“What? Don’t you think it’s fucked up that he shows up after ten years and acts like he’s God’s gift? Telling Xander what to do with Art, when he’s been the one taking care of him all these years. It’s bullshit.”

The water bottle crinkled in my grip.

“Sit your drunk ass down or take it home, Oscar,” Gideon warned, and the water bottle bounced back to its original shape. “Cam, you good?”

“I’m good.” I put the waters under my arm and tucked my wallet away, more than ready to get out of there.

“You’re just defending him because he’s your best friend,” Oscar argued.

I pivoted toward the door, catching Gid’s nod in the same direction. I couldn’t have agreed more.

“He doesn’t need defending. You need to stop acting like an asshole.”

“I’m leaving,” I told Gid as the door opened again. Perfect timing to get the hell out.

“Hey, Cam? Tell me, when you’re screwing Willow, does she say your name? Or does she close her eyes and call out for Sullivan?”

The water hit the floor as Gideon shouted my name.

“Is Xander next—?” Oscar’s grin disappeared behind my fist before he could finish.

He went down, and I followed, my fist connecting with his face again. Then again.

“Cam! No!”

Her voice broke through when everyone else had faded into a blur. I halted my fist halfway to Oscar’s bloodied face.

“Damn it, Cam,” Gideon swore as he hauled me off Oscar, because I let him.

My chest heaved as I surveyed the damage. One beaten and sputtering Oscar. At least six wide-eyed locals gawking at me in fear like the monster I was. The monster I’d nurtured and honed over the last ten years to ensure my survival.

“You good?” Gideon asked me quietly, but his grip had already gone slack. We both knew there was jack shit he could do if I decided to go at Oscar again.

I nodded, then curved the brim of my ball cap.

“Dude, he beat your ass and didn’t even lose his hat.”

I ignored the comment and turned toward the door, where Willow stood, her eyes sad with shit I didn’t even want to think about.

“Did you see that, Hall? You’d better arrest him for assault!” Oscar slurred.

Gideon’s jaw locked, and he looked at me with barely veiled anger. “See what, Oscar? You making an ass out of yourself and taunting this town’s only war hero at the expense of Judge Bradley’s own daughter?”

I picked up the water and moved toward the door.

“Cam,” Willow whispered, reaching for my hand.