Page 26 of Complete Me
“Just giving you a heads up. We got a problem. Our message was received loud and clear. But word is that they’re coming for you and Malice to retaliate. You’ve laid low, and they’re only gonna assume you’re on the compound with the rest of us. But since you’re not . . .”
“I need to be vigilant.”
“Correct. You could always come home.”
“Not gonna happen, Camden.”
“You belong here with us. With your brothers.”
“I’ll be there on Sunday.”
“For good?”
I hold the phone away from my face while I release a frustrated breath. It’s always like this with him. He lets me live my life separate from the club, but he never lets me forget who I am and where I belong. How long can I really keep living these two lives? One of these days, one is going to catch up with the other. When that time comes, I don’t know which I’ll choose. Can I go back to Hell’s Heathens full time? I’ll never be completely free of them, and I don’t want to be.
As much as time is supposed to heal all wounds, I won’t ever heal from this one. Losing Lena because of my connections to that world will live with me forever. I’m destined to wade through the darkness for the rest of my days on Earth. The weight of it feels too fucking heavy sometimes.
“You still there?”
I bring the phone back to my ear, ready to get this conversation over with.
“Yeah, just thinking.”
“We’ll see you this weekend. And Reid?”
“Yeah?”
“Watch your back. I mean it. They’re out for blood.”
“Got it.”
I hang up with Chaos, irritation taking over my headspace. I know he worries about me living out here by myself. I knew I needed to be driving distance from the clubhouse, and I got lucky with Aspen Ridge being as close as it is, even if an hour is still far for what Camden wants. I’ve been so preoccupied, I haven’t given much thought to the fact that the Iron Wolves have regrouped after all these years. Being this close to the anniversary of Lena and Lucas’s murders, something just doesn’t feel right about it. Call it a sixth sense, but there has to be more here than what we’re thinking. Chaos either isn’t telling meeverything, or we’re missing a detail. It seems a bit too coincidental.
I stuff my phone in my pocket along with my other one, deciding it’s probably best to keep my burner phone with me, in case shit goes south. As I’m closing up my office, my eyes flicker to the copy ofHaunted Lovesitting on my desk. Curious, I open it up, Kinsey’s hair tie slipping from the pages and onto my lap. She was so damn cute when she gave me her little evil eye for breaking the spine, the way she couldn’t fight her need to correct it and treat the book with respect.
The fabric is soft between my fingers, and I can’t help lifting it to my nose and inhaling the lingering smell of her floral shampoo. The scent lightens the heaviness in my chest for a fleeting moment. She’s so fuckinggood.
I relax into my chair for a moment before I have to head home for the night. I hate that Chaos interrupted, but he only calls if it’s important, and there’s no way I was going to turn my back on him. I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet. I had more fun tonight sitting in my office with Kinsey eating pizza and talking than I have in a long-ass time.
A part of me loves that she caught me reading. I’m not embarrassed by it. My sister used to read romance novels, and shortly after she was killed, I wanted a way to escape other than my bike and alcohol, and I found that I could do that with reading. Knowing that Kinsey reads, too? I toy with the idea for a few minutes before I act on it, knowing what I really want to do and not wanting to fight it. I can already picture the look on her face when she sees it.
Moving over to my desk, I open my drawer and pull out a copy of my favorite book. Grabbing some sketch paper, I quickly leave a note for her and stick it between the front pages with the top sticking out so she sees it. Before leaving Rogue for the night, I quietly tiptoe up the stairs to Kinsey’s apartmentand leave the book leaning against the doorframe. But before I can turn to leave, I pause, resting my hand flat against the door.
I’m falling for this girl. She’s right on the other side of the door, alone, probably lying in bed, and hell if I don’t want to knock right now and ask to come in for more time with her. I can’t have her, but there’s nothing wrong with being her friend. I can be that. It seems like we both need it.
After a restless night of sleep, I start the day with only one damn thing on my mind.
Tattooing Kinsey.
I fought with myself on what the right thing to do was, but I just kept coming back to how badlyIwant to be the one to tattoo her virgin skin. Hell, I want all her firsts.
She’s made up her mind that she wants a tattoo, and it’s only a matter of time before she finds someone else to do it. The thought alone makes me want to rage, pound my chest like a barbarian, and scream “mine,” for all to hear. There’s no fucking way.
Mind made up, I slip out of bed naked, reaching for a pair of jeans and pulling them on. Kinsey’s hair tie taunts me from its new home on my dresser as I throw on a fitted T-shirt, socks, and my boots. After combing my hair and pulling half of it into a bun, I’m out the door with only one thing on my mind.
Kinsey Hayes.
After I send a text to reschedule the only client I had for today, I make the quick walk up the stairs to Kinsey’s apartment. I’venever been up here with her before, and the same rush of excitement I get every time I see her courses through me. I knock twice and wait nervously.
