Chapter 7 - CAMILLE’S CHOICE
Camille Dorian sat in a government safe house wearing borrowed clothes.
Without makeup, silk dresses, and the polished confidence she carried through Blackwood Manor, she looked younger than Matteo remembered.
And more frightened.
Two federal agents stood outside the room. Tessa sat against the wall, arms crossed.
Matteo remained near the door.
Camille looked at him.
“I thought you would never come.”
“I almost didn’t.”
“That would have been fair.”
“Fair has nothing to do with this.”
She nodded.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Camille said, “I loved you.”
Matteo’s expression did not change.
“Maybe you did.”
“I did.”
“But you also lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You stood beside Rafael while he planned to manipulate me.”
“Yes.”
“I was going to marry you.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
Matteo looked away.
The pain surprised him.
Not because he wanted Camille back.
But because he had loved a version of her that had never truly existed.
“Tell me about Victor Vale,” he said.
Camille wiped her face.
“Rafael met him two years ago in Toronto. Vale promised him control of the ports if you were removed.”
“Removed.”
“He said you were becoming a liability. You were shutting down routes. Cutting out people who had worked with your father.”
“What did you do?”
“Rafael asked me to get close to you.”
Matteo stared at her.
Camille’s face crumpled.
“At first, it was business. I was supposed to learn your schedules, your meetings, what you trusted. But then…” She shook her head. “Then I fell in love with you.”
“You had a strange way of showing it.”
“I know.”
“Why help Rafael at all?”
“Because Vale had something on my father.”
Camille explained that her father, a respected real estate developer, had been laundering money for Vale. Rafael had threatened to expose him unless Camille cooperated.
“So you chose your father over me,” Matteo said.
“I chose fear,” she whispered. “And I hate myself for it.”
Tessa stepped forward. “Where is Vale now?”
Camille looked at her.
“I don’t know exactly. But I know where he plans to be.”
She described a charity gala in Toronto three nights later. Vale used such events to meet politicians and business leaders under layers of cameras and security.
“He will be there,” Camille said. “He believes no one will touch him in public.”
Matteo’s phone buzzed.
Tessa checked hers at the same time.
Her face tightened.
“What?” Matteo asked.
She turned the screen toward him.
A video message.
Elena stood in a dim room, terrified but unharmed. Lila was beside her, clutching her paper bag of boats.
A man’s voice said, “Toronto is a trap. Stay in Detroit.”
The video cut out.
Matteo’s entire body went rigid.
“How did they get them?” he asked.
Tessa’s voice was cold. “They didn’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“They were moved this morning by one of my teams.”
Matteo stared at her.
“No.”
“The team leader was Mark Ellison.”
Mark had worked for Tessa for nine years.
He had trained half of Matteo’s security force.
“He betrayed us,” Matteo said.
Tessa’s jaw clenched.
“Yes.”
For the first time, Matteo saw guilt in her eyes.
“He had access to every safe location,” she said. “I should have known.”
“Find him.”
“I will.”
“No,” Matteo said. “Find Elena and Lila first.”
Tessa nodded once.
Camille stood from her chair.
“I can help.”
Matteo looked at her.
“You already have.”
“No. I mean it. Vale trusts me enough to think I’m still useful. Rafael is gone. He may reach out.”
“You expect me to trust you again?”
“No.”
Her voice was steady now.
“But I’m asking you to use me.”
Tessa objected immediately.
“That is reckless.”
Camille looked at Matteo.
“So is going to Toronto.”
He said nothing.
Then another message arrived.
This time, it was only a picture.
Lila’s red boots.
Placed beside a blue sedan.
Below the photo was a single sentence.
THE CHILD WHO SAW THE CAR WILL WATCH ANOTHER ONE BURN.
Matteo’s face turned to stone.
Camille watched him carefully.
“Vale wants you to come after him,” she said.
“He wants me broken.”
“Yes.”
Matteo folded the phone into his hand.
May you like
“Then we make him believe it worked.”
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