Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(15)

My stomach fluttered. “Yours.”





“DO YOU NEED anything from your place?” Camden asked when we got off the elevator.

I knew it was wrong to play the pity card, knowing my parents weren’t going to show up. But I could also kill two birds with one stone. My traitorous heart wanted to spend more time with him and my mind wanted to make sure he was safe. I was definitely taking my job to a whole new level.

“I do, actually. I need to get a couple things.”

“All right, I’ll come with you.”

I had one of my guns on me, but I wanted to get my other one for backup. Once inside, I turned on the lights. “Give me one minute and I’ll be right out. You can stay in the living room.”

He chuckled and started toward the couch. “Damn, Brooklyn. You must really not trust me. Or are you afraid that if you get me in there you won’t want to leave?”

“Ha-ha,” I muttered jokingly. It was too dangerous having him in my bedroom. I didn’t want to think about seeing him naked, or what it would be like to have him between my legs. It wasn’t going to happen. Hastily, I disappeared around the corner so he couldn’t see my flushed face.

Grabbing my gym bag, I tossed in some workout clothes for tomorrow along with my toiletry bag. It was all still put together since I’d only been in town since yesterday. I quickly changed out of my skirt and put on some comfortable clothes. All I needed were my guns and I was set to go.

“And just so you know,” I called out, brushing my hair back into a ponytail. “I usually trust people until they give me a reason not to.” Finished, I turned the corner and saw Camden in the living room, walking around. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing the white tank top and tattoos that adorned his upper chest. My insides clenched. When his gaze caught mine, he slowly raked his eyes down my body and then back up.

“I’m not the kind of guy you can trust, Brooklyn. It’d do well for you to remember that,” he murmured low.

I slung the bag over my shoulder and started toward the door. He wasn’t scaring me. “I’m not worried,” I said. “I can handle myself. I’ve dealt with a lot worse than you could ever imagine.”

He snorted. “I highly doubt that. If you knew the things I’d done you wouldn’t be standing in this room with me.”

Opening the door, I stepped out into the hallway and kept my eyes solely on his when the door shut behind him. “You’re not scaring me, Cam. Redemption is around every corner, you just have to be willing to work for it.”

Shaking his head, he broke eye contact and faced his door. “It’s too late. There’s no hope for me.” He opened his door and stalked inside.

His condo was different from mine, more upscale and modern. The guy who Mason borrowed it from had some money to his name. Most of his friends were loaded, including Camden, who had more money than I’d earn in a lifetime. Must be nice.

He took off for the kitchen, opened a beer and guzzled it down.

“It’s never too late,” I called out.

“Maybe for you.” I joined him in the kitchen and watched him down two more beers in rapid succession. “Do you want something to eat? I’m f*cking starved.” He pulled out a frozen pizza from the freezer and ripped the box open.

My stomach growled in response and I nodded. Now that I was away from my parents, my appetite was back.

Once the oven was ready, he put in the pizza and we retreated to the living room. Camden was now on his fourth beer with two more on the coffee table, ready to be opened. “Do you mind?” I asked, nodding toward them.

He grabbed one and opened it for me. “You don’t look like the type to drink beer. I pictured you as more of a wine girl.”

I laughed and took a huge gulp. “Nope. Straight liquor is usually my thing. Takes the edge off quicker.”

“Is working with kids really that bad?”

I took another sip and smiled. “You have no idea.”

“I’m surprised you’re not drinking it up after what happened with your mother tonight. Want to talk about it?”

The timer to the pizza went off so I jumped up and went to the kitchen. “I tell you what. After we eat, I’ll tell you all about it. It’s not something I like to talk about.”

Camden grabbed two more beers and set them on the counter while I pulled out the pizza. “You don’t have to,” he murmured. “I just know how girls like to talk about their feelings.”

I swatted him with the oven mitt and he chuckled. “Hey, that’s not always true. I never talk about my feelings. Becca’s the one who suggested I talk to someone. I figured since you’re getting drunk, I could talk to you and you’ll forget it all by morning.”

“Good point,” he said, tilting another beer back.

He finished his beer and grabbed two slices of pizza for us both and set them on plates. If he kept it up, he was going to be passed out before I could even talk. Or maybe I could get him to open up the more he drank. Camden carried our plates to the living room and put them on the coffee table. My stomach growled and it didn’t take long to scarf down my two slices.

Once Camden was done, he sat back on the couch with another beer in his hand. He was relaxed, I could tell by the lazy grin on his face. “Talk to me,” he commanded. “Tell me something I don’t know.”