24. Hudson
CHAPTER 24
Hudson
Ida intercepted me just as I was about to leave the dance floor. Her hand rested lightly on my arm, a mischievous smile in place. “Hudson Green, would you mind trading your much younger dance partner for one a bit more… seasoned?”
I smiled. “Wait, you’re the younger one in this scenario, right?”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, my boy.” She laughed softly as I took her hand and led her back to the middle of the floor.
The music had shifted to something slower and a little old-fashioned, which was fitting. I slid one hand lightly around my aunt’s back, and she rested her other hand on my shoulder. Her smile softened, and we swayed to the music for a few beats in comfortable silence.
But, Ida being Ida, I had a feeling there was more to this dance than just to dance. “So, what’s on your mind? You looked like you were heading somewhere important.”
“I was going to check on Sofia,” I admitted. “But I think I needed this more.”
“Oh, good answer. And don’t worry. That girl doesn’t need you checking on her every five minutes. Let her breathe.”
I grinned, shaking my head. Apparently, even the seriousness of a break-in and a creepy, anonymous letter wasn’t enough to stop Ida from joining in on the overprotective jokes.
“Fair enough,” I said. Then, I hesitated, glancing down at her. There was so much I wanted to say, and I wasn’t sure where to start. Finally, I just took the leap. “Ida, I don’t say it enough, but… thank you.”
Her brow furrowed. “For what?”
“For saving my life.”
She blinked, clearly startled. “That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
“Not even a little. You’re the reason I made it out of that mess. The way you raised me, the things you taught me—everything I am, everything I’ve done—it’s because of you.”
“Oh, Hudson,” she started.
I held up a hand. “Let me finish,” I said gently. “I don’t say it enough. And I know you don’t like to dwell on it, but I think about that night all the time. I was only eight. Christmas Eve, running through the snow, knowing I couldn’t go back to that house. I didn’t have a plan, just… I knew I had to get to you.”
Her hand tightened on my shoulder. “You didn’t say a word when you got there,” she said, her voice taking on a faraway quality. “Just stood there on the porch, shivering in that too-small jacket. I could barely get you inside fast enough.”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “I’m glad I never went back. It wasn’t like whatever I left behind was worth holding onto, anyway. You were my safe place. You always have been.”
Her eyes shone with unshed tears, but she still managed a small, wry smile. “You’re going to make me cry, and I didn’t even bring a handkerchief.”
“Sorry, but you deserve to hear it.”
“And I appreciate it, Hudson. Truly. But don’t sell yourself short. You’ve always been a good man. You just needed a chance.”
I shook my head. “Maybe. But either way, you gave me that chance.”
For a moment, we danced in silence. Then Ida spoke again, her tone lighter this time. “Well, if you’re so set on giving me credit, I’ll take it. Especially for Sofia.”
I laughed, the tension in my chest easing a bit. “You should. She’s everything I didn’t know I needed.”
“She is, isn’t she? And that house… oh, Hudson. I’m so happy for you two. It’s going to be perfect.”
“It still needs work. But, it’s easy to picture what it’ll be.”
“And when are you going to make it official?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I know your grandmother gave that ring to me instead of your mother because I was the responsible one, but you know what I think?”
“What?”
“I never married, so maybe… Well, I think it was always meant for Sofia.”
My throat closed up, and I had to look away so I didn’t lose it. Overprotective jokes were one thing, but jokes about me crying while dancing with the woman who raised me?
No, thanks.
Ida patted my shoulder. “Anyway, don’t wait too long to give her that ring. She’s a keeper.”
“I know.” My voice was low, but the conviction in it was clear, even to my ears. “Trust me. I know.”
“Also, if you really want to thank me for bringing you two together, I’ll take a couple of grandchildren.”
I barked out a laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”
“What? I’m not getting any younger. And when those kids grow up to be little geniuses or sports champions or whatever they’re destined to be, I want to be around to take the credit.”
