Chapter 18 Àlvaro's Pov
I clenched my jaw and fixed my eyes on him. Cami stood just a few feet away from him but he hadn't seen her yet. Fuck! I should've listened to Santiago and left her in the house today.
“What the fuck are you doing here? You must have a lot of nerve coming into my territory without an invitation.” I growled.
Sergei quirks a brow as he steps into the office. “Just like you came into mine without an invitation, you mean?”
I was about to give an off handed reply when his body rotated inside the office and his eyes fell on Cami. He released a sort of animalistic grin, something that made my stomach churn with disgust and I gripped my gun tighter.
“Who is this pretty little thing?”
I glanced at Cami as she sat there glancing at Sergei as if he's not even phased her. She remained blank faced and part of me wants to scream because I know she's just acting tough.
“She's none of your business.” Santiago barked in a low voice.
Sergei still didn't take his eyes away from her. He stepped closer to her but she still didn't flinch. She just sat there, her expression still bored.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned to me and Santiago. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her take a breath of relief.
“Anyways, I'm here because I think there's a business that would be beneficial to both of our emp—”
“No.” I blurted out, immediately I noticed how he started walking closer to her as she sat in the chair, quiet and reserved.
Santiago raised his gun and aimed it at Sergei just in time for his men to draw theirs and point straight at our heads.
“Don't you fucking go near her.” I said.
Sergei's eyes remained on Cami, sizing her up. He glanced from me to Cami and then again. “Aaahh. You care for this one, don't you? That's cute.”
I ignored him. “I said, step back.”
His gaze gravitated back to mine. “Call me when you're ready to talk business. You're clearly distracted by her presence here.”
Then he turned towards her. “Nice to know you're in great company, darling.”
Cami's lips curled in disgust, just a fraction before she's back to staring at him like a stone figure.
Sergei gave us a once over before he exited the office, his men trailing behind him. I lowered my gun and grabbed my phone to order my men downstairs to let me know when he's left the premises.
I lowered my phone and organized for her to be sent back to the house with a chauffeur and a shit ton of security. I knew Sergei well enough to know that he's found a new target.
And he'd enjoy playing this game.
Camilla's Pov.
The look in the man's eyes as he studied me, taking his time to flip over every inch of my face and drinking down every little detail until there was nothing left to inspect, told me that he was trying to get in my mind, break down my walls but if I've learnt anything from staying with Àlvaro, it's never to show any kind of emotion.
I've come to learn to act tough even if I'm screaming inside at myself to do something rather than stare blankly at someone who had the potential to kill me in a matter of seconds.
The strange man didn't necessarily scare me but his gaze, the tone of his voice, even the way he walked into the room made me feel uncomfortable.
I shouldn't have been here today and maybe that was my fault but sitting inside and staring at the same four walls of my room is fucking depressing. I wish I had a friend. I wish there was someone I could really confide in.
Santiago accompanied me home while Àlvaro remained at the warehouse. Immediately we got to the house, Santiago was on the phone, I presumed with Àlvaro.
I walked over to the kitchen as the cook, Harriet, made me a late lunch. Santiago got off his call a few moments later just as Harriet placed a bowl of chicken salad in front of me. I grabbed my fork and began to push around the green and purple lettuce leaves and then the chicken before I finally decided to pierce it.
Santiago sat opposite me, clasping his hand together. “I need you to listen to me and listen good.”
My eyes focused on his. “I'm listening.”
“You're going to now carry a gun at all times for your own safety.”
I blinked. Did I hear him correctly?
“A–a gun?”
He nodded without hesitating. “Yes. A gun. At all times. In your room and even when you're with us. Sergei isn't a nice person and you need to take this seriously. So for your own safety, you'll need a weapon with you.”
They trust me with a gun now? I could blow both of their brains out and escape but the problem was, I've never held a gun in my hand before, much less shooting one.
As if reading my mind, he said, “we'll go over some basic training with you on latch safety and ammunition and how to capture your target.”
“Okay.” Was all I said.
I only now realised that I was starving after all that adrenaline. I could eat for days and it still wouldn't be enough.
Santiago spends the evening going over some gun training with me. I now have a gun in my bedroom, my bathroom. A gun that I needed to carry with me at all times. It all still sounded strange to me.
I listened intently to everything Santiago had to say. Handling guns are really a big fucking deal but they make it look so easy.
When Àlvaro came back, I made sure to make myself scarce. I shut myself away in the bedroom and placed the gun on the bedside table. I flopped down on the bed and glanced up at the ceiling, doing nothing more than just to stare.
Breathing in–Breathing out.
Àlvaro's Pov.
The next morning I headed downstairs ready for a day of endless paperwork and calls. I made myself a cup of coffee with the machine and just as I was about to take a sip, I glanced out the large patio doors and my eyes found Cami as she sat on a chair, staring at the crystal still lake.
My eyes glanced to the wall. It's barely eight o'clock but she's already out and about. Something must be bothering her.
I wrapped my fingers around the white mug and made my way towards the doors. I slid open the doors and she immediately glanced up at me. She blinked but said nothing as she turned back and continued watching the lake.
“You put on a good front yesterday.” I said. “But being like that could get you killed.”
Her forehead creased in confusion. “Should I have acted scared?”
“Were you?” I asked instead of answering her.
“No.”
She's lying. She's obviously lying. I've warned her that trying to act smart would only get her killed. I remembered how she sucked in a sigh of relief when Sergei finally turned away from her yesterday.
I crossed my arms, careful of the coffee in my hands as I leaned on the hinge of the door.
“This is serious. You could already be a target.” I said.
“And that should make a difference, why? Have I not been your target since you kidnapped me?”
My hand tightened around the coffee. It made a difference. It made a huge difference because I truly didn't want to kill her but Sergei wouldn't hesitate one bit.
“You'll be training with me tomorrow.” I told her curtly, ignoring her earlier question.
She just nodded her head. I hated this side of her. I've gotten used to her talking back and saying demeaning comments that I had no way to react when we're actually having a civil conversation. I know I talked to her about it but I never expected her to actually obey me.
It also reminded me of the fact that I really don't know this woman. I know nothing about her apart from the driven lust that controls my body.
“Eight o'clock.”
“In the morning?” She curled a brow.
“That a problem with you?” I copied her action.
She sucked in a breath and shook her head. “No.” She rasps. “Of course not.”
I nodded and leaned away from the door as I took a large sip of my coffee. I noticed her eyes gravitated to my throat when I swallowed and a pink tinge cascaded across her nose and cheeks but she was quick to turn away, covering her face with her hair.
“Eight o'clock down in the gym.” I said again. “Make sure you come with plenty of water because you're going to need it.”
She just nodded her head but didn't turn to look at me. Deep down, I knew things were about to get heated tomorrow at the gym. I don't know what's going to happen but a part of me is preparing for the torture.