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I gave hi me with joy "He has iving it anyway I love him"

I want to spend ht But of course I didn’t say that

He gavewith his mouth full "Good That’s what I wanted to hear The boy drove me nuts for most of the trip to be honest He just wouldn’t shut up about you But he has moxie and I like that You’re both perfect for each other And if he ever wants to become my son-in-law," he trailed off and looked overmouth now" And in went another chip

I turned in od he was absolutely beautiful, knee-length cargo shorts, a wifebeater that showed off his muscles and colorful art, frounshot wound on the shoulder and his face was ashes but that only made him look more manly That man would kill for me He would die for me And he would fuck me to death if I asked hio

He stopped above us and s his face in the setting sun "I’, aer for him to join us, especially after I knew that Gus approved of him I mean, how couldn’t he? This was ato ive hiood person he was

Which is why I had to bring up a more serious topic, one we hadn’t discussed yet

"So, what’s the plan after this," I broached slowly as Caet back Ben?"

Cahtened up at thethe end of the arether, and cast a furtive glance at Gus Then he said, "I don’t know yet"

Gus tilted his head sympathetically "You’re still a wanted criminal in the USA Maybe not as wanted as you were before It’s probably all blown over But if you’re ever caught by the police for sonized by anyone, you’re in big shit If Sophia ever sees you again …"

"I’ shit," Camden filled in

"Or you’re dead" Gus rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together "So we have to do e can to avoid that You know this will be the hardest part, even harder than getting Ellie back Sophia won’t give you Ben You’ll never be able to get custody You’ll never be able to see hihts It’s either you take him from her or leave hirey," I whispered, a sinking feeling in rey These aren’t the choices you’ll want to o on your way and let Sophia have hi a few looks from the patrons around us He quickly shot the his head "No I can’t She wasn’t a very good mother before That’s when all our probles and never at home Now I know she’s involved with her brothers She’s part of that gang Fuck, she used Ben, her son, our son, to lure etto kill me, in front of him if they could It’s ht now, and what he’s doing I can’t let hirow up in that life I won’t let that happen"

"Then you’ve made your choice," Gus told him soleoodbye to him, then you must take him And ill help you You can’t do this on your own"

Ca up and down

"Baby," I said softly, and putthis alone Even if it seems impossible, even if it doesn’t feel like a choice you want to make, you have to do this if you want him back Ben deserves to be with you, Ca for his child That’s what you are You have that in you to give and Ben is a lucky boy that you’re his dad You’re giving him the future he needs"

Ca at me with damp eyes "And you’re the future I need"

I leaned over and kissed him, sweetly, slowly, then blushed once Gus cleared his throat, re toout at the ocean I wondered if Cao to Gualala, that beach town he dreamed of, his personal paradise I wondered if I was his future, if that’s where we could build a home, build a life Me, him and Ben Gus too And etting ahead ofmy focus back to the probleet hi a child," Caine how I’d live with that"

"You’re doing it for the right reasons," I said "That’s how"

His knee started bouncing again "But hoe pull it off without hurting Ben?"

That was the problem I licked the salt off"Ben knows you’re his father Right?" He nodded I went on, "He trusts you then He’s young Kids are is that were probably done to , the ways I was used for bait, to con people, to steal, and I don’t even reht," Gus said "Obviously we don’t want to er or e the boy But I think if we take hiuilt that I have no doubt you’ll feel for soe He’ll be resilient And he’ll have the life he needs"

Camden looks up, face newly determined "So when do we do this?"

Gus scratched at his mustache "We find Sophia We stake out her place We start planning our ether We can do it quickly No fuss In and out Itto roll into place"