I shook my head, a genuine smile tugging at my lips. “You’ve got it. All the credit will be yours.”
“Good,” she said, patting my arm. “Now, I believe this dance is over. Go find your girl.”
I nodded, stepping back as I scanned the room, looking for Sofia’s familiar dark hair and that long, black dress that had left me completely speechless earlier. I ventured toward the long hallway where the bathrooms were, but before I made it down the hall itself, that was when I saw him.
Dane.
He’d just walked through the front door, his winter coat still on, and he scanned the room like he was looking for someone.
My chest tightened, and I instantly did the same. I turned toward the empty bathroom hallway, then scanned the room for Sofia with narrowed eyes. I made a full circle, and then my gaze landed on Tommy and Grace. They stood by the refreshment table, and Tommy’s relaxed posture straightened the second our eyes met. He followed my line of sight back to Dane, his brows snapping together as soon as he saw him.
But Sofia hadn’t been with them.
She wasn’t anywhere in the room that I could see.
I was vaguely aware of Grace heading toward the bathroom. Good. That was good. I hadn’t seen her come out, so maybe?—
“She’s not in there,” Grace said as she reappeared, breathless and shaking. “Sofia’s… gone.”
Her words hit me like a freight train. I didn’t wait. Didn’t think. Just moved.
My body surged forward on autopilot, pure adrenaline propelling me across the room. By the time Dane realized I was coming for him, it was too late.
I grabbed him by the front of his coat and slammed him into the nearest wall. The force of the impact echoed around us, cutting through the festive hum of conversation and music. Gasps rippled through the crowd, but I barely registered them.
All I could see was Dane.
“What did you do with her?” My voice was low and lethal, barely restrained. My fingers twisted in the fabric of his coat, keeping him pinned against the wall.
Dane’s eyes went wide, his hands coming up defensively. “What? I didn’t?—”
“Don’t lie to me!” I snapped, my control slipping. “Where’s Sofia?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know where she is. That’s why I’m here—to warn you!”
“Warn me?” I slammed him back against the wall. “You’ve got two seconds to start making sense, or?—”
“Hudson, stop!” Tommy’s command cut through the red haze in my mind.
Someone yelled for us to take it outside, and a heartbeat later, Tommy and Jack were on me. They struggled to pry my hands off Dane so they could drag me toward the door, but I fought against them.
I wasn’t done.
“Outside,” Tommy hissed in my ear. “There’s kids in here, man.”
That was enough to get me to comply. I jerked out of their arms and went through the door, knowing they’d bring Dane outside for me. I didn’t want my hands on him again, anyway.
I wasn’t sure what I would do.
“I don’t know where she is,” Dane said again as the guys brought him out, his words coming fast and frantic. He stepped forward, his hands raised like he thought we might rip him apart. He wasn’t wrong. “I swear. I came here because I think she’s in danger. I’m trying to help.”
“Help? Are you serious right now?” I growled, taking a step.
I didn’t get far. Nick had joined the party outside, and he was currently using his considerable strength to keep me from pummeling Dane.
Dane’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “It’s him. It’s Rex. He’s been watching her. Us. I… I tried to stop him?—”
The unfamiliar name hit like a punch to the gut. My body went still, the fight draining out of me as something colder, sharper, settled in its place. It was the need to listen. To figure it out before it was too late.
Nick’s grip on my arm loosened slightly, his expression shifting from anger to confusion as he shared looks with Tommy and Jack.
“Who’s Rex?” I asked through clenched teeth.
Dane licked his lips, his hands still raised. “He’s… He’s bad news. Worse than I ever was. And he’s obsessed with Sofia.”
“Obsessed?” Tommy sounded dangerous now.
Good .
Jack stepped forward with his palms outstretched. “Dane, explain. Fast.”
Dane nodded, his gaze darting between the four of us as his panic clearly rose. “Rex has been obsessed with Sofia ever since I was in prison. He was my cellmate. It started with her letters. He would take them from me when I was sleeping. It was like…”
He trailed off, and my patience snapped. “Like what?”
