Page 8

CHAPTER 8

Camila

I stared down at the sundress I was wearing and shook my head. Kilo probably didn't realize the conundrum he’d put me in. We were going to shoot my new gun, then go to dinner. How was I supposed to dress? For shooting? Or for dinner? I couldn’t wear heels to a gun range. At least I didn’t think I should. But I didn’t want to show up to dinner with a gorgeous man while I was dressed in a t-shirt. I sighed and lifted the hem of the dress out as I considered my problem.

“You look beautiful.”

Turning my head, I smiled at Carmen as she bounced into my room and took a seat on the bed. I hadn’t told her or Mama that I’d bought a gun. It wasn’t worth worrying them over. Though I did have it tucked up in my closet, high on a shelf. It was also still in the case. Carmen was old enough to know not to play with the things, but I wasn't taking any chances. “Thank you.”

“What shoes are you wearing?”

“I don't even know if I’m wearing this,” I told her, staring back at my reflection.

“Why not?” she asked. “The red looks so good on you.”

It was a cute dress that cut down far enough that Mama was going to frown at me for showing that much cleavage, and was short enough to show off my thighs. I really wanted to wear it for Kilo. It had sat in my closet for years now and this felt like the right time to let it see the light of day. “I don't know where we’re going.” It was the only way I could think of to relay my dilemma without telling her about the range. “What if it’s not somewhere dress appropriate?”

She tilted her head as we both studied my reflection in the mirror. “Wear it with sneakers,” she finally said, a determined note in her voice.

I laughed and shook my head. That solution did solve the problem of my footwear at least.

“He’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in that,” she added. “He won’t even notice the sneakers. Boys never do.”

I eyed her in the mirror. “What do you know about boys losing their minds?” I questioned.

“Nothing,” she replied primly. “Just that they do when they see a pretty girl.” She gave me a wide smile. “And you're a very pretty girl.”

“Thank you, Sweetie,” I told her, turning so I could draw her into a hug. “You’re also a very pretty girl.”

“Thanks. But boys are dumb,” she declared before she pulled out of my embrace and skipped out of my room, disappearing as quickly as she’d arrived.

I looked down at my dress again, then my bare feet, and shrugged my shoulders. I was going to take my sister’s advice because the idea of Kilo losing his mind over me was very appealing. Sighing, I went to my closet and slipped my bare feet into a pair of white sneakers. Normally I’d wear socks, but socks with a dress wasn’t a level I was willing to stoop to. Grabbing my gun case from the closet and the paper bag with the bullets in it, I looked around, then draped a coat over my arm to hide them.

“Mama!” I called out as I came down the stairs. She appeared in the doorway that sectioned off the kitchen and dining room from the living room. “I’m going.”

She frowned at my coat. “Why are you bringing that?”

It was one hundred and fourteen degrees outside today. She was right to be suspicious. “In case I get chilly,” I told her. “Some places crank their air conditioning too high,” I added.

Then her narrowed eyes moved up to the top of my dress. “That’s too low cut,” she declared.

“It’s not, Mama,” I said with a roll of my eyes.

“You can see your boobs.”

“I’m twenty-four years old. If I want to show my boobs, I’m allowed to,” I told her.

She frowned, her eyes still lingering on my cleavage, then she finally met my gaze. “Have fun. Not too much fun, though,” she warned me with a stern look.

I laughed. “It's just dinner, Mama.”

“Uh huh. I remember what just dinner was from when I was younger.”

I widened my eyes at her in mock horror. “What kind of dinner were you having ?”

“Never mind that,” she replied, deflecting my question. “Drive carefully. And be safe.”

Waving at her, I made my way to the door. If she came over and hugged me right now, she’d feel the case I was carrying in my hand. “I will! Bye!” I hurried out the door before she could grab me.

The drive only took a couple of minutes, and I let out a whoosh of breath as I parked in front of Kilo’s store. I was nervous. He made me nervous. Though in a good way. I grabbed my case and the paper bag and got out of my car, locking it.

“Hello.”

Startled, I turned and stared at the man leaning against a BMW nearby. He was in a polo and tan slacks and had a smile on his face. My stomach plummeted as my instincts clamored at me that he was dangerous. I’d learned over the last couple of years that I had very good instincts and I listened to them closely now. I nodded at him, then skirted around my car to head inside the building.

“Wait, what’s your name?”

He loped over and cut off my path to Kilo’s door. There weren’t many windows on the building, so I knew he wasn’t going to know I was out here.

“Please let me pass.” My tone was sharp. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with this guy. I didn’t get the impression that he was with them , but he wasn’t up to any good. I could just tell.

“Just tell me your name, Beautiful,” he cajoled. His voice held a whine to it that grated at me. “I’m Shawn.”

I looked around the parking lot, but no one was around. “I’m Camila,” I relented, hoping that he’d just leave me alone if I gave him my name. He reached out toward me and I took a step backward. I didn’t want his hands on me.

