Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(18)

I don’t know how long I stayed in the bathroom, but when I got out, all the lights were off except in the bedroom. When I peeked inside the door, it was empty. Where was he? And then I saw his feet hanging off the edge of the couch and the sound of his deep breaths. He was asleep. Tiptoeing to the bedroom, I shut off the light and quietly made my way to the kitchen. I rummaged through the drawers until I found a small notepad and pen so I could write him a letter and also leave an address.

Now all I had to do was get out without waking him up, which wasn’t hard to do. I placed the notes on the coffee table and glanced over my shoulder when I got to the door. He was going to be angry, but it was better this way.





THE SOUND OF my phone ringing dragged me out of a nightmare. But when I opened my eyes, I was still in one. Fuck. The sun shining through the windows was so goddamned bright I couldn’t see. Fumbling around for my phone, I found it and answered.

“Yeah.”

“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” Mason chuckled.

“Fuck off,” I grumbled, sitting up. My head pounded and I groaned.

“Hard night last night?”

“You have no f*cking idea.” Then it hit me. Brooklyn was there, or at least she was before I passed out. Jumping to my feet, I marched to my bedroom and wasn’t surprised to see it empty. She f*cking left.

“So, what happened? Did you go out with that girl?”

“Uh-huh,” I said, searching around the condo. Did she really just up and leave after last night?

“I take it that everything didn’t go so well.” I was about to say no until I found the letter on the coffee table.





“Not really, but I’m going to change that. Just answer me this. When you were around Claire, how did you know you wanted to be with her? What made her different from every other woman?”

He chuckled. “Shit, there were a lot of things. She’s strong, a fighter. I think guys like us need women like that, someone to keep us on our toes. She’s also smart, beautiful, and genuine. It’s hard to find women who want to be with us for who we are and not what we do. I just got sick of f*cking all the wrong ones, you know?”

“I know what you mean. However, in my case, that’s not a problem anymore. Everyone looks at me like I’m f*cking deformed. But this girl is different, Mase. She looks at me like I’m a normal guy, even though I’m a monster. For months, no one has looked at me like that.”

“So what happened? Did you f*ck her?”

“Nah, we kept it pretty tame. I didn’t want her to do something she’d regret. Although, I’m pretty sure she’s mad at me right now.”

Mason grunted. “Why bother then? Just find someone else, like usual.”

“There’s just something about her I can’t let go. I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.”

“Ah shit. And what’s that?” he asked.

“Fight for something that’s actually worth it.”





It was after six o’clock but I tried knocking on Brooklyn’s door anyway. It didn’t surprise me when she didn’t answer. Hopefully, it was because she was at the gym and not ignoring me.

By the time I got out to the parking deck, I was about to get in my Jeep when a voice called out behind me. “You’re running a little late, aren’t you?”

I turned around and there in a red Dodge Charger was Jason. “Just a little,” I replied.

“You haven’t seen my sister have you? I tried calling her and she’s not picking up.”

I shook my head. “Not since last night. I tried knocking on her door this morning but she didn’t answer.”

“Hmm,” he said, pursing his lips. “You didn’t piss her off did you?”

“Actually, I think I did. I’m on my way to the gym to talk to her.”

“You can ride with me if you want. I would say I’d kick your ass if you hurt her, but she’s strong enough to take care of herself.”

I rolled my arm and still felt a pang where she twisted it. “Tell me about it.” I walked around the back of his car and put my gym bag in his back seat before getting in.

“So what happened between you two?” he asked as he took off.

I wasn’t about to tell him all of it. “Did you know we ran into your parents last night?”

His eyes went wide and he accidentally hit the brakes, making us jar forward. “Shit, sorry about that. What the f*ck happened?”

“I didn’t hear all of it, but it was pretty heated. We ended up walking out.”

“Fuck,” he growled. “I told her they were in town. I guess they’re still pulling the same shit as always.”

“I think so. She told me about the accident.”

“She told you?” he inquired, his voice full of shock. “She hasn’t been talking to anyone about Braylen.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. All I can say is, I’m sorry, man. I lost my father in a similar situation.”

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It was hell,” he murmured. “Nothing’s been right ever since. B must feel comfortable with you to tell you all of that.”

“And I f*cked it up. That’s why I need to talk to her.”