𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 || a dark romance ✔️

chapter eighteen

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CAMILLA

We didn't plan on getting ambushed.

We didn't plan on a lot of things.

But here we are—scratched up, winded, and running through some half-dead town in the middle of nowhere, hearts still pounding from the gunfire.

Cole leads us through an alley behind a shuttered pawn shop, Xavier dragging his laptop case behind him like it's the only thing keeping him sane.

Richard is limping, but alive. I'm somewhere between adrenaline and numbness.

We spot a neon sign flickering through the fog: Moonlight Motel.

It's grimy, old, definitely the kind of place that charges by the hour. But it has doors, locks, and hopefully no hidden snipers.

We immediately start heading toward that building without saying a word to each other.

We all know, we need somewhere safe to stay.

Cole pushes us inside.

I immediately start looking around. At the receptionist who is currently balancing her high heels on the front desk and filing her nails.

She fumbles around once she catches sight of us. "What is this shit? We don't take in vulnerable for free, by the way," she says snottily.

"Spare me the crap, woman. Get me a room. Now." The lady's eyes widen at Xavier's blunt words, she quickly fumbles around behind her grabbing a key at random.

"God, here. Now get outta my sight, freaks," Nobody bothers getting offended at her words.

Only looking down at the rusty old key we were given.

Room 9.

The four of us slowly drag ourselves up the stairs because—who would've guessed—this crappy motel's elevators don't work.

When we make it to the door, a golden nine barely hanging on above the peep hole, Cole pushes in the key, turning it, and we walk inside.

Barely alive at this point.

I do a quick glance around the room. Expectations at an all time low.

The place smells like bleach and smoke. The wallpaper's peeling, and the carpet is suspiciously sticky, but I could cry with relief just finally being indoors.

Richard slumps down onto one of the beds, groaning.

Xavier's already at the tiny desk, pulling out his laptop. "I need five minutes. Maybe ten. If I can tap into the city's surveillance grid, I might see who the hell set us up."

Cole's standing near the window, watching the street like a wolf waiting for movement.

I sink into the edge of the other bed, breathing slowly, trying to quiet the pounding in my chest.

"What the hell was that?" I whisper.

"A warning," Cole mutters. "They knew where we were. They were waiting."

"The car," Xavier says without looking up. "Guaranteed it had a tracker. That 'gift' from Dorian? It was a complete fucking set up."

He blows out a breath, "God we're morons. I mean who wouldn't have seen it coming? The big mafia boss guy being non-trustworthy?! I wouldn't have guessed!" Xavier says sarcastically.

"Dorian really did plan it huh?" I glance at Cole. Resignation setting in. No matter where the fuck we go, it's always trouble.

Cole doesn't answer right away. Then: "I think Dorian's neck-deep in this shit. And I think we've been complete morons for trusting him." Cole nods at Xavier's previous statement.