Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(35)

“I don’t want her to move on. She’s the only one I can talk to.”

He drank the rest of his beer and set the bottle down. “Everyone back home asks about you. They’re worried.”

I scoffed and averted my gaze. “Like who? Gabby and Pax? They’re the only ones who actually give a shit about me.”

“Your brother gave me a call. I told him you were doing well and that you were in great company out here.”

“Like he cares,” I snapped. “He doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Maybe if you call him and you guys work this shit out, you can be a family again. You have a niece and a nephew whom you’ve never met. You can’t tell me you don’t want it all back.”

I chugged my beer and tossed the bottle in the trash. “You of all people know how bad I f*cked up. I tried to mend things at one point, but he looked at me with nothing but disdain. I don’t think I can handle seeing that again on his face. It’s what I expect to see on everyone’s faces when they look at me.”

“But not Brooklyn’s . . . You care about her, don’t you?”

Down the hall, I could see into her room, at her reflection in her bedroom mirror. She was so beautiful and strong, like Gabriella and Ashleigh, but so much more. I didn’t quite know what I felt. Whatever it was, it felt f*cking amazing. “I don’t know what it is about her,” I said, “but I can’t imagine feeling it with anyone else.”

Mason slapped me on the shoulder and laughed. “Welcome to my world, Jameson. And good luck. You’re gonna need it. Once they trap you, it’s impossible to get out.”

“I heard that,” Brooklyn hollered from down the hall. She joined us in the kitchen with her arms crossed over her chest. “And you’re only trapped because you want to be. I’ve heard the way you talk to Claire. Don’t pull that macho bullshit with me.” She winked at me and started out the door. “Aren’t you guys coming?”

Mason chuckled. “Okay, I think it’s time to go. Just do me a favor tonight, Jameson. Be smart. If my assumptions are correct, someone at this bar wants you dead. Don’t provoke anyone, and that goes for Blake. If he wants to fight you that’s fine, but don’t bring it up first.”

With wild eyes, I thrust my finger toward the door where Brooklyn waited outside. “And have you seen what she’s wearing? That guy’s going to be all over her tonight. What the f*ck am I supposed to do? Sit around and let him mess around with what’s mine?”

Mason clapped me on the shoulder and smiled. “I never said that. But I can say I’m glad to have you back. It hasn’t been the same at home without you.”

“Thanks, bro. I appreciate that.” When we got outside, Brooklyn waited for us on the front porch with a wicked smile on her face. “What are you grinning about?”

Once the door was shut, she locked it and we started down the steps toward Mason’s rented SUV. “So you don’t want anyone messing with what’s yours, huh?” she murmured so only I could hear.

“You got that right. Just don’t get mad if I lose my temper. I’m warning you now.”

We stopped at the car, and she leaned against it, pulling me closer by the belt loops of my jeans. Taking my hand, she placed it over her tits and slid it down to her hips. “I like being called yours, Camden. Just as long as I can call you mine. This isn’t a one way street. If you really want me, you need to make sure I’m all you want. That sharing shit you’re used to isn’t going to happen with me.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I don’t want to share you with anyone . . . ever. I want you all to myself. And I’m going to have more of you when we get home. I want to finish what we started.”

She smiled and lifted her lips to mine. “Then don’t get your ass kicked tonight.”

That was not going to happen.





All heads turned our way when we entered the pub. Mason was like royalty in his old hometown. Several people flocked over to us, but Brooklyn grabbed my hand and pulled us over to the bar.

“He’ll be a little while. It’s always like this when he comes to town.”

“I see that.”

“We can talk to Crystal while we wait.”

When we sat down, Crystal bounced over to us. She was the same girl who was here the other night when I came with Jason. She smiled a little long at me, but then it disappeared when Brooklyn hooked her arm through mine. Sneaky girl.

“Hey, B. You drinkin’ tonight?”

“No, I think I need to keep my wits in case someone challenges me on the tables.”

“Ain’t that the truth, but I think the guys are more interested in him,” she said, nodding at me. “Or at least one of them is.”

I looked over at Brooklyn, who had her lips pursed angrily. “You wouldn’t happen to be talking about Blake, would you?” she asked.

Crystal chuckled. “Well, of course Blake wants to kick his ass, but I heard Reese say he wanted to fight him again too. He wasn’t happy about last time.” She hooked a glance my way. “You should be prepared for a couple of fights.” More people sat down at the bar and she scurried off to help them.

“How well do you know Reese?” I asked.