Chapter 25
The plan to strike back was set in motion. Don Colen gathered his most trusted allies, laying out the strategy with precision. This wasn’t just about revenge for Carlo–it was about ensuring the new mafia group Bloody Stag couldn’t take control of the city or threaten other families.
Meanwhile, Camilla stayed at Don Colen’s estate, trying to process the whirlwind of loss and rage that consumed her. Her mother sat silently in the corner of the room, staring at nothing, her eyes red from endless tears.
Camilla placed a comforting hand on her mother‘ s shoulder. “Mom, you have to eat something. You’ll make yourself sick like this.”
Her mother shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “I don‘ t know how to go on without him, Camilla. He was my everything.”
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Camilla’s chest tightened. “We‘ ll make it through this. I promise, Mom. Colen will avenge Dad, and we’ll rebuild. But for now, you have to take care of yourself. For me.‘
Her mother nodded weakly but didn’t move, her grief keeping her locked in place.
The door creaked open, and Camilla turned to see Jackson and Ridge hesitating in the doorway. They had been staying on Don Colen’s estate under his protection, but their presence only stoked the fire in her heart.
“We wanted to help,” Jackson said cautiously, stepping inside. Ridge followed silently, guilt etched across his face.
Camilla stood abruptly, her eyes
narrowing. “Help?” she snapped. “You mean like you helped my father? Don’t insult me.
“”
“Camilla, we didn’t know,” Ridge said,
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his voice low. “If we had known-”
“You should have been there!” she cut him off, her voice rising. “You were supposed to protect him, but instead, you were off with Katie. You left him to die, and now you think you can just show up here and make it better?”
Jackson raised his hands in a placating gesture. “We didn’t come here to fight. We just… we’re sorry.
“Sorry won’t bring him back,” Camilla hissed, her voice laced with venom. “Go back to Katie. That’s all you’re good for.”
Jackson opened his mouth to respond, but Ridge grabbed his arm, shaking his head. They left without another word, the
tension in the room thick enough to choke
on.
Later that evening, Don Colen entered the room, Camilla looked up from where she sat by the window, her stomach knotting at
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the sight of him dressed for war.
“It’s time,” Don Colen said, his voice
calm but firm. “The attack is finalized. We leave at midnight.”
Camilla stood abruptly, her heart sinking.
“You‘ re going, too?”
Don Colen nodded, stepping closer. “I have to. This isn’t just about revenge for your father anymore. It’s about protecting everything he built. If we don’t stop them now, they’ll grow stronger, and more families will fall.”
“But why does it have to be you?” Her voice cracked, betraying her fear.
“You‘ ve done enough. Let someone else lead the charge.”
He sighed, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. “Camilla, I gave my word to you and your family. I won’t sit back while others fight our battles. Your father was a good man, and this is the least I can do for him–and for
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you.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she struggled to keep her composure. “You could die, Colen. What am I supposed to do if you don‘ t come back?”
He cupped her face gently, his calloused hands a stark contrast to the tenderness in his touch. “Listen to me,” he said, his voice softening. “I m coming back. Do you hear me? I’ll come back to you. Camilla. Nothing s going to stop me.”
She shook her head, her voice trembling,
“You can’t promise that. You don’t know what s out there. These people- they’re ruthless. They’ve already taken so much from me. I can’t lose you, too.”
Don Colen’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, his own resolve wavered as he saw the raw pain in her eyes. “You won’t lose me,” he said, his tone more determined now. “I Il fight with everything I have. For your father. For your family. And for you.”
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She grabbed his hand, holding onto it like a lifeline. “Just… just be careful. Please. Promise me you‘ ll do everything you can to stay safe.”
“I promise,” he said, squeezing her hand. “But you have to stay strong for me, Camilla. I need to know you’ll be here, waiting for me when I come back.”
She nodded reluctantly, wiping her tears away. “I’ll wait. Just don’t make me wait forever.”
A faint smile touched his lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Forever‘ s not my style,” he said, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “I’ll see you soon.”
As he turned to leave, Camilla felt her heart ache with the weight of everything unsaid. “Colen,” she called out, stopping him at the door.
He turned back, his expression
questioning. “Yeah?”
“I… I need you to come back,” she
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whispered, her voice barely audible, “Not just for me, but for all of us. You‘ re the only one holding everything together,”
His gaze softened, and he gave her a reassuring nod. “T II come back, Camilla.
“TI
I promise.”
With that, he walked out, the sound of his boots echoing down the hallway. Camilla stood frozen, her chest heavy with dread as she watched him disappear into the night.
Her whispered words lingered in the air long after he was gone. “Please, don‘ t break this promise.
As the night wore on, Camilla paced the empty halls, her unease growing with every passing second. She tried to shake off the gnawing worry but felt a wave of nausea hit her suddenly. Rushing to the bathroom, she barely made it before she was hunched over, vomiting violently.
Breathing heavily, she sat back, her hand instinctively going to her stomach. The
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realization hit her like a thunderclap. Counting back the days, her heart raced.
She immediately went to a drug store to buy some pregnancy test sticks.
When she got home, she took the test stick to the bathroom. The result came out very
fast.
Looking at the test stick, her mind froze.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
A flood of emotions washed over her–fear, hope, and overwhelming dread. He doesn’t know. What if he never comes
back?
Camilla pressed her hand against her abdomen, tears brimming in her eyes.
“You have to wait for your father,” she murmured softly. “He promised he‘ d come back… and he will.”
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realization hit her like a thunderclap. Counting back the days, her heart raced.
She immediately went to a drug store to buy some pregnancy test sticks.
When she got home, she took the test stick to the bathroom. The result came out very
fast.
Looking at the test stick, her mind froze.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
A flood of emotions washed over her–fear, hope, and overwhelming dread. He doesn’t know. What if he never comes
back?
Camilla pressed her hand against her abdomen, tears brimming in her eyes.
“You have to wait for your father,” she murmured softly. “He promised he‘ d come back… and he will.”