6 am Friday, at the dock somewhere in France. . .
Lila's POV
"I don't see why you had to bring me here this early. Didn't even get to sleep." I grumble, annoyed.
Mattheiu's monotonous voice drifted over, sounding to close for comfort, making my heart jump slightly in my chest. "This is important."
I huff, half annoyed at his words and at myself for reacting to his voice. I had been the one to dismiss the kiss as nothing, now I wasn't liking the way he spoke to me as if it didn't happen. As if we weren't sharing air a week ago.
I rub my palms together slightly to garner warmth. "It's cold as fuck."
"Take this." He said, handing his coat over. I draped it over myself reeling in his body warmth and that unique earthly scent he exuded. " Adrien should be here soon. "
I pause mid action of breathing in his scent. " What did you just say?. "
" Adrien is on his way here. " He repeats.
"What's he coming to do here?." I narrow my eyes suspiciously
"I called him."
"You called him?. I can't believe this shit. " I run a hand through my fiery strands. "Why?."
"He needs to be here."
"Oh. My bad. I didn't know you were the one calling the shots here."
"You know I didn't mean that."
"Oh please, don't give me that. Who the fuck do you think you are to make decisions in my place??. First, you drag me out of bed to this god forsaken place for God knows what. Now, you're informing an outsider of inside information that your boss doesn't even know about??. What kind of subordinate are you?."
Matthieu remains frustrating quiet. ". . . "
" Who the fuck pays you?. Answer me you fucking prick!. "
I narrow my eyes, nose flaring in annoyance as my questions go unanswered. " Planning to defect, are you?. Go on ahead then, let's see if you dare. "
" I have no plans of defecting, little tigress. I owe my life to y'all Rousseau's and I'm no betrayer. " He says, his voice annoyingly calm.
He only stayed because of that??, because of a debt?.
What about me?, us??. Is he going to leave me too??.
I raised my eyes full of defiance. That can't be...
" I have no intentions of leaving you. I didn't tell you beforehand because it's going to hurt. "
I keep quiet, heart in throat. ". . . "
" It's about you and Camille. I don't know if it's intentional on her part or not, so I didn't tell you yet. To avoid a false alarm. "
Thoughts raced through my mind as blood drained from my face trying to digest what I just heard.
Camille's?. What was her involvement with the other side?. She couldn't have betrayed me right? I need to hear the full story before I start concluding. I'll trust her on this.
Mattheiu watched me with hooded eyes before speaking again. " Sigh.. this is why I didn't say anything. I'll tell you more when Adrien arrives and he'll share some things with you too. " I nod, blankly.
Minutes pass by as I stare with unfocused eyes at the vast ocean, deep in thoughts.
" He's here. " Mattheiu's silky voice brings me out of my reverie.
I blink once, twice, until my gaze lands on a disgruntled looking Adrien. My left eyelid twitches as he moves closer with a slight, barely noticeable limp in his steps.
" What's up?. How-"
I cut him off, impatient and not in the mood for pleasantries. " Get to the point. What happened?. "
Adrien looked surprised at my interruption but continued. " After you gave me the drive three weeks ago, I got to work and decoded some information, the one I emailed you. Then yesterday, I finally cracked the last bit of encrypted data, the traitor's initials are L.B, I haven't figured that out yet, you'd have to do that yourself."
I tsk, cutting him off. "Fine, what else?."
"That would be my cue." Matthieu says. "Last week, when I reported to you about the arms shipment that was coming into the country but got hijacked?." I nod. "We finally knew who was behind it, no surprise. It turned out to be the Shadows. The surprising thing is the relationship between Bastien and Camille."
My heart dropped to my stomach. "What relationship?. Camille is gay. "
Matthieu sighs. " I know, she's his niece. The only thing I'm unsure of is whether she approached you on purpose because of her uncle or not. I'd reckon not letting your guard down, regardless of whether--. "
Niece?. She's his niece?. Heh. What a twist. My only friends is my enemy/parent's killer's niece!.
A small chuckle slips out of me stopping Matthieu from continuing his words and before I knew it, I was laughing fully.
Sigh. " Let's go. I've got things to do. " I hand over Matthieu's coat back to him. " I'm the leader, aren't I?. I reckon it's about damn time I start acting like it."
Silence...
They both kept quiet, looking at me like I'd grown three heads.
" If y'all don't come over, I'll leave without you. "
I glare at Mattheiu, giving him a silent 'are your legs broken.' stare and he finally moved, dragging Adrien along with him.
After their silly act of gaping at me, we finally got moving and this time I was the one behind the wheels.
Several minutes later, we arrived at my destination —the morgue.
Yeah. My destination, I brought them along ignoring their wide eyed panic stricken expression. I didn't even try to clarify anything as I got out of the car.
They deserved it for making me out of bed this early. Speaking of early, I check my wristwatch —8:35 am— very good. I was exactly on time for work.
" Stay in the car. " I addressed them both." Or don't, your choice, your problem. "
They both nod and I smirk. "". . ."
I huff and strut inside, the air smelled stale and full of betrayal and unspoken secrets.
My Crocs pattered against the tiled floor as I strode in, looking every bit like I just woke up —which technically was what happened anyways.
I didn't even flinch as I allowed them take in my . . . casual appearance.
". . . Are you here for work or to check in on Camille?. If it's the latter, I can get her for you. " Rene asked, addressing the elephant in the room.
I shook my head lightly. " That won't be needed, I'm headed that way. " I smile. " Thanks anyways. "
Rene looked like someone stole her soul only to return it with an ear defect. ". . . Sorry?. "
I smile again, softer this time. " Oh. I said thanks." Her face turned so red, I could have sworn it'd drip blood. "I'll be off then."
My feet led me down the hallway and down to her. I stopped at the door, suddenly unsure of what to do.
The door flew open, mid contemplation. Camille's face popped up and her surprise was so obvious, she could have worn the award of the most exaggerated expression of the year.
I raise my brow, " do I need to remind you to shut your mouth?."
Her mouth slammed shut and I chuckled, pressing matters temporarily forgotten.
"What- what are you- Are you her- did you come straight from home??!!."
I ask unimpressed, " Don't I always?."
"That's not what I meant-"
". . ." I prompt nodding
"Bu-but--."
"Mh-mhm?."
"You didn't always dress this casual, you look like you came straight from bed." She splutters.
I snort, "You're talking like you haven't seen me at home just waking up."
Camille blinked as if just realizing the fact, "Oh. I didn't really think much about it, I had pressing issues at hand then."
I smile stiffly, "That's not what I'm here for though. We need to talk."
She gulped, " Like the 'I'm pregnant and you're the father ' type of talk?."
My left eyelid twitches at her choice of words. ". . . Yeah. "
Sighs heavily.. " I'm listening. "
" How are things with Zoe?. "
" Things are great actually. I've managed to speak to her and not at the art shop, personally!!. " She squeals. " You could even say we're friends. "
" You've been friendzoned just how many days into your conversation, Camille?. It's barely been a week, I taught you better than this. " I raise a brow.
" No, absolutely not. Mon dieu, Lila we just started talking. Of course we're still friends, I can't just jump on her now can I??." Camille flailed.
"You can't, that's not normal. Next question; do you have an uncle??!."
She paused, clearly taken back. " Yeah, yeah I do. But how did you-. . ." She trails until it finally clicked. " The only way you could have known is either because I told you—which I did not— and the other option is you investigating me. So, Lila did you investigate me??." Camille asked, confusion clouding her features.
Silence
Pregnant, awkward silence. . . .
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