Chapter Seventy Two
Chapter Seventy Two
Nicholas POV
"I still don't see how that is your fault," Camilla said.
"Well, a man came to the school. Marco's mother was there waiting for me in the car. When I walked out, the man grabbed me, and she jumped from the car and shoved herself between us. It knocked me to the ground because I was startled. The man said he was there to collect the rest of her debt, but he'd take me instead because he knew who I was, and I was worth more than she'd ever be. It all happened so fast that there wasn't even time for my bodyguard to respond. He'd been waiting in the driver’s seat of the car, and by the time he got out with his gun drawn, she was laying on the ground bleeding. He did shoot the man, and we rushed her to the hospital." I paused to see that Camilla was following along. "Zetia was her name. She lived for two days before she succumbed. They just didn't have the resources, and she needed a lot of blood and probably surgery. Wayne is her brother, actually," I tell Camilla.
"Wayne?"
"Wayne Moreno, your doctor in New York."
"Oh my god," Camilla's hand flies to her mouth. "I don't understand."
"My father vowed he would repay Zetia in any way he could. He made sure that Wayne got settled in New York and started his own practice. We donate to hospitals here and there all the time, and we promised her we would take care of Marco. It was the least we could do," I say.
"Nick, that's really great of you. But you know that's not your fault, right? That man came for her, not you. She may have died even if you weren't there." Camilla reaches out and caresses my cheek with her hand. The touch is gentle, soft. I place my hand over hers and hold it there.
"I know. It just seems like the right thing to do." I use this moment to lean forward and kiss her. I'm soft initially, but she puts her other hand up to my opposite cheek and leans into the kiss. Closing my eyes, I take in the feel of her lips on mine. The softness of them, the slip of her tongue in my mouth, it all just pulls me in deeper. Before I know what's happening, I've pulled her onto my lap and I'm kissing her with a feverish intensity.
My hand rests on Camilla's waist, holding her to me. Everything around us disappears, the birds chirping are a distant sound, and the wind rustles the vines gently, but I barely hear anything except her panting breaths. I feel myself groaning, and she answers with a little sigh. Then I'm suddenly brought back to reality by a woman's shout.
"What the fuck? You can't do that! You can't. I didn't have phone service, please don't," the woman is crying, and she's not far from us. I think she must be a few rows away, two or three at most.
Camilla stiffens and her eyes widen as she stares at my face. I touch my finger to her lips, urging her to be quiet as we listen.
"Shhh," I whisper. "Let's listen." Camilla nods, and we sit perfectly still; she’s still perched on my lap.
"Mr. Cain, please do not kill my sister. I do not know where my brother is. I haven't seen or heard from him in months. I will do whatever you want, please," she's sobbing now, and I recognize that voice. It's Tanya. And she's talking to one of the Cain's. Now things are making more sense.
I move Camilla off my lap and pull my phone from my pocket. I quickly send a text to my father and to the guard who's on the terrace. I wonder how the hell she's out here without her own guard. Where the fuck did that asshole get lost at? "Stay here," I tell Camilla.
"Absolutely not," she hisses. "I'm coming with you. The last time I was left to my own devices, I nearly died." I stare at her and suddenly see that she's afraid. She's safe here, but she doesn't know that.
"Okay," I agree and grab her hand. She stands and follows behind me. We find Tanya sitting on the ground a few vine rows over from the arbor we had just been sitting in. She's still on the phone, listening intently and giving murmurs in response as she angrily brushes tears from her eyes.
I stop right in front of her. She clearly didn't notice us walking down the row, her eyes went wide with fear when her gaze met mine. "I have to go. I will do it, I promise." She hangs up the phone and stares at me.
"Can I help you, Mr. Carmine?" she asks, trying to sound angry.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" I ask her.
"I was just making a phone call to my.....," she stops and looks around as if trying to figure out what to say. "To my supervisor." She nods her head like that's exactly who she was talking to.
"Your supervisor?" I say, trying to keep my tone calm.
"Y...yes...Um it was about work."
Camilla half laughs, half snorts next to me. I give her a quick glance, and she shrugs. "I don't think so," I say, turning back to look at Tanya.
"Excuse me?" she asks.
"I don't think so," I nod at the two guards who just walked up behind her. The one that was supposed to be her shadow looks none to plussed.
"Sorry, boss, I had to use the bathroom. She must have bolted in the two minutes I was in the shitter," he says angrily. He takes a step towards Tanya and raises her up by her underarms.
"Right, well, she has some explaining to do. Take her to my father's office now. And take her phone as well," I give them orders and then Camilla and I walk away before I say more than I should.