Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Hudson
The apartment was quiet except for the soft creak of the floorboards as I paced back and forth. Naomi was in the shower, the sound of running water muffled through the walls. I’d brought her back here after that stunt at the diner, my jaw clenched so tight I thought I’d crack a tooth.
What the hell had she been thinking?
I couldn’t stop replaying it in my head—her sitting across from that bastard like she had any chance of getting real answers from him. The way her voice had trembled when she demanded to know the truth, the fire in her eyes when she faced him down. She didn’t see it, but I did. She was braver than she gave herself credit for. And that scared the hell out of me.
Because brave didn’t always mean smart. And brave didn’t keep you alive.
I sank onto the couch, leaning forward and bracing my elbows on my knees. My hands clasped together, knuckles white as I tried to work through the storm in my head. Naomi didn’t understand what she meant to me—what she’d always meant. And maybe that was my fault. I’d kept her at arm’s length for years, convincing myself it was the right thing to do. But now? Now she was right here, in my space, and I couldn’t stop myself from wanting her closer.
I let out a low growl, running a hand through my hair. She had this way of getting under my skin, making me question everything I thought I knew about myself. She made me want to be better—stronger. For her.
The sound of the bathroom door opening pulled me from my thoughts. Naomi stepped out, wrapped in a towel, her damp hair curling around her shoulders. She hesitated when she saw me, her cheeks flushing as she clutched the towel tighter.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, ducking into the bedroom. “I didn’t know you were out here.”
I stared at the closed door for a long moment, my chest tight. The urge to follow her, to say something, was almost overwhelming. But what could I say? That she drove me insane in the best and worst ways? That I couldn’t stop thinking about her? That every time she put herself in danger, it felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to my ribs?
I stood abruptly, pacing the length of the room again. The knot in my stomach twisted tighter as I tried to wrestle my thoughts into submission. But they kept coming back to her—her smile, her fire, her goddamn determination to prove she didn’t need anyone.
She came out of the bedroom a little while later, dressed in one of my oversized hoodies and a pair of leggings. The sight of her in my clothes did something to me I wasn’t prepared for, and I had to look away to keep my thoughts in check.
“Hey,” she said softly, sitting down on the couch. “Are you... okay?”
I barked a laugh, shaking my head. “That’s what I should be asking you.”
She looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the hem of the hoodie. “I’m sorry.”
The words were so quiet I almost didn’t catch them. I stopped pacing and turned to face her, surprised to see the vulnerability in her eyes.
“For what?” I asked, my voice softer now.
“For being reckless,” she said. “For not listening to you. For... making things harder than they need to be.”
I sat down beside her, leaning back against the cushions. “You don’t need to apologize.”
She glanced at me, her brow furrowed. “But I should. You’ve done so much to keep me safe, and I keep?—”
“Stop,” I said, cutting her off gently. “Naomi, you don’t owe me anything. I’m here because I want to be. Because I need to be.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but I held up a hand.
“You’re not a burden,” I said firmly. “And you’re not some problem I need to fix. You’re... you’re important to me. More than I can explain.”
Her eyes widened, and she stared at me like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Hudson, I?—”
The sharp knock at the door cut her off, and we both froze.
I stood quickly, gesturing for her to stay put. My hand went to the bat I’d left by the couch, and I approached the door cautiously. When I opened it, the hallway was empty. But lying on the floor was an envelope.
I picked it up, my stomach sinking as I opened it and pulled out a single piece of paper. The message was typed, the words chillingly simple:
“You can’t keep her safe forever.”
I clenched the paper in my fist, my jaw tightening as anger surged through me. This wasn’t a random threat. It was personal.
“What is it?” Naomi asked, her voice trembling.
I turned to her, my face hard. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she stood, crossing the room to me. “Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out.”
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. She deserved the truth, but how could I tell her without scaring her even more?
Finally, I handed her the paper, watching as her eyes scanned the words. Her face paled, and she looked up at me, her fear raw and unguarded.
“What do we do now?” she asked.
I met her gaze, my chest tightening. “We fight back.”