26. Camilla
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CAMILLA
L uca and I walk in comfortable silence away from the fake gravestone we had commissioned for Kovu’s funeral.
We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish today. We successfully pulled one over on Caleb, we exposed him for the lying piece of shit he is, and we’ve brought Kovu back from the dead, which means he’ll be able to leave the compound and stop going stir-crazy being stuck within the four walls.
“How are things going down by the docks? You said the other families aren’t importing as much as they normally do, is that still the case?” I ask. Luca has been taking care of things while my life has been blowing up, and I’ve never been more grateful to have had a ready-made number two when I stepped into the role.
His intense amber eyes flick down to meet mine before he brushes his fingers through his thick black hair. “I was down there yesterday. There’s still imports happening, but not at the same rate as when your dad was alive.”
I sigh. “Do you think it’s because it’s their lack of faith in my leadership?”
“No. I think it’s your relationship with the Legion. They think you’re going to be given preferential treatment because you’re fucking them, and I believe this is their way of testing that theory. Drop our income enough that the Legion are forced to step in and take action for you not meeting your portion of the bylaws.”
I stare up at him for long moments as I process what he’s just told me. I knew this was coming. I knew this was a possibility. But I didn’t think it would happen so fast.
“I think you’re right,” I admit. “Our other assets are doing well, and Hills Global can make up what we’re losing at the docks in the short term, but we’re going to have to find a more permanent solution sooner rather than later.”
He nods. “You and those men of yours need to decide how you’re going to proceed from a professional standpoint and bring that to the other families. Otherwise, I’m not sure they’ll bring their business back to the docks at all.”
I drag my bottom lip between my teeth and contemplate my options. Some days I wonder if it would be easier if I just handed over leadership and spent my life enjoying my men and our time together, but I know that’s not an option.
Leaving them isn’t one either. Not one I could live with at least.
But I’m not seeing any other choice.
I always knew being with them would be hard, but I had no idea how much of my life would be impacted by our relationship.
Luca’s phone rings, and he answers it quickly, listening to what the person on the other end of the line is saying before abruptly ending the call without saying a word.
“We need to go,” he says, his eyes darting around the cemetery.
“Go where?” I ask.
“The docks. Something’s going down.”
He rushes toward his black Mustang, and I slip into the passenger side without hesitation.
I pull my phone out and type out a quick text to the guys to let them know where we’re going, and Luca takes off right as I press send.
Never a dull day.
Luca weaves in and out of traffic without fear or hesitation, but the same cannot be said for me. I thought I was a spicy driver when I got behind the wheel of a powerful car, but I see now that I’m tame compared to him, and I spent an entire summer doing offensive driver training with my dad just in case I was ever in a car chase.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I find a few messages in the group chat waiting for me.
Crew: Wait for us before you do anything. I don’t want you walking into a trap.
Kaos: We’re only a few minutes behind you.
Camilla: Don’t come. You can’t come to every single thing I need to do for the business.
Bishop: Between the four of us, I’m pretty sure we could.
Kovu: I call dibs on little lamb duty.
Camilla: Luca’s with me. I’ll meet you back at the compound once I’m done.
Bishop: Are you sure?
Camilla: 100%. I don’t want the other families thinking I can’t do anything without you guys by my side. They’ll never respect me if I don’t stand on my own two feet every now and then.
Crew: Okay, Little Menace. Be safe.
I breathe out a sigh and drop my phone in my lap. I’m honestly surprised they didn’t insist on coming, but maybe they can look past their overprotective instincts in order to see my point.
Or maybe they’re going to come anyway and were just placating me.
Could go either way.
“They on their way?” Luca smirks.
“No, I don’t think so. I told them not to come.”
He glances over at me with a rare smile that tugs at his dimples. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a great job considering all that’s been thrown at you since you took over. Things will settle down with the other families, and if we’re lucky, Knox will be a better leader than his cousin once we take Charles down.”
“One can only hope.” I half laugh. “Thank you for all that you’re doing while my time and energy are tied up dealing with Charles and Caleb.”
He gives me a nod rather than responding as he pulls into the docks about twenty minutes earlier than I thought he would. That sure was some effective driving, even if I did think I was going to die most of the way here.
Once the car comes to a stop, I climb out and straighten my black dress. This isn’t the outfit I would like to be wearing while I’m down here, but this is going to have to do. I just hope I don’t have to run anywhere because my sleek Louboutin pumps may look hot as fuck, but they’re not exactly made for running.
There’s a ship docked with people carrying small crates off one by one and a forklift and crane working on the bigger ones.
“What’s going on?” Luca asks Marshall, our replacement dock manager after the last one betrayed me and almost got Crew and I killed.
He’s worked for my family for almost as long as I’ve been alive and has always been loyal. Honestly, I’m surprised it took as long as it did for him to get a promotion. In his midfifties, his hair is graying and his skin is wrinkled from years of working in the sun.
“This shipment isn’t in the logs, and I can’t even figure out where it came from because there was only one crew member on the ship.”
My eyebrows rise into my hairline as I take in the huge ship. I don’t know a whole lot about what happens before they arrive here, but I think most people would have a hard time sailing one of these on their own.
“I’m assuming you asked the captain?” I ask.
“Couldn’t. He’s dead in the bridge.”
My mouth drops open as a wave of anxiety washes over me. Oh fuck.
“Stop everyone right now,” I order as I scan the docks for the containers that have already been unloaded.
Marshall whistles loudly while I cross to a wooden box one of the workers has just put down on a pile of others.
Without pausing, I pick up a crowbar from the ground and pop the lid off before digging through the contents of the container.
I look over my shoulder to see Luca doing the same thing a few yards away from me, and I nibble at my bottom lip as I dig deeper until my hand wraps around something that makes my heart stop in my chest.
I pull it out and find myself staring at a cooler. My stomach drops as I turn to face Luca, who is holding an identical one.
I let out a breath and drop into a crouch, slowly opening the small container and hoping like hell there’s nothing inside that’s going to kill me.
When I find what looks like a set of human lungs staring back at me, I have to swallow the bile that rises up the back of my throat.
Luca meets my gaze and gives me a short nod, telling me he’s found something similar in his, and he’s waiting for an order of what our next steps are going to be.
I close my eyes to steady myself before shoving to my feet and moving toward him. “Everyone needs to go home right now. Tell them they’re getting double pay for the day and any subsequent days they’re not required. I also need the Legion here before we touch anything else.”
“What are they going to do?” Marshall asks.
“It’s within the bylaws that we must alert them to any instances of trafficking into the city, and I think we’ve just found ourselves smack dab in the middle of an organ shipment.”