Chapter 8 Cami
CAMI
“Thank you so much for organizing this,” Lily says. She’s picking out her sign for the protest starting in a few minutes. We only just met, but I can tell we’re going to be friends. She’s bubbly and welcoming, and she cares deeply about her brother.
“It wasn’t all me. I had a bunch of help,” I deflect.
I’m not used to receiving praise, and I’m not sure what to do with this kind of attention.
“The kids I volunteer with decorated the signs, and the Board of Directors helped secure the right permits. I still can’t believe so many people responded to our emails and flyers to gather here today. It’s overwhelming.”
“I love that so many people from all walks of life are involved in this, but you can still take credit for your own hard work. Hayden told me how much the community center means to you.”
I nod. “It sounds like there are a lot of reasons people are protesting today, and not just the community center. Top Spot has gone too far, especially when someone broke into your bookstore. Have they caught the guy yet?”
Lily sighs. “No. I think he went back to Denver after the last incident, but I have a bad feeling he’s going to do something soon.”
Heath, Lily’s man, steps up beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He kisses the top of her head in the sweetest gesture. “If he dares to come around here again, I’ll be right here to protect you,” he vows. “I’ll break every bone in his body before he can lay even one finger on you.”
Lily rolls her eyes, but she can’t hide her smile. “That’s a bit extreme, but thank you.” She turns to me and grabs my hand. “Have you met Gabby and Sadie yet?”
“I don’t think so. They just moved here, right?”
“Yup. They might hate Top Spot as much, if not more than we do. I’ll introduce you.”
Lily drags me through the growing crowd of protesters until we come to a stop in front of two gorgeous women.
“I’m Sadie,” the red-headed woman says, giving me a bright smile. “It’s incredible what you’ve done here. I can tell we’ll all be friends.”
“Hi, I’m Gabby,” the brunette greets. She seems a little more reserved than Sadie, but she has kind eyes and a gentle smile. “Did Lily tell you that we used to work for Top Spot?”
“Both of you?!” I exclaim. “Wow. So… what are you doing here?”
Sadie laughs light-heartedly. “Top Spot is terrible. They bully everyone, whether it’s small business owners or their own employees.”
“Yeah, and only the big players up top get the credit for success. They’ve gone too far, and we want them out of this town for good,” Gabby adds.
“Since you know the company better than anyone, can you tell me if you think the protest today will deter them at all?” I ask.
Gabby and Sadie share a look. “Every little bit helps,” Sadie finally says. “Seeing how many people showed up today will prove that no one wants them to get a foothold in this town. Maybe if we can convince Cindy, the CEO, she’ll call the dogs off and leave us alone for good.”
I can tell she’s trying to stay positive, but the look in her green eyes tells me she doesn’t quite believe it herself.
“Enough speculation,” Lily chimes in. “Let’s get this thing started. We’re marching around the block, right?”
I nod in confirmation. “Then we’ll have a few people speak on the makeshift stage we set up in front of the community center. We’re hoping the people from Top Spot arrive while we’re giving our speeches so they can see how passionate we are.”
The four of us take up our signs and join the crowd. Hayden catches up to us a few moments later, his hand slipping in mine and giving it a squeeze. “I’m so proud of you, angel. Look at everything you’ve accomplished.”
I blush and start to shake my head no, but Hayden nods his head up and down dramatically, making me giggle. “I’m still not used to these kinds of compliments,” I admit.
Hayden lifts his hand to my face, cupping it gently as he pulls me closer. He presses his lips to my forehead in the sweetest kiss. “I know, but I promise to give them to you anyway, every day.” I squeeze his hand, and we break apart just in time to start walking.
Kelsey leads everyone around the block, using a megaphone to shout out chants. We didn’t want to make the trek too long since there are kids and elderly folks joining us, so this is the perfect distance.
Within fifteen minutes, we’re back in front of the community center.
Pamela, Travis, and Tonya McClone get up on stage and share a beautiful story of how Hope Mountain Community Center provided an opportunity for her to get sober and build a better life for her family.
