The black veil provided a shield as she walked into the church, but Cami's eyes streamed uncontrollable tears.  Her blue eyes scanned the crowds searching for the bastard responsible for her husband's death as she shakily walked to the front where he lay.  It took every ounce of restraint she possessed not to grab the nearest lowlife, and beat the hell outta them.  The rage inside her fighting to escape was overwhelming.  An elderly woman put her hand on Cami's shoulder asking if she knew the deceased.  She choked out a rough reply, the tears fighting to drown her.

"H-he..is my husband."

Was.  He was her husband.  Now everything was thrown to hell.  She excused herself after the lady patted Cami's shoulder in sympathy.  Camilla continued to walk to the front, her eyes roaming over row after row of visitors.  The black gloves she wore provided slight protection against the thorns of the rose she carried, but the death grip her hand clenched the flower with, pricked through the glove anyway.  The pain in her hand was unnoticeable though as she reached the casket.

She leaned forward, her empty hand braced on the casket.  Her lips trembled as the tears renewed, pouring down her cheeks.  She lifted the veil, seeing his body lay still.  She placed the rose beside him before softly kissing his cheek.  To the crowds she looked every bit the mournful wife, saying farewell to a lost loved one, but Cami's softly spoken words to her husband, unheard by anyone but her, vowed a different story.

"Tesoro, I will find the one who did this, and God help him for stealing you from me.  I feel so lost without you.  I was not only blessed to have you as a husband, but most importantly you were and always will be my friend.  I cannot understand this tragedy, it was a senseless act of desperation to take a life so full of promise in this world.  You will never be forgotten.  Rest in Peace my love.”

She felt the fire consume her, as if she was looking out from within the flame.  Her mind trailed off as she glanced around the church, the faces, so many faces, she felt like she was drowning.  Her blue eyes filled with tears as Cami was escorted to the front pew, so the service could begin. Seconds seemed like minutes, minutes seemed like hours, endless hours as she sat there listening to the priest speak of the great deeds Valentino had accomplished in life.

Don Slash sat near the back of the church, ever watchful of Cami, unknown to her though.  He kept close tabs on her, how hard she worked for the Family, yet he knew there was much more to who she was than just her ability to make money.  Her gambling was under control to the positive side of things, and she did anything that was asked of her. Yet he wondered if she knew that today she was about to become something much more. She was a tough girl sure, and she couldn’t have her boss thinking otherwise. Had she known he was there, Cami might have kept it together more.

After the service ended, a lady placed her hand on Cami’s shoulder, whispering softly how sorry she was for her loss.  She glanced up as Signora Kate Logan walked away, down the aisle towards the door.  Cami remembered the offer Signora Logan had mentioned two days ago, and knew she was ready to accept it.  She had never had the urge to take another person's life before like she did in that moment.  Her mind full of vengeance, her heart felt frozen, yet the fire inside was burning out of control.  

Kate watched with an expressionless face and a racing mind as Camilla started to break down. Just like many people at funerals, Kate was thinking about herself. She'd spent the vast majority of her life unattached: beautiful people would appear in her life for brief moments of passion, then they or she would simply glide away. Nice and clean... but recently...

Kate clenched her fists, simultaneously grateful and horrified at the fact that she was in a loving relationship. She imagined herself in the casket. Or worse, grieving. When this was all over, she'd need a drink. Or thirty.

After the service, Kate hung near the back of the church nodding to Slash, although she wondered if Camilla even noticed him in her grief. She certainly didn't see as she starting walking right past her- so Kate reached out and placed her hand on Cami's shoulder with a steady pressure.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Camilla. If you're interested in revenge, I've got a couple days free 'til my next meeting here. I'm in for... let's say.... 5% of my usual fee. Consider it an expression of my sympathy- the only way I really know how to help you."

Cami looked down towards the black Chanel dress, realizing her hands clenched tightly to the handkerchief.  She removed the gloves, placing them slowly down on the pew beside her, as if they were fragile, one on top of the other.  Cami opened her soft, gentle hands noticing her right hand was splattered with blood from the rose thorns.  She could picture how Valentino would pull her hand to his lips, kissing it softly, telling her she was much too delicate to be covered in scars.  

She traced a finger over the cuts then clenched her hand in a tight fist as the anger began to burn inside her as she sat there alone in the church, the priest having spoken softly allowing her all the time she needed.  Cami merely nodded as best she could, unable to speak at the time.  Her teary blue eyes gazed towards the casket, the pain she felt was unfathomable.  Her thoughts roll over all the sympathy comments, offers of help and whatnot, but one stuck out in her mind very clear.  Signora Logan.

She knew the kind of business Kate was in, as Cami was familiar with it as well.  She was not naive, and knew fully well what the "offer" meant. Cami sat there wondering if this was the time, the time she became a true part of her family, and not just a financial asset.  Could she do it?  Could she take someone's life?  

