.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re infuriating?” I snap.
“Almost daily.”
I huff out an annoyed laugh. Why does he have to be funny? He and I know as well as each other that there’s no way they’re just letting me go, so what’s with all the theatrics? Why can’t they just send me back to Davenport so there’s no way of me getting attached or accustomed to their treatment? What they’re doing is almost as cruel as if they handed me over to Charles and washed their hands of me that first day, because at least I know what I’m getting with him. The Legion, on the other hand, I thought I knew, but the more time I spend here, the less I understand them.
I cross my arms across my chest and lean back against the pillows. At least I have the luxury of sitting up now. For the first few days, the only time I was allowed to sit up was when I was eating, but Kovu conceded yesterday that lying flat on my back all day every day was doing nothing for my recovery. That’s about all I’ve worked out about them. If I want something, Kovu is most likely to give it to me. I wouldn’t say he’s easy to sway by any means, but he seems to care the most about what I want. Bishop does too, to a certain extent, at least, but he likes the fight. I don’t need to know the man to know that. He enjoys riling me up. He enjoys seeing me get frustrated with him. And he’s going to enjoy the shit out of me whenever I detonate like a goddamn atomic bomb.
A body by the door drags my attention away from the handsome man who has barely left my bedside, and I sigh in irritation. Great. Kaos is here to glare at me for a few hours.
“Don’t look so happy to see me, Princess,” he says, the contempt in his dark eyes matching my own.
“I’m just super excited for you to glare at me and then storm off in a huff. Can’t you tell?”
Bishop chuckles beside me, but I refuse to break eye contact with Kaos. He’s used to people looking away. He’s brutal. The way he looks, the way he acts, his personality. He lives his life with brutality, and the way he treats me isn’t any different. But I refuse to bow down to him. If he thinks I’m some weak little Mafia princess, he’s sorely mistaken.
“Didn’t get enough beauty sleep, Princess?” The nickname falling from his lips is condescending, and it makes me want to launch myself from this bed and wipe the smug look off his handsome face. That’s the worst part about Kaos, is that although he’s terrifying and imposing, he’s so damn good-looking it almost hurts. They all are in their own way, but there’s something about him that’s called to me from the moment I locked eyes with him. And I fucking hate it.
“I’d almost say I’ve had too much,” I snap.
“She’s getting a bit of cabin fever, I’m afraid,” Bishop interjects. “Rogers said she should start getting up for walks every few hours.”
“Absolutely not,” Kaos barks.
“Crew said he wanted her to have a clean bill of health, and Rogers said the only way he’s giving that is if she can start walking around more than this small room.”
“Wait a minute. You’re telling me that you assholes are still insisting on carrying me to the fucking toilet when the doctor said I should be walking myself?” Do they not understand how mortifying it is to have someone physically sit you on the toilet? Of course they don’t. Men like the Legion have never allowed anyone to do anything for them. That’s why they are the way they are. Assholes.
“She’s not ready,” Kaos argues.
I fold my arms over my chest and huff out a sigh. “You’re not a doctor.”
“As much fun as watching the two of you bicker is, I have to get going.” Bishop pushes himself to his feet and closes the distance to the bed. “Be good for Kaos, love.” He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. It’s not the first time he’s done it, but each time it has butterflies fluttering in my belly despite itself. I shouldn’t like it when he touches me, when any of them touch me, but I do, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m beginning to crave their touch.
Wait a minute, what did he just say? “You’re leaving me with him?”
“Sorry to be such a disappointment, Princess,” Kaos grumbles.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t need a babysitter. I can barely walk, I’m hardly a flight risk right now.”
Bishop sighs and scrubs his hands down his face. “We know you’re not a flight risk, love, but Rogers said it’s best we continue to monitor you until you can get around on your own.” He steps around the bed and stops beside Kaos. “Be nice to her. She’s still injured, and I don’t want her riled up when I get back.”
“She is right here,” I snap.
Bishop looks over his shoulder with a smirk. “Something tells me I should have been telling her to go easy on you.” And without another word, he strolls from the room, leaving me alone with a man who so clearly despises me. Awesome.