Saint Or Sinner?

Thirty Four.

Camila's Point Of View

We were just about to leave when a sickly sweet voice called out.

"Well, well, look who it is."

My body went rigid. That voice, it sounded familiar.

I turned, and there she was—Elena. Tall, beautiful, dressed in an outfit that screamed money.

She was a woman I had seen circling around Luciano too many times. A woman who looked at me like I was beneath her.

"What do you want?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

She tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Just wanted to see how Luciano's little pet was doing."

Ava tensed beside me. Kira looked confused but alert.

I forced a breath. "I don't have time for this."

I turned to walk away, but she wasn't done.

"Tell me, Camila," Elena called out, her voice mocking, "how does it feel to be nothing more than a contract woman? To be just another one of his temporary flings?"

My chest tightened, because the truth in her words were glaring at me.

I clenched my fists, willing myself to walk away, but then—

Pain.

A sharp sting against my cheek. She slapped me.

I heard Kira gasp. Felt Ava move beside me.

I didn't fight back. I couldn't.

Not because I was weak, but because I was too drained, too exhausted.

Then the air around us shifted.

A presence so powerful, so consuming, it made my skin prickle.

A voice, dark and lethal, rang out.

"Elena."

The crowd around us stilled.

I turned, and there he was. Luciano.

His stormy gray eyes burned with fury, his entire body coiled with restrained violence. His bulky bodyguards stood behind him, waiting for a command.

Elena's face paled. She took a shaky step back.

"Luciano—"

His jaw clenched, and for a terrifying second, I thought he was going to hit her. His hand twitched, but he held himself back. Instead, he turned to his men.

"Bind her."

Elena gasped as two of his guards grabbed her arms. "No—Luciano, please—"

Terror flashed in her eyes, and for the first time, I realized his truth that I never pondered on.

A mafia king. A killer.

What would he do to her?

But he wasn't looking at her anymore. His gaze was locked on me.

I felt Ava's hand on my arm, Kira's quiet presence beside me, but my entire world had shrunk to him.

"Camila."

His voice was softer now. Desperate.

But I couldn't do this. Not now, so I turned and walked away, but he followed me.

"Camila, wait."

My sister and Ava hesitated, then gave us space.

I stopped near my car, not turning around.