Her eyes blazed a deep blue as she fought the tears, her gaze traveling to her beloved laying there.  Cami stood up, walked to the casket one final time, leaning close to his ear, speaking softly in Italian, words she had told him a hundred times, yet he would never hear them again.  As her frame stood straight, her hands clenched at her sides, her full lips drawn tight as the resolve inside her grew bold.  Her hand caressed his cheek one last time before she bid him farewell.

Cami wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, grab someone and beat the hell out of them, something, anything to release this rage building up inside her.  She turned away facing the aisle of pews, took a deep breath as the priest walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, offering comfort.  Cami cleared her throat, fighting the urge to cry, and asked to use the telephone in private.  The priest nodded waving her to use the phone in his office.  As she glanced back over her shoulder, the priest slowly closed the casket.  She sighed softly then headed towards the office.

She dialed the number to the hotel where Kate was staying, barely remembering the name through the hazy fog of memories.  Once Kate answered, Cami spoke softly, using every ounce of energy she had.

"Signora Logan.  I'm ready."

Cami placed the receiver back on the hook, headed towards the sanctuary, collected her forgotten gloves, and headed towards the doors, not looking back.  She feared she would never leave the church had she took one last look.  She waited outside the church on the steps, not knowing how much her life would change later that night.  Her eyes held a blank stare, the palest color of blue, as a car arrived within a short time.  She made her way down the steps, every step closer to her fate, the fire within burned a little brighter, the flames growing wild.

The cab pulled up and Kate opened the door, exiting slowly with her right hand at her side as she look around for Camilla. Spying her on the steps, Kate waved her down. For a moment, she thought about trying to express her condolences again- but she suspected actions would be more appreciated.

"So. Tonight? Got everything you need? And where are we headed?"

She slid into the front passenger seat, smoothing her dress then closed the door.  Kate spoke with a firm tone, and Cami thought about where she wanted to go first.

“I would say somewhere private, so we can discuss things, and somewhere there is enough alcohol to chase away this pain.”

Her gaze focused on the road as they traveled, not sure where they were headed, but she trusted Kate to take them somewhere safe.  Cami gladly accepted the help from a well known editor and journalist, knowing full well if Kate needed to get info, she had the sources and abilities to get the dirt on anyone.  Cami sighed softly as she leaned back in the seat, closing her eyes briefly.

All she wanted to do was find that bunch of thugs who snuffed out her happiness.  She would start with the associates then work her way up to Petey, saving him for last.  He would know she was coming for him, and that’s what she wanted….him to feel the fear building wondering when, how, who.  A small smile crossed her face as the thoughts rolled through her mind, yet as she opened her eyes once more, the smile quickly faded.

Cami noticed a bar up ahead, and realized the car slowed to a halt.  Once inside they both found a secluded table with no eavesdroppers around, not that Cami spoke loud anyways unless her Sicilian temper flared.  The two leaned forward making plans, writing down all the information and descriptions she could give to Kate.  After several moments sitting there not speaking, Kate offered a shot of the bottle of whiskey the barkeep brought over sometime ago.

Cami wasn’t much of a drinker, but she made an exception today.  She clinked the shot glass to Kate’s then winced as she downed the drink in one gulp.  Her throat felt on fire, but it only matched her growing desire to seek vengeance.  Her heart, mind and soul were already flaming with the desire to kill, her body might as well join the wildfire.

Satisfied with the information for Kate to get started tracking down those bastards, Cami knew there was someone else she needed to speak to before things got rolling.  She excused herself from the table, headed to the bar asking for a telephone.  The bartender nodded his head towards the back of the bar.  Cami walked a few feet then picked up the phone, dialed a familiar number.  As she waited for the ringing to stop, her gaze traveled over the two customers speaking to the bartender, well if you could call drunken slurs speaking.

Click.

“Yeah what is it?”

Cami actually smiled softly hearing his voice.  The one constant she had left in this life was her family.  Her voice kept low, so not to draw the attention of the trio several feet away, seeming to discuss which glass was half full and which one what half empty.  Cami shook her head at the conversation then spoke into the phone.

“It’s Cami.  Tell Don Slash it’s time to move forward with the request he made.”

She heard the sigh of relief through the receiver.

“It’s about damn time little lady.”

Replacing the receiver, Cami headed back to her table, thanking the bartender for the use of the phone as she passed by.  She took a seat once more, realized Kate had refilled her glass then downed the whiskey with a lil more ease this round.  She smiled towards Kate, nodding with a wry smile.  She cleared her throat before speaking.

“Soon as you get the information please lemme know.  I will speak to my accountant about the payment, so you can get started as soon as possible.”

Cami looked Kate right in the eyes.

“Thank you for this Kate.  I couldn’t do it without your help, and I don’t want those bastards sitting pretty for very much longer.  I’ll be in touch very soon.  I need to get to a meeting soon, so I’ll hail a taxi.”

She retrieved a few bills from the black sequinned clutch, tossing the money on the table next to her glass, nodding to Kate then left the table with a lighter feeling in her pain filled heart.  As she hailed a taxi, disappearing off into the night, Cami couldn’t have imagined what lay in store for her later that evening.