Chapter 9
Katie’s lips parted in a soft gasp as she watched the limousine disappear from view, her fingers curling tightly against her sides. “A limousine?” she said in a delicate voice, turning toward Jackson and Ridge with wide, bewildered eyes. “I didn’t know Camilla was getting special treatment. Isn‘ t that… unfair?”
Jackson‘ s brow furrowed, his eyes still fixed on where the limousine had
vanished. “It’s not about fair, Katie. I just -since when does Camilla have someone sending her a limo?”
Katie stepped closer, her tone light, almost coaxing. “Maybe she’s trying to make a statement. You know how she gets, Jackson -always wanting to stand out. Maybe it’s her way of showing us something. Don’t you think?”
Ridge frowned, his arms crossed. “That didn’t look like showing off. She
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seemed… different.”
Katie tilted her head, her expression soft and innocent. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it that way. Maybe she’s just…. overwhelmed. I mean, this is a big event. for all of us, right? And Camilla‘ s always. been so particular about appearances.
Jackson exhaled sharply, finally turning to face Katie. “Particular? She’s never cared about flaunting anything. Not like this.”
Katie’s eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn‘ t mean it like that. I just thought–well, if Camilla can have something so extravagant, maybe… maybe I could have something special too? It’s not too much to ask, is it?”
Ridge‘ s expression hardened, his gaze cutting through Katie’s sweet act. “Not everything’s about you, Katie.”
Katie blinked, her lips parting in a soft, hurt pout. “That’s not what I meant. I was only thinking… maybe you could help
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me feel included too. I’ve been trying hard-”
SO
“Enough,” Jackson interrupted, his voice laced with frustration. He raked a hand through his hair, his tone softening slightly as guilt crept into his voice. “It’s not about you, Katie. It’s about Camilla. We’ve barely paid attention to her lately, and now she’s out there–moving on without us.
Katie hesitated, her sweet demeanor faltering for a moment before she quickly recovered, her voice light again. “I‘ m sure she hasn’t moved on. Camilla cares about you both so much. Maybe she’s just… trying to make you notice her.”
Ridge shook his head, his voice quiet but firm. “No, Katie. It’s us who didn’t notice her. And now… we don’t even
know her anymore.”
Katie’s smile stiffened as she watched them walk away, their attention already slipping from her. Behind her soft,
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innocent facade, anger simmered quietly. Camilla might have left, but Katie wasn’t done yet.
Katie’s innocent smile faded the moment she stepped out of Jackson and Ridge s sight. Her dainty fingers gripped her phone as she dialed a number, her voice turning cold and calculating. “It’s me. I need information–now. Who’s Camilla s mystery fiance?”
On the other end, a gravelly voice hesitated. “You sure you want to dig into. this, Katie? Rumor has it she s tying herself to someone big. The youngest mafia don. Colen Armand.“
Katie’s breath caught for a moment before she composed herself. Don Colen? The most feared, ruthless leader in the underground world? A flicker of panic crossed her mind, but she quickly squashed it. There was no way she’d let Camilla gain such power. If Camilla married Don Colen, not only would she
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secure an alliance, but her influence would overshadow everything Katie had been
working toward.
“Find out everything about her marriage,” she snapped, her tone sharp.
“I don’t care what it takes.”
“You sure that’s smart?” the voice questioned hesitantly. “Don Colen‘ s not someone you cross lightly. People who try… don’t live to tell the tale.”
Katie s lips curled into a determined smile. “Then it’s a good thing I don‘ t plan to cross him directly. I just need to ensure Camilla never gets to the altar, whoever he has to marry. And can we really not find out if Don Colen’s ugly or not? Can you handle that?”
The voice sighed. “I’ll dig around, but it’ll take time. You better be ready to pay
up.
Katie ended the call without another word. She paced the room, her mind racing. She
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couldn’t act recklessly, not yet. Don Colen wasn’t someone to underestimate, and she needed precision now more than ever.
Pulling out another phone–a burner–she dialed a different number. “I need something discreet. A sedative. Something strong enough to… remove someone from the equation for a while.”
Her contact chuckled. “Planning something risky, are we?”
Katie’s voice remained icy. “Just deliver what I need. No questions.
The call ended, and she allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. She would wait for the right moment, biding her time until she could strike. The banquet wasn’t the place for her plan–too public, too risky. But soon, when the stars aligned, she‘ d make sure Camilla vanished, leaving nothing but shadows behind.
After all, Katie had always been good at playing the innocent victim.
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