5
739 Words
And everything that could still reach her if she stepped back into it.
⸻
But she didn’t hesitate.
⸻
“Yes.”
⸻
Liam’s brows lifted slightly.
⸻
Hayes’ gaze sharpened.
⸻
“Even knowing what’s there?” he asked.
⸻
Camilla held his eyes.
⸻
“I don’t go into situations blind,” she said.
A pause.
“And I don’t run from ones I understand.”
⸻
That did it.
⸻
Something settled in Hayes’ expression.
Not approval.
Not yet.
⸻
Decision.
⸻
“Pack a bag,” he said.
⸻
Camilla blinked once.
⸻
“You’re coming.”
⸻
Liam let out a quiet laugh.
“Of course she is.”
⸻
Hayes ignored him.
⸻
His attention stayed on Camilla.
⸻
“You said you wanted opportunity,” he continued.
A beat.
“This is it.”
⸻
Camilla studied him for a second.
Not the offer.
Not the risk.
⸻
Him.
⸻
Because this wasn’t just a job anymore.
It wasn’t just money.
⸻
It was movement.
Into something deeper.
More dangerous.
More permanent.
⸻
And he knew it.
⸻
“You don’t hesitate,” she said quietly.
⸻
Hayes’ expression didn’t change.
“No,” he said.
⸻
A pause.
Then—
“You shouldn’t either.”
⸻
Silence stretched between them again.
But this time—
It wasn’t testing.
⸻
It was alignment.
⸻
Camilla nodded once.
“Alright.”
⸻
That was it.
No dramatics.
No questions.
⸻
Just acceptance.
⸻
Liam shook his head slightly.
“Tomorrow,” he said. “Early.”
A glance at Camilla.
“Hope you travel light.”
⸻
Camilla turned back toward the door.
This time, she opened it.
⸻
But before she stepped through—
She paused.
Just slightly.
⸻
Because she could still feel it.
⸻
His attention.
⸻
Not like before.
Not just curiosity.
⸻
Something more deliberate.
More… aware.
⸻
She didn’t turn around.
Didn’t need to.
⸻
“You knew,” she said quietly.
⸻
Behind her, Hayes’ voice came without hesitation.
⸻
“Yes.”
⸻
A beat.
⸻
“From the second you walked in.”
⸻
Camilla didn’t respond.
⸻
She stepped out into the hallway.
⸻
And for the second time in under ten minutes—
Her life shifted direction without asking her permission.
⸻
This time—
She walked into it anyway.
Packing had never taken her long.
Not anymore.
⸻
Camilla Duval moved through her apartment with quiet efficiency, pulling open drawers, selecting pieces that didn’t wrinkle, didn’t draw attention, didn’t slow her down.
Travel light.
Always.
⸻
Except for the things she didn’t have the luxury of leaving behind.
⸻
She paused at the edge of her bed, unzipping a smaller case tucked inside her main bag.
Inside—
Order.
Precision.
Control.
⸻
Insulin pens, carefully wrapped.
Backup vials.
Extra needles.
Alcohol swabs.
Glucose tablets.
Protein bars.
⸻
Redundancy wasn’t optional.
It was survival.
⸻
Her fingers hovered briefly over the supplies before she adjusted them again—checking, rechecking.
Because one mistake here didn’t mean inconvenience.
It meant risk.
Real risk.
⸻
And she didn’t get to be careless with that.
Not here.
Not anywhere.
⸻
Especially not going back to Louisiana.
⸻
Camilla zipped the case closed and slid it into her bag.
Then straightened.
⸻
No hesitation.
No second-guessing.
⸻
She picked up her bag and left.
⸻
⸻
⸻
The private airstrip was quiet.
Too quiet to be public.
Too controlled to be accidental.
⸻
A sleek jet sat waiting, engines low, like it had been expecting them.
⸻
Liam O’Rourke was already there, leaning against the car when she arrived.
He glanced at her bag.
Then at her.
⸻
“That it?” he asked.
⸻
Camilla gave a small nod.
“I travel efficiently.”
⸻
He smirked slightly.
“Let’s hope you packed for chaos.”
⸻
“I always do.”
⸻
That got a quiet huff of amusement out of him.
⸻
Behind him, Hayes O’Rourke stepped out of the car.
⸻
Camilla felt it immediately.
That shift.
⸻
Not loud.
Not obvious.
⸻
Just… presence.
⸻
His gaze moved over her once.
Quick.
Assessing.
Not lingering.
⸻
But not dismissing either.
⸻
“Ready?” he asked.
⸻
Camilla met his eyes.
“Yes.”
⸻
No hesitation.
⸻
He nodded once.
“Good.”
⸻
No wasted movement.
No extra words.
- Writer
