Chapter 65 65. Just Say Yes
Camila's POV
Shock flickered across Lucien's face first. His eyes widened, his jaw clenched. Then I watched the shock morph into something darker. Anger maybe. Or betrayal. But beneath it all, I saw the question forming before he even asked it.
How?
I pushed gently at his chest, and he sat back in the water. I sat up too, but turned away from him, unable to meet his eyes for what I was about to say.
"I killed someone."
The words hung in the steamy air between us. I stared at the tile wall, my heart pounding so hard It could break through my ribs.
"My mother called me one Friday evening." My voice came out flat. "She was crying on the phone, saying she was dying. I left my part-time job immediately and rushed home."
I felt Lucien shift behind me, but I kept going.
"When I got there, she was all dolled up. Hair done, makeup perfect, wearing a dress I hadn't seen her in for years. I was furious. Told her she was cruel for lying to me like that." I wrapped my arms around myself. "But she said she wasn't lying. That she really was dying and wanted to make peace with me before it was too late. She said she'd booked us a table at a nice restaurant."
Lucien's arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling my back against his chest. I felt his lips press against my shoulder.
"She even made me wear her old wedding dress. Said it would be special." A bitter laugh escaped me. "For a few hours, it felt like I had a real mother. Like maybe we could fix things."
His hand splayed across my stomach, holding me steady.
"But she didn't drive to any restaurant. She took me to a mansion instead." My voice started to shake. "When I asked her about it, she said she just needed to pick something up inside. And I was stupid enough to follow."
"Camila..." Lucien's voice was rough against my ear.
"There was a man inside. I thought he was her boyfriend at first. She seemed nervous, kept glancing between us." I closed my eyes, the memory playing out behind my lids. "Then she left the room. Just walked out and locked the door behind her."
Lucien's arms tightened.
"He told me my mother owed him money. A lot of money. And that she'd offered me as payment.
I tried to fight. Tried to get away. But he was stronger. He grabbed me, started tearing at the dress, and I was terrified I was going to die in that room."
His lips pressed against my neck, a silent comfort.
"But he had a knife in his pocket. I felt it when we struggled. I grabbed it and I-" My voice broke. "I stabbed him. Twice. He was bleeding so much and I just ran. Tried to find a way out before his men found me."
"You were defending yourself," Lucien said quietly.
"I know, but I panicked." Tears started falling again. "I ran outside and crashed right into someone. It was Ronan. He saw the blood on my hands, the torn dress. He dragged me to his car, took me to his place, and locked me in a room."
Now Lucien went very still behind me.
"He told me he'd help me. Said he'd cover it up, make it all go away. But only if I did something for him." I turned a little, still not quite looking at him. "He said the man I killed worked for you. That you were running a trafficking ring and my mother had gotten mixed up in it. That you were the reason she was desperate enough to sell me."
"Jesus Christ," Lucien breathed.
"He made me believe you were a monster. You destroyed my life, turned my mother into something terrible, made me a murderer." The words spilled out faster now. "So when he said he needed me to spy on you, to help him take you down, I agreed. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was getting justice."
His forehead pressed against the back of my head.
"But it was all lies. And now that I know he double-crossed me, I know what's coming. The police will find out. There'll be evidence, and I'll go to prison."
"No." The word was immediate and firm.
"Yes." I finally turned to face him. "I have to. I need to serve my time and try to move forward with a clean conscience. I want to do things right from now on."
"Camila. I won't let you."
"I killed someone, Lucien. Even if it was self-defense, I ran. I let Ronan cover it up instead of going to the police. I'm guilty of at least that."
His hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. "One last time."
"What?"
"Let me do something unethical one last time." His voice dropped lower, more intense. "Let Ronan take the fall for the murder."
I pulled back. "What? No. I can't-"
"Yes, you can." He moved closer, his presence overwhelming in the confined space. "Just say yes. Just give me the word and I'll make him the culprit. He covered it up, he manipulated you, he used you. Let him pay for it."
"That's not justice-"
"Justice?" His laugh was harsh. "Justice would be you walking free because you defended yourself against a man who was going to rape you. Justice would be your mother facing consequences for selling you. Justice would be Ronan rotting in prison for everything he's done."
"But I'd still be lying-"
"You'd be surviving." His thumbs stroked my cheeks. "After everything he's put you through, after using your trauma to manipulate you, after kidnapping you, don't you think he deserves to take the fall?"
"I don't know." My voice came out small.
"I do." His eyes bored into mine. "One last time, Camila. Let me break the rules one last time. After this, I promise I'll play fair. I'll do everything by the book. But just for this, just to protect you, let me handle it."
"Lucien..."
"Say yes." His voice turned almost pleading. "Just give me the word, baby. Let me make this right."
I stared at him, torn between what was right and what would keep me free. Between justice and survival.
"He's going to destroy you anyway if you don't," Lucien continued. "You think he's just going to let you walk away? He'll use this to control you forever. Or he'll turn you in himself when you're no longer useful."
I knew that much.
"Just say yes." His forehead pressed against mine again. "One word is all I need. Say yes and I'll handle everything. Ronan will pay for what he's done, and you'll be free. We'll both be free."
My heart hammered in my chest. Every instinct screamed that this was wrong. But another part of me, the part that had been running and hiding and breaking for so long, wanted so desperately to just say yes.
To let someone else carry this weight for once.
"Lucien, I can't-"
"You can." His voice was fierce now. "You've carried enough. Let me do this. Let me protect you the right way this time. Give me the word, princess. Please."
The word hung on the tip of my tongue. One syllable that would change everything.
Yes.