It brings tears to my eyes, as well as a few others in the crowd.
We’ve grown in numbers since the march, the crowd spilling into the road and blocking traffic. Good.
“That’s Cindy’s car!” Gabby says, pointing to a sleek black sports car. I’m surprised it made the trip up here. It’s not exactly an all-terrain vehicle.
The opulence and impracticality of the car shows that these people don’t care at all about this town.
I’m sure they want to make the roads wider and pave them all the way up and down the mountain so rich, snobby people like her can drive their fancy cars here without difficulty. It makes me mad all over again.
I smirk when I see the car stuck on the other side of the protesters. Two more vehicles behind her back up, giving her room to turn around. All three cars drive around the block, only to be met with more protesters on the other side of the building.
Lily, Sadie, Gabby, and I laugh when they have to park a block away and walk the rest of the way to the building.
“Serves her right for sending me up the mountain by myself,” Sadie says under her breath. I’m not quite sure what her story is, but it sounds like she’s enjoying karma in action.
“You’re up,” Lily says, nudging me.
I swallow thickly and nod. My stomach flips as my anxiety flares up. I don’t like public speaking, but I have to say something. I can’t let this opportunity slip through my fingers.
Hayden takes my hand, pulling me into his chest so he can wrap his arms around me. “You’ve got this, Cami. Just speak from that bold, brilliant, kind heart of yours.”
I nod and kiss his chest before stepping back.
As I climb the three stairs to the podium, I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans and clear my throat.
Staring out over the crowd of people, a sense of belonging and understanding washes over me.
We’re all here for the same reason, and that gives me the courage to finally speak.
“The Hope Mountain Community Center is more than just a building. It’s more than a place to hold meetings and host parties. The community center is home to so many of us, a safe haven, and a beacon of hope, just like our town’s namesake.”
A few cheers and whistles bolster my confidence. I notice a commotion amongst the protesters gathered, smirking when I see Cindy and her goons fighting their way through the crowd. People are standing in their way, purposefully making it difficult.
“And we’re not going to let our home be invaded,” I continue.
Whoops and hollers erupt, and I catch the look of disdain Cindy has when her eyes land on me.
“We’re done being bullied by big real estate companies who think they can get away with threatening us.
They’ve tried to break our spirit, but they underestimated us. Stay strong, friends. Keep hope alive.”
Cheers and applause break out, the sound almost deafening. I make my way off the stage, into Hayden’s waiting arms.
“You were incredible,” he tells me as he picks me up and spins me around. I giggle and cling to his neck until he sets me down on my feet again. “I knew you would be.”
“My turn!” Lily says from behind me. She hugs me tightly, and I hug her right back. “Thank you for today,” she says, her arms still wrapped around me. “And thank you for bringing my brother back. You’ve been so good for him.”
“He’s been just as good for me, too.”
We finally break apart, and Lily discreetly wipes away a tear that fell. She’s so sweet, and I’m happy she approves of me and her brother. She’s the sister I never had, and I can’t wait to get to know her even more.
“Come on, let’s go meet some of your adoring fans! I think Cindy, Robert, and Glen are about to give up on viewing the building today.” She nods toward the entrance, where a line of people is blocking the doors.
Lily tugs me along, and soon I’m engulfed in the crowd. Pamela finds me and squeezes me into a tight hug. Travis squeals when he sees me and clings to my leg. I bend down to give him a proper hug, my heart full to bursting when he kisses me on the cheek.
I seem to have lost Lily while taking time to talk to the McClones, but that’s okay. A few more people shake my hand and pat me on the shoulder, thanking me for my efforts. It’s getting kind of chaotic the further I push through the throngs of people, and I’m feeling claustrophobic.
The more I try to fight my way out of the crowd, the more it closes in on me. Someone wraps their hand around my bicep and tugs me to one side rather forcefully.
“Hey!” I shout, hoping to get the man’s attention. My voice is drowned out in the noise of the crowd.
I look up at the man dragging me through the mass of people, but I can’t get a read on him. He’s dressed in all black with sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled down low to hide his identity.
