Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(20)

His hands reached out and clasped my face, drawing me closer. I took in a breath before his lips closed over mine and he deepened the kiss. For a brief few minutes, I melted into him and enjoyed his touch. I wanted to feel his lips on more than just my mouth. I broke away from the kiss, my heart thundering in my chest.

“I didn’t think you were ever going to kiss me again,” he murmured, resting his forehead to mine. “Come over tonight. We’ll do this right.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. “I can’t. My decision still stands. You and I just aren’t going to work. It can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because it just can’t. Trust me, we’re from different worlds.” Once he was out of the danger zone, he’d go back to California and his opulent lifestyle of women and fighting. I didn’t fit in with that.

He tilted my chin and I couldn’t look away. “We may be different, but for once in my life I know what I want. I can’t let it go.”

I held onto his hand and squeezed. “I don’t think you have a choice. I know others don’t see it, but you’re a great person. Believe me, this is for the best. We can always be friends.”

The door to the room opened and a group of elderly ladies came in with their yoga mats. We quickly walked out of the room, but then he pushed me against the wall and caged me in. “I don’t want to be just friends with you, Brooklyn. I feel something and it isn’t because you’re my f*cking friend. It’s more. You may be able to ignore it, but I won’t.”

Now it was his turn to walk away from me. The ladies looked at me like I was stupid for letting him walk out, and maybe I was. One thing was for certain. I needed to stay as far away from him as I could. Starting first with getting out of the condo.





IT’D BEEN FOUR days without a word from Brooklyn. She never answered her door and she stopped going to the gym. I had no other link to her other than her brother. I missed being at the beach where I could fight. So far, there was nothing here besides getting into a bar fight and being thrown in jail. I needed the fight, it was in my blood. If I didn’t hit something soon, I was going to f*cking implode.

“Have you talked to your sister?” I asked.

Jason laughed and set his weights down. “Damn, I thought a guy like you would be over her by now. And yes, I’ve talked to her. I talk to her every day.”

“Has she said anything about me?”

He sighed and swiped a towel over his forehead. “My sister’s been through a lot. She needs someone good, someone stable. Although, I have to admit you surprised me at the bar last night when you turned down that girl.”

Jason and I had hung out every night this week and hit the bars. It brought back memories of Ryley when he and I would do the same thing. I missed having my brother. Needless to say, there were tons of hot women at the bars that I had no desire to talk to. One even cornered me in the bathroom and tried to suck my dick.

“What can I say? She’s not what I wanted, none of them could measure up to Brooklyn,” I said to him. “So what do you suggest I do? I’m not exactly the expert on doing the right thing.”

“For starters, I’m going to take you back to your building and then once seven o’clock rolls around, I want you to walk down to Second Street Bar. A bunch of us get together every Friday and Saturday night to gamble. It’ll be fun. Just make sure you bring plenty of cash. Brooke will be there.”

A sly smile spread across his face. “Now that I can handle.”





Before leaving to go to the bar, Mason called. “Any news on Scar?” I asked, opening the door. I started down the hall and pressed the button for the elevator.

“Not yet. Just calling to see how you’re holding up. You seemed kind of tense the last time I talked to you.”

“Frustrated is more like it. You know the girl we talked about?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I haven’t been able to talk to her all week. She refuses to see me. It’s such a pain in the f*cking ass. She kept giving me bullshit excuses the other day. It’s like she’s hiding something from me.”

“She’s a woman,” he chuckled. “They always have reasons for doing and saying the shit they do.”

“All I know is, she’s going to be at the bar tonight and I’m going. Whatever game she’s playing ends tonight. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Just be careful. From what you told me, this girl isn’t so easily persuaded.”

“That’s for damn sure.”

The elevator door opened, so I said my goodbye and got in. I was ready to get this night started. The night was a little humid from the afternoon rain but I could sense more was coming by the thunder rumbling overhead. Second Street Bar was only two blocks away and Jason was out front talking on his phone. When he saw me, he hung up and waved me over.

“You ready to make some money?” he asked.

“Depends. You never told me how you all gamble.”

He smirked and opened the door. “Why don’t you come and see? I don’t think you’ll have any problems tonight.”

We walked inside and went straight to the bar where a busty brunette greeted us. “Hey, Jason. The guys are all downstairs. They were happy with the new addition.”