Page 62 of Southie
I’d shown her the man outside of the job I’d done for Paddy. Hell yes, I did my job well, but that part of my life I would never subject her to.
I’d held no more hope she’d be by my side. I’d had enough. If I wasn’t good enough for her outside of being an Enforcer, I’d walk away and forget about Camilla Jennings for good. It would be hard as hell, but playing the waiting game wasn’t an option for me anymore.
The shit had nearly driven me crazy, but Paddy would be out of the picture sooner rather than later, and I’d enter a new stage in my life. A life I hoped she’d be happy to share with me.
At the time, I questioned whether I should’ve even given her a choice. She seemed so torn when I finally told her the time had come to accept me or I’d walk away. She was all I wanted, but I wouldn’t force her when she didn’t know what she wanted. I’d done the right thing telling her my feelings and getting everything out on the table. She needed to hear that her walking away from me hurt like hell and it wouldn’t be something I’d let bother me if she did it again.
As I read the message from Camilla letting me know she was ready to leave, relief washed over me. She finally wanted to sit and talk about us after waiting for so long.
It only took a minute to get to her because I was right around the corner from the gym. After a few minutes, she came walking up the sidewalk toward my truck. When she walked to the passenger side of the truck, I got out.
“Hey, baby,” I said, giving her a peck on the lips before opening the door.
She didn’t look like herself. With dull eyes and her face tinted red, she had probably dealt with a lot from her father before she left the gym. When I’d approached her in her father’s office, the consequences never crossed my mind, but I was sure he gave her an earful.
“Everything good?”
“I’ll be better once we get home,” she said, getting inside the truck.
“Home, huh?” I asked, laughing and remembering the last time she called my place home. To be honest, the place hadn’t been the same since she was last there.
A slight smile crossed her face, but she wasn’t happy. That spark that usually graced her beautiful eyes had dulled.
After shutting her door and getting in on the driver’s side, I gazed at her from head to toe, taking in her appearance. Something had happened.
On the ride home, millions of thoughts swirled through my mind. This much-needed talk would define our relationship. I hoped when she heard my plan to leave the mob, she’d be less nervous about continuing a relationship with me.
When I reached for her hand, she grimaced upon contact. Fury coursed through my body at the large bruise around her wrist.
“Camilla, what the fuck is wrong with your wrist?”
She sighed and rubbed her temples.
“You might as well tell me what the fuck happened before I turn this fucking truck around and find out for my damn self!”
“Calm down, Liam. I handled it.”
“I don’t care if you handled it. That’s not what I asked you. I want to know what happened.”
“Can we just talk about it when we get home, please?”
Reluctantly, I nodded, although I wanted to know what was going on.
By the time we made it home, anger had consumed me. Someone had put their fucking hands on her, and I wanted to know who. I didn’t care who it was, but they’d get all of me once I found out.
Once we made it inside, I tossed my phone and keys on the kitchen island and headed to the living room with Camilla in tow. I sat down on the couch and waited for her to join me so we could get everything straight between us.
“So, what happened when I left?” I asked when she entered the living room and sat down on the couch beside me. She took her shoes off, tucked her feet under her, and I pulled her closer to my body, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder when she laid her head against my chest.
“No lies, Camilla. What happened to your wrist?”
“Damian told my father we were together.”
“That motherfucka from the office?”
She nodded.
“Your father put that bruise on you?” I gritted out.