I try pulling my arm away, but his grip just tightens to the point of bruising. The next thing I know, I’m being thrown into a waiting van. I try scrambling away from my kidnapper, still in absolute shock that any of this is happening.
He lunges forward and captures my wrists, holding them in front of me with one hand while securing a zip tie with the other. The rough plastic digs into my skin, making me whimper.
“Why are you doing this?” I plead.
“You just couldn’t shut up,” he snarls. “Couldn’t leave it well enough alone. Well, you’re not gonna get in the way anymore.”
I can’t see his eyes behind his dark sunglasses, but his smile is vicious. He’s beyond delusional, and I wonder if he’s acting alone or on behalf of Top Spot. Surely, they wouldn't go this far, right? Vandalism is one thing, but kidnapping?
My captor shoves me further into the van and slams the door closed. The backseats have been removed, so I land on the bare floor of the vehicle, wincing at the sharp pain in my right shoulder.
I manage to roll onto my back, and I remember I have my phone in my front pocket. It takes a bit of effort, but I maneuver myself in such a way that I can shimmy it out of its secure spot.
“Stop moving back there,” he barks out once he gets in the driver’s seat.
The man takes off, the wheels spinning before the entire van lurches forward at full speed. I’m tossed around the back, clutching onto my phone, my lifeline.
Tapping the screen a few times, I navigate to my recent calls and hit Hayden’s number. I’m hoping he hears everything going on and can maybe track my call. He was doing security and bodyguard jobs for the last few years, and I pray he can use his skills to track me down.
“Cami, where are you?” his faint, worried voice sounds over the phone. I turn down my volume and cough to cover up the sound.
“You’re not going to get away with kidnapping me,” I announce to my captor as well as Hayden. “Besides, it’s not going to change anything. You saw all the people out there. Even if I’m not there, they’ll continue fighting.”
“Shut the fuck up!” the man yells.
I swallow back tears, but continue talking. Maybe I can get more information out of him.
“What is your plan, exactly? Are you holding me for ransom? Are you going to kill me?” Fear strikes my heart and trickles down my spine, but I have to know. I have to keep him talking.
“I… I don’t know,” he spits out. It’s the first time he’s been flustered, and once again, I get the sense he’s a rogue agent. “But I’ve invested too much and gone way too far to give up now. I have to succeed. I’ll secure this town for Top Spot, then Cindy will be mine.”
This is all for the CEO? He doesn’t just want to impress her; he wants her to fall madly in love with him. He’s more deranged than I originally thought.
“You were the one who vandalized Lily’s store, weren’t you?” I accuse.
“Yeah, well, didn’t work out exactly how I planned,” he mutters. “I had to do something else. Something drastic. And there you were, speaking to the crowds and getting everyone riled up. You put the target on your own damn back.”
The van comes to an abrupt halt, sending me flying into the back of the passenger’s seat. I gasp at the pain shooting up my spine from the impact. The door is ripped open, and then I’m thrown out of the vehicle. My phone goes flying out of my hands, and I wince when the man’s eyes land on it.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he roars. “Stupid fucking bitch.” My kidnapper stomps on my phone, shattering it and rendering it useless. I’m flat on my back, the air knocked out of my lungs from landing so hard, but I manage to roll a few inches away from him.
“P-please,” I beg. “Just let me go.”
The man laughs cruelly. “That’s all you have to say? What a pathetic attempt to persuade me. You’ve been very bad, Camilla. You need to be punished, don’t you? I could put that mouth of yours to good use instead of using it to spew lies.”
I tremble at the thinly veiled threat, scooting as far away from him as I can. He crouches down in front of me and grips my face, his fingers digging in and making me whimper.
“Pathetic,” he spits out seconds before his other hand smacks the side of my head.
My vision goes blurry, and black dots float in front of my eyes. I’m about to pass out when I swear I hear Hayden’s voice. The man drops his hold on my face and steps away. Maybe he heard it, too.
I try sitting up, but my head is too fuzzy. I crash into the ground, struggling to stay conscious. The last thing I hear is Hayden screaming my name.