I put up my hand, showing her the blood that filled the cracks of my knuckles. “This is all I have to give you, Willow. Hands that were made to rip the world apart and come stained with more blood than you’ll ever know, because I’ll never tell you the full extent of what I’ve done in the years I was gone.” That was a burden I’d never make her bear.

“Those same hands hold me. They build bridges and dams and restore old, broken mines. I’m not scared of your hands, Cam. I know what’s in your heart.”

But she didn’t. Because I hadn’t told her, hadn’t shown her the violence I was capable of, and I never would. That little show with Oscar? It was nothing. And what he’d said about her? That was only the beginning if she stayed with me.

It was the last gift I could give her—my silence and the freedom to walk away. “You know what I’ve allowed you to see. The guy you’ve been with for the last six weeks—”

“I know who you are! Don’t you dare insult me like that.” She marched right up to me and stared me down from nearly a foot below me.

“For once in your life, Pika, err on the side of self-preservation. Stop standing in front of loaded guns.” I held the water out to her, and she took it, still glowering at me. “I don’t want to scare Rose with the blood. Please take this to my father.”

“Camden,” she begged, but I had absolutely nothing left to give her.

I yanked my keys out of my pocket and put them on top of the water so she wouldn’t be stranded.

Then I walked right by her and didn’t stop.

She didn’t call after me.

Maybe she was finally learning.

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Willow

I handed the water to May and then took the empty chair at the table where Art sat, teaching Rose about the mine.

Numb. I felt…numb. Which was better than the gut-wrenching pain I’d felt watching Cam rip himself apart for something anyone in his position would have done.

I doubted my own father would have stood there and listened to someone say anything like that about my mother. Maybe he wouldn’t have been as lethally accurate, but he also hadn’t been trained Special Forces.

“Mr. Daniels, it’s time to take some medication,” May cajoled.

“No.”

She sighed. “He’s having an off day,” she explained with a flat smile.

Xander looked back, and his eyes softened in concern. “You all right, Willow?”

I shook my head slowly.

His mouth tightened. “Camden?”

I didn’t have to confirm what we both already knew.