Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(44)

I kissed her hand and held it to my cheek. “Promise me you won’t ever do anything this reckless ever again?”

She shook her head lazily, her eyes growing teary. I could tell the pain meds were taking their toll. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I would do it again in a heartbeat if I knew it would save your life.” She broke down in tears and the pain in my chest ripped me in two. No one had ever loved me like her and I came so close to losing it.

Closing my eyes, they burned like fire. It was a feeling I hadn’t felt since my father died. I had trained my body not to feel, but it all came crashing down. “I love you, Brooklyn. So help me God, I love you so much it f*cking hurts.”

More tears fell down her cheeks, and she smiled. “So all it took was getting shot?”

“I wanted to tell you sooner, but I didn’t know how.”

“You don’t have to explain,” she murmured. “I felt it even though you hadn’t exactly said it.”

“I’m just glad I got a chance to tell you. I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if I lost you. When I find out who did this I’m going to break every bone in their goddamn body and enjoy hearing them scream.”

“Not if I get to them first,” she teased.

Setting her hand down, I released a heavy sigh. “That’s not going to happen, buttercup.”

Her body tensed and she gripped the bedding. “Camden, please don’t do anything stupid. I know you’re angry, but you can’t blame yourself. It was my choice.”

I brushed my thumb across her lips and leaned over to kiss her. “I know, and I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me.” When I pulled back, her eyes grew heavier. “But I have choices too,” I murmured softly.

“You promise you’ll be here when I wake up?”

“I’ll always be with you. Now go to sleep.” I kissed her again and watched her drift off. The longer I sat there, the more I didn’t want to leave. Gathering my strength, I backed away to the door where Mason waited for me.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

I looked at Brooklyn one last time and nodded. “It’s better this way.”

Mason clapped me on the shoulder and we started down the hall. “While you were with B, I went and got your things. You’re all ready to go.”

When we got to his car, he handed me my bags. Once I left, I couldn’t turn back. “Let’s just hope she forgives me for this. You know where I’ll be.”

We shook hands and he nodded. “Stay safe, Jameson.”





Two Days Later




I COULD HEAR voices all around me, murmuring. I wanted to wake up so I could see him, but every time I tried, the darkness would take me. It was as if I was in my body, but not making the calls. Pain medications sucked. I would rather be awake and in pain instead of asleep and lost.

“B,” a voice called out. The hand that grabbed mine didn’t feel like Camden’s and the voice wasn’t like his at all. Besides, he never called me B. Where was he? For two days now, every time I awoke, I was told he would be right back. But he never showed. It was always one excuse after another. “B, open your eyes. I know you’re awake.”

“Ah, she’s just being stubborn. Maybe we should just leave her here.” I recognized that voice. It was Jason.

I slowly opened my eyes to find Gabe, Mason, and my brother standing around the bed. “What’s up, guys?”

Gabe let go of my hand and cleared his throat. “We’re just waiting on word from the doctor. They’re letting you go home today.”

“Thank God,” I cried. “I can’t stand being pumped with pain meds anymore.” The room fell silent and they all shared the same distraught look on their faces. It felt like I had a brick in my throat. “What’s going on? Why do you all look like that?”

Jason drew my attention to his side and sat down. “Why don’t we get you home and we can talk about it there. You just woke up.”

Gabe averted his gaze while Mason paid attention to the floor. What the f*ck was going on? “I think you should tell me now,” I said, glaring at each one of them.

Gabe was the one who reluctantly spoke up first. “Blake is in custody.”

“In custody? For what?”

Jason squeezed my hand. “For attempted murder.”

“What?” I gasped. My heart stopped and the bile rose up my throat, burning like acid. “Where’s Camden?” I demanded. “And don’t give me some bullshit excuse that he’ll be right back. I haven’t seen him in days.”

“He’s fine,” Mason spoke up. “We can get to that later. Right now, Blake is under investigation. He denies everything, but the rifle used to shoot you was in the trunk of his car, along with a pair of muddy boots. They matched the footprints in the woods.”

Tears sprung to my eyes. “You can’t be serious. Blake would never hurt me.”

Gabe squeezed my hand. “We’re pretty sure he was trying to get Camden, not you. But it’s still all the same. If convicted, he’ll be charged with attempted murder. We’ve all seen how volatile he’s been with Jameson. It doesn’t help his case.”

I knew Blake didn’t like Camden, but I couldn’t see him being the one working with Scar. Or was the past we shared together clouding my judgment?