“It was like he thought she was writing to him. When he saw her pictures, he said he was in love with her. He got it in his head that they were meant to be together.”
My mind reeled at his words, my stomach threatening to bring up everything I’d eaten that day. And then flashes of images burned behind my eyes. The dance, the smile she gave me, the way she excused herself to clean her dress. I’d let her go alone.
I let her go… alone .
The guilt hit hard, and I forced myself to focus. I couldn’t afford to lose it. Not now. Not when I had no idea what this Rex guy was capable of.
Sofia needed me.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Tommy lunged toward Dane, but Jack held him back. “Why didn’t you warn her?”
“That’s why I’m here!” he shot back.
The door to the venue creaked open, drawing our attention. Grace stepped outside with Jamie on her heels. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, her chin held high, and then Tommy was by her side in a flash.
Jamie entered the loose semi-circle that surrounded Dane, shaking out his hands like he was here for whatever went down.
“Give us the story, Dane,” Grace called out. She looked at each of us, but her eyes held mine the longest as she said, “No one is going to hurt you. Just tell us what you know so we can get her back.”
Dane looked to me to confirm that Grace’s words rang true, and I nodded once. That was all he’d get out of me by way of promises.
“I didn’t know about any of this until a couple of days ago,” he said. “I came back so I could make sure nothing happened. But he was staying out of sight. I thought maybe he wasn’t here.”
“What changed a couple of days ago?” Jack asked.
“Rex reached out to me. He wanted info about Sofia, and I wound up questioning him. It was weird that he wanted to know anything about her. That’s when it all came pouring out. How long he’d been obsessed with her, him tracking me here when I first came out.”
I watched as Dane ran his hands through his hair, and it was then that I noticed he’d shaved off his scruff. I looked at Jamie. “Is this the guy you saw yesterday? He shaved his face, so…”
Jamie nodded. “Yeah. This is him. I’m sorry, man.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t worried about that right now.
“What all did he tell you?” I asked Dane, the complete sentence taking all of my focus.
“He said he met her at The Hearthstone when she first got to town, and it was like seeing an angel,” he said, wincing when he saw me do the same. “He hated that whenever he tried to get near her after that, you were always there.”
Tommy muttered a curse, turning his back on Dane so he could pace, his fingers interlocked as they rested on top of his head.
“Keep going,” I barked.
“He trashed her room because he was mad about you. The other stuff he did—like the note on her car—wasn’t doing anything for him, and then he got the idea for the fake pen pal letter.”
Sick didn’t even begin to describe the way I felt, but I forced myself to remain upright so I could hear the rest. At some point, he’d get to something that would help me understand. Help me save her.
“After that—” he glanced at me, and his voice dropped, “—he overheard some gossip, and he made a new plan. He heard you were leaving for your new job soon and that Sofia was supposed to move in with her brother. He figured he could go back to Philly and hide out until after you were gone, and that way, she’d be on her own again.”
My stomach twisted. “So he left Snow Hill right after the fake pen pal letter?”
Dane nodded, confirming the reason for the lapse in creepy events. “He went back to Philly. He thought if he just waited long enough, he’d have a shot to talk to her alone, and then maybe… maybe she’d come around.”
“She was never going to ‘come around,’” I growled, fists clenching at my sides. “And you let him keep thinking this? You didn’t stop him?”
Dane flinched, his face pale. “I tried. I told him to let it go when he came to see me. I told him Sofia was in love with you, and there was no chance.”
“And that didn’t stop him,” Grace said softly.
He shook his head. “It set him off. He came back here furious. Again, that’s why I’m here. I followed him, hoping to stop him before he could do anything. But…”
His habit of letting his sentences drop off before he finished them was going to get him punched in the face. I waved a hand in the air, signaling for him to continue.
“When he got back here, I think that’s when he started hearing more about her plans. Your plans,” he said, looking at me. “About the house.”
My blood ran cold. “What?”
