Page 201 of Corrupting Camille

I turn sharply, my eyes narrowing dangerously. “What are you saying?”

He meets my gaze without flinching, respect and caution weaving through every carefully chosen word. “That she is not simply a woman you want to possess. You love her. That makes her your greatest strength, but also your greatest weakness.”

His words hit brutally, echoing painfully through the carefully guarded chambers of my chest. Love isn’t a word I use. Love is leverage, a target painted directly over Camille’s heart.

I drain the whiskey, the burn sharp, fierce. Necessary. “Then I’ll make sure my weakness stays protected. No matter the fucking cost.”

Diego nods slowly, recognizing the vow etched in every tense line of my body. “We will protect her,” he promises quietly. “You have my word.”

“Good,” I murmur darkly, turning back toward the kitchen. My heart pounds as I catch sight of Camille, her delicate face tilted up toward Marisol, eyes bright, alive, utterly at ease. Reina whispers something conspiratorial, and Camille laughs freely, beautifully, making something fierce and possessive twist savagely inside me.

She catches my stare, holding it across the crowded yard, heat and awareness burning between us like a silent promise.

I know in that instant I’ll move heaven and hell to keep her this way. Smiling, safe, utterly mine.

Even if it destroys everything else.

Chapter Nineteen

Camille

Quiet settles in, easy and effortless. It’s strange how it feels like I’ve known them longer than just today. Reina’s legs stretch languidly, her long limbs draped gracefully over the armrests, fingertips twisting absently in her dark curls. Marisol leans back beside me, eyes on the dwindling sunlight, something thoughtful slipping into her gaze.

“You know,” Marisol says softly, breaking the silence like she’s confiding a secret, “Kane used to scare the shit out of us when we were kids. Reina would hide behind the couch whenever he walked into a room.”

Reina bolts upright, dark eyes wide with indignation. “Um, no. That was definitely you.”

“Nope.” Marisol shakes her head, unbothered. “I clearly remember you sobbing uncontrollably because he glared at you one time.”

Reina’s mouth drops open. “I was seven!”

“Still counts,” Marisol shoots back, victorious.

A smile curls the edge of my lips. I can’t resist chiming in. “It’s okay, Reina. Sometimes I still want to hide behind the couch when he glares.”

They both swivel their heads toward me, identical expressions of shock flashing across their faces before dissolving into bright, irrepressible laughter. Reina collapses against the cushions, giggles bursting out of her in frantic waves. Marisol doubles over, hand clutching her stomach, eyes watering from laughter.

“Oh my God,” Reina chokes out between gasps, “Camille, you’re officially our new favorite.”

“Seriously,” Marisol wheezes, wiping tears from her eyes, “Please don’t leave us. Ever.”

Their laughter seeps into me, bright and intoxicating. For the first time in forever, my laugh breaks free, unguarded, easy, genuine.

Just joy.

The ache hits me a second later, sharp and sudden. Lena. My anchor. The one person who would love this moment as fiercely as I do. God, I miss her. There’s a part of me that desperately wants to call her, to spill everything…about Kane, about this place, about the man who holds me like I’m something he’s afraid of losing.

“You’re thinking hard,” Marisol murmurs, bumping my shoulder gently.

“Just remembering someone,” I whisper.

“A good someone?” Reina asks softly, something knowing in her gaze.

“The best,” I say, meeting her eyes. “You two remind me of her.”

Reina smiles softly, passing me another drink. “She must have excellent taste.”

We toast. We drink. The quiet returns, deeper now, more thoughtful, shadows pooling gently around us as twilight settles.