Chapter 49
After breakfast was over, Florentine had dragged Camilo by the hand towards her living space against Caspian’s disapproving glare but knight was there to stop him from interrupting.
Camilo had wanted to protest initially but seeing Florentine was stubborn not to let her go and knight backing her up she couldn’t say no. She just followed Florentine like a kid whose mum was scolding her.
The door to Florentine’s bedroom shut close and she pulled Camilo to stand before her. Her room had a simple appearance, a single comfortable bed by the middle, a dressing stand, wardrobe, a room table and several fresh flowers in flower vase to decorate and scent the room. Florentine always pluged fresh flowers and made sure to care for them.
Her room floor was covered with fine creamy marble and old fashioned yet classic rug splayed at the center. Her room gave a comfortable and homely feeling yet with a touch of class here and there.
“Why are you protecting him?” She asked through gritted teeth and folded fist.
Camilo kept her head low, letting her hair cover her face slightly. She just held onto her bruised arm without saying any word.
Florentine sighed frustrated that she couldn’t get any word out of her mouth at the moment so she dragged her to her bed and made her sit facing her.
“Camilo!” She yelled and Camilo flinched at her tone. “Look at me now!” She ordered and Camilo managed to raise her face slightly so that part of her face was in view.
“Why didn’t you tell the truth back there? Angel would have done something if you had talked. I’m sure he had his suspicions but if you don’t want to be helped then he won’t help you.” She scolded sighing out sharply.
” It’s… it’s not what you think Florentine.” Camilo said almost unwilling as if afraid of Florentine’s reaction at her defense.
“Camilo… Caspian hit you again.” She stressed her last words to lay emphasis on the word. “He is a beast and at this rate he’d be giving your dead body to your brother instead once he is done paying up his debt to him.” She said with a raised tone in hope to get her back to her senses. She stood up and paced about the room restless.
Caspian was no saint when it came to hitting women and he took out his anger issues on Camilo every chance he got.
Camilo had been given to Caspian after her notorious brother, Theo, attempted to run away with Caspian’s drugs. He was stupid enough to think that he’d make money from it, leave the country with his sister and give them a better life but Caspian wasn’t someone to play with. He had messed with fire and it burned not just him but his sister.
Caspian had made him sign a deal that said Camilo would be in his possession as his whore until Theo paid up his debt. This was Camilo’s second year as his whore and her brother was expected to pay up in eleven months time.
Caspain would have killed Theo for his betrayal but Camilo offered herself instead to save her brother’s life and to Caspian it was a win-win.
“Caspian didn’t hurt me. I had hurt myself while helping the ladies at the kitchen.” Camilo defended, her voice low and unconvincing.
Florentine went back to sit beside her. She held Camilo’s hands in hers and peered deep into her eyes as if searching for the truth there.
“Are you having feelings for Caspian?” She held on tightly to Camilo dreading her reply.
“What? No! That’s unthinkable. How could I? He almost killed my brother.” She said pulling her hands away from Florentine. Their was dissapointment in her tone as she spoke and the pain of remembrance visible in her eyes.
“I know, I know but I can’t make sense out of you defending him Camilo. Is this because you are afraid he will hit you more if Angel knew the truth?”
” Just let it go Florentine. Caspian didn’t hit me and hasn’t done so in a month now.” She said standing to her feet. ” I need to go now. I know he’s waiting for me.”This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.
Florentine sighed frustrated. She was being worried about Camilo but there she was acting like everything was fine.
“I can speak to Angel about it. I’m sure he would let you stay with me for sometime till Caspian puts his act together. You know Angel never supports hitting women especially unprovoked and he has warned Caspian about it before.” Florentine kept persuading but Camilo was getting impatient. Her eyes kept darting from the door back to her like she was expecting someone to come in any moment.
A knock resounded on the door and Camilo flinched snapping her head towards the direction. She looked at Florentine who seemed worried and scared for her at the same time.
“I can tell him you are not here.” She quickly suggested but Camilo seemed unsure to accept. The knock came several times but they delayed. She didn’t want to offend Caspian by staying with Florentine in order to avoid him but at the same time she didn’t want to face him knowing what transpired at breakfast. He needed to work on his anger issues.
Florentine sucked in a deep breath and mustered the courage to open the door even though she was afraid of Caspian’s temper and if not for Angel she wouldn’t have been treated any different from Camilo.
“Is Camilo in here?” Came an unexpected voice. Florentine held her chest feeling relieved that it wasn’t Caspian but Knight at her door. She looked back to catch Camilo’s curious gaze and nodded to her that it was okay.
“Yes.” She replied facing Knight. Mind coming in?” She moved away giving him access into her room before closing the door behind her.
Camilo also wore the relieved expression when she saw knight and his eyes quickly scanned her body for fresh bruises.
“Did he really you hit you again?” Knight asked moving closer to Camilo who just gulped hard avoiding his gaze. Florentine had cleared her throat feeling uncomfortable with the way knight was showing concern for Camilo.
He always showed up to her defence. Amongst the three men Knight respected women the most even though he was a total beast when dealing with men but Florentine always felt awkward when it came to his concern for Camilo.
At a point she had believed that he actually had feelings for her but he denied it when she asked about it.
“I’m fine. Caspian didn’t touch me. It was just a minor accident.” She said firmly and Florentine shook her head.
“You always confided in me whenever he hit you Camilo. What really changed?” Florentine came in front of her but Camilo wasn’t bulging and she had suspected that Camilo must have been really traumatized to the extent that she’d rather lock up her pains inside.
“If he ever hurt you again, just let me know. You might be his whore but I won’t let him keep treating you less than a human.” Knight said with finality in his voice.
“I won’t hesitate to let you know if he ever hurt me again.” Camilo responded hoping to get them off her back but Florentine scoffed knowing better. She couldn’t do much if the girl didn’t want to be helped. Knight simply nodded even though he wasn’t convinced.
He reached out to Camilo’s arms where she was bruised and studied the bruise for sometime. He squinted his eyes and twitched seeing it was a fresh bruise. He swallowed his anger, he couldn’t intervene if Camilo didn’t want him to. The had rules and boundaries and if anyone had an upper hand in crossing that boundary it was Angel.
He dropped Camilo’s arm and asked Florentine for some pain relievers which he gave to Camilo to ease her pain.
Once he was done he made to leave and Camilo stood up stoping him immediately.
“Knight….” She called and he turned to face her. She avoided his gaze cause it was scrutinizing her body once more for hidden injuries. “I just wanted to say thank you.” She said softly and he nodded heading towards the door.
Florentine cocked her head towards the door signaling Camilo to see him off. She gave her a weak smile before going ahead. The door opened and both Knight and Camilo froze at the spot. It was Caspian and the moment his eyes caught the both of them standing together and a genuine smile on Camilo’s face he frowned with Anger ravaging his heart.