Dane nodded grimly. “It’s all over town. Small towns talk. People must’ve mentioned you two settling down, the house you bought. If Rex caught wind of it…” He trailed off, his meaning clear.
“That’s where he’d take her,” I said, the words falling from my lips like lead. My stomach churned. The thought of Sofia trapped with Rex in that empty house, scared and alone…
It was unbearable.
“I’m going to the house,” I said, already moving.
Tommy blocked my path. “You can’t.”
“Try to stop me.”
“You’re not a cop, Hudson. You can’t just go riding in there—unarmed—and without backup.”
I stepped up to him until we were nose to nose. “Then be my backup.”
“Tommy,” Grace said, rushing over to us as we stared each other down. “Just let him go. He’s gonna do it anyway, but fighting about it will only make everything take longer.”
I stared at Tommy for a beat, wondering which way he’d go. The second he nodded, I was moving around him and heading for the street. I didn’t even have a car here yet, but I could take Sofia’s. Though, the amount of time I’d waste getting her keys from the room?—
“My car’s right here,” Dane said, jingling his keys as he came up behind me.
I whirled on him, but he didn’t even give me a chance to speak before lobbing the keys in my direction. I snatched them out of the air, my fist tightening around the cold metal. I stared down at them for a beat before meeting his eyes.
He raised his hands. “Take it. It’s the least I can do.”
My first instinct was to shove them back at him and go for Tommy’s patrol car. I wanted nothing from Dane. Indirectly or not, all of this was his fault. But doing anything other than accepting his help now would only slow us down. Sofia didn’t have time to wait.
I jerked my head toward Tommy. “You coming?”
He nodded once, and then his hand snaked out, clasping the back of Grace’s neck before planting a fierce kiss on her forehead. With one last lingering look at his wife, he jogged my way, pulling out his phone as he went. “I’ll call the station.”
I turned to Jack, who was watching the whole exchange with narrowed eyes. “Don’t let him out of your sight,” I said, pointing at Dane as I rounded the vehicle.
Jack nodded, stepping up to block Dane’s path like a boulder. “Got it.”
By the time I slid into the driver’s seat, Tommy was already rattling off details to the dispatcher. I barely heard him. The thought of her alone in that house, scared and vulnerable, made my stomach churn.
And worse, the location was another gut punch. I was supposed to bring Sofia to our new house in the morning so I could show her where all of our future Christmas mornings would be. This wasn’t how she was supposed to see it for the first time.
The tires spun briefly on the icy pavement before gripping, and I slammed my foot on the gas. The SUV shot forward, the familiar streets of Snow Hill blurring past. Tommy’s voice was a low hum in the background, but I couldn’t focus on his words. All I could think about was her.
My mind was a blur of fragmented images—Sofia smiling at me during our dance, the way I’d brushed her hair behind her ear, how she’d rested her hand on my arm as we talked.
I’d promised to keep her safe. And now she was in danger because I’d let my guard down—trusted that we had time, that I could enjoy one night with her without looking over my shoulder.
The guilt sat like a stone in my chest, heavy and cold.
“She’s tough,” Tommy said suddenly, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. He must’ve noticed the way I was gripping the wheel, white-knuckled and silent. “Sofia’s tough. Always has been. She’ll hang on until we get there.”
I nodded once. I couldn’t bring myself to speak. My throat felt like it was closing up, and I wasn’t sure how much sense I’d make if I tried to form my thoughts into words.
But Tommy was right. Sofia was tough. She’d fight, hold on, do whatever it took to make it through this. And I wasn’t going to let her face it alone. Not for a second longer than she already had.
As the SUV roared down the dark road to the outskirts of town, the house loomed in my mind—a place that should’ve been our future, filled with light and laughter. Not this. Not fear. Not danger.
I gritted my teeth, pushing the SUV harder. Whatever waited for us at that house, I’d deal with it. I’d tear it apart with my bare hands if I had to. Because Sofia needed me, and nothing in this world could stop me from getting to her.