“Oh don't be like that, Baby.”

We’d gone from beautiful to baby and I really didn’t like either one. “I’m not your baby. Leave me alone.”

“You don't have to be rude,” he snapped. “I just want to get your phone number.”

“I’m seeing someone,” I lied. Kilo and I weren’t official or anything, but he didn’t need to know that.

“I didn’t say that I was going to date you or anything,” he replied, sounding offended. “I just wanted to talk to you a little. Does your man not let you speak with other men? Do you really want to be with someone that controlling?”

This was going downhill fast. He’d absolutely been hitting on me, but now he was trying to spin it as if he was just being friendly. What was wrong with him? And why wasn’t he taking my disinterest to heart? “I’m not interested,” I told him, thinking maybe if I was more direct he’d take the hint.

“You have so many friends you don’t want another?” he sneered, raising an eyebrow.

“Exactly,” I snapped, getting irritated with him. “Now please leave me alone.”

“Camila.”

The deep voice sent a thrill down my spine, and I looked over Shawn’s head, and saw Kilo coming toward me. The relief was bone deep. “Kilo, hi. I was just-”

“Back off. You can’t have them all,” Shawn said, interrupting me as he turned and faced Kilo. “You can talk to her after I’m done with her.”

My mouth dropped open at that and I shook my head. It was an automatic reaction. I didn’t want Kilo to leave me with this creep. I didn’t want to speak with him, or be anywhere near him. And I didn’t want Kilo thinking I did.

Kilo’s gorgeous brown eyes narrowed on Shawn. He hadn’t looked at me, but he didn’t seem to need to in order to know this guy was unwelcome. “Shawn. You keep making it a habit to bother women who aren’t interested and I’m going to teach you some fucking manners.”

“Who said she’s not interested?” he asked, stepping backward and throwing an arm over my shoulders before I had a chance to avoid him.

My skin crawled where Shawn touched me and I reacted without even thinking. I swung the case I was holding and hit him in the stomach with it.

“Ommmph,” Shawn grunted as I scurried away from him.

Strong fingers caught my bicep and Kilo pulled me behind him. As soon as he was between me and Shawn, he released me and moved forward. I gasped as Shawn’s head snapped backward from the force of Kilo’s punch.

Shawn stumbled back, then fell on his ass. “You stupid bitch!” Shawn snarled, glaring at me as he wiped blood off his lip. “I'm going to-”

“You're going to what?” Kilo asked, his voice deadly quiet as he stepped closer to Shawn, who was still sitting on the sidewalk. “I’ll tell you what you’re going to do,” he said as Shawn fell silent. “You’re going to get your piece of shit ass away from my store and my girl. Come near her again and I’m going to do a lot more than just fucking hit you once.”

Shawn’s eyes danced between us, but he seemed to realize it wasn’t a good idea to test Kilo further. He got to his feet, glaring at us the whole time, and took off across the parking lot.

“Thank you. I-” The words caught in my throat as Kilo tugged me against him and laid his lips on mine. How was a girl supposed to speak, breathe, or even think when he was kissing her?

“Sorry,” he muttered when he finally pulled away, leaving me breathless. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Thank you for helping me.” My free hand was on his chest. It was rising and falling rapidly beneath my palm. I wasn’t sure if it was from desire from the kiss, or anger from dealing with Shawn.

“When you were late, I thought I’d better come take a look outside.” He scowled over where the other man had disappeared. “He’s making himself a nuisance.” He pulled me against his chest, his hand resting on my head, my cheek against his cut as though he needed to know I was safe to calm himself. “Come on,” he said after a moment of holding me close. “Let’s go inside.”

His hand went to the small of my back as he guided me into his store. He shut the door and locked it behind us. “Overdrive will be in soon,” he explained. “He'll open back up for the rest of the night.” His eyes searched mine. “You alright? Would you rather do this some other time?”

“No,” I replied. “I mean, I'm alright. This is the perfect time for this, I think.” I gave him a tentative smile.

“That was a great idea to hit him with your gun case.”

“I didn’t exactly think,” I admitted. “I just didn’t want him touching me.”

He stepped forward, his huge hand cupping my cheek. “Good, ‘cause I fucking hated seeing his hands on you. Even for a second.”

His hand was warm and I let my eyes close as I leaned my head into his touch. I may not have wanted Shawn to touch me, but I really didn’t mind when Kilo did.

“Come on,” he said, his voice husky and deep. “Let’s go do some shooting.” He took my gun case from me and motioned toward where he wanted me to go.

Maybe it was my imagination, but it sounded like there could have been more to that sentence. Like, ‘let’s go do some shooting, before I kiss you again.’ My eyes dropped to his lips, but I forced my body to move. I brushed past him toward the black door behind the counter. He walked over and held it open for me. I sucked in a breath as I walked into the shooting range portion of the building. It was bigger than I expected. And empty. We were completely alone in here.