Chapter 12 - Shadows in the Snow
Winter hit Chicago with brutal force, covering the Castellano estate in a thick blanket of pristine white snow.
Camille stood by the frosted window, sipping her dark coffee while watching the heavily armed guards patrol the perimeter.
Vincent had not told her about the microphone in the alligator toy, claiming the increased security was just a standard seasonal precaution.
But Camille had not survived five years on the run by being naive to the subtle shifts in a mafia boss’s behavior.
She noticed the dark circles forming under Vincent’s eyes and the way his hand always hovered near his concealed holster.
That afternoon, Camille insisted on taking a heavily armored SUV into the city to buy a specific birthday cake for Adeline.
Elias and three armed guards accompanied her, clearing the upscale bakery before allowing her to step inside.
While the baker boxed up the triple-chocolate cake, a tall man in a heavy wool overcoat stepped out from the back kitchen.
He did not look like a baker; his face was scarred, and his cold blue eyes locked directly onto Camille.
Before Elias could draw his weapon, three more men in tactical gear smashed through the bakery's rear delivery doors.
Gunfire erupted, shattering the glass display cases and sending buttercream frosting flying into the air.
Camille did not freeze or scream in terror.
She grabbed a heavy stainless-steel rolling pin from the counter and smashed it into the face of the first Russian who lunged at her.
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Elias took down two of the attackers with precise shots, grabbing Camille by the arm and dragging her toward the armored vehicle.
As they sped away from the bullet-riddled bakery, Camille realized with a sinking heart that the mafia war was far from over.
