Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Naomi
The warmth of Hudson’s arms around me lingered long after we got up the next morning. The memory of his whispered promise— No one’s taking you away from me. Not now. Not ever —played on a loop in my mind. It was equal parts comforting and terrifying, a reminder of just how high the stakes had become.
But today felt different. For the first time, I didn’t feel like a bystander in my own life. Hudson’s devotion had sparked something in me, a determination to face the threat head-on. I wasn’t going to let fear define me anymore. I wanted to fight. I needed to fight.
Hudson wasn’t thrilled when I told him.
“You don’t need to do this,” he said, pacing the length of the living room, his brow furrowed in frustration. “You’re safe here. Let me handle the rest.”
“Hudson,” I said, standing from the couch. “I can’t just sit here waiting for the next threat to show up. I have to be part of this. It’s my life on the line, too.”
He stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes blazing. “And what happens if you get hurt? Or worse?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “You’re putting yourself at risk every time you step outside that door. Don’t you think I worry about you, too?”
His jaw tightened, and he let out a sharp breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “This isn’t the same.”
“Yes, it is,” I said firmly. “We’re in this together, Hudson. You said it yourself. So let me help.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his expression torn. Finally, he nodded, though his reluctance was clear. “Alright. But we do this my way. No exceptions.”
“Deal,” I said, relief flooding through me.
Later that day, we met with Hudson’s contact, a former member of The Fold named Marco. The meeting took place in a run-down bar on the outskirts of town, the kind of place where people went to be forgotten. The air was thick with the smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke, and the low hum of conversation created a constant background noise.
Marco was waiting for us at a corner booth, his wiry frame and sharp features giving him the look of someone who’d seen too much. His eyes flicked to me as we approached, and he raised an eyebrow.
“Didn’t expect you to bring company,” he said, his voice rough.
“She’s with me,” Hudson said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Marco shrugged and leaned back in his seat, motioning for us to sit. “Suit yourself.”
We slid into the booth, and Hudson wasted no time getting to the point. “You said you had information. Let’s hear it.”
Marco smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Always straight to business with you, huh, King? No small talk, no pleasantries?”
“I’m not here to make friends,” Hudson said coldly. “Talk.”
Marco chuckled, then leaned forward, his voice dropping. “Your guy—Naomi’s ex? He’s been getting cozy with some of the higher-ups in The Fold. Word is, he’s trying to prove himself. Wants a permanent spot in the group.”
My stomach twisted at the thought, but I kept my expression neutral.
“What’s he offering them?” Hudson asked.
“Leverage,” Marco said, his gaze flicking to me. “Her.”
Hudson’s hand clenched into a fist on the table, but he didn’t speak.
“What does he want from them in return?” I asked, my voice steadier than I expected.
“Protection,” Marco said. “Resources. Power. The usual.”
“And how do we stop him?” Hudson demanded.
Marco hesitated, then leaned back, his smirk fading. “That’s the tricky part. I can tell you where to find him, but it won’t be free.”
Hudson’s jaw tightened. “What do you want?”
Marco’s eyes glinted. “There’s a shipment coming into town next week. Weapons, drugs—you name it. It’s tied to The Fold, and I’ve got a personal interest in making sure it doesn’t make it to its destination.”
“You want us to intercept it?” Hudson asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
“I want you to destroy it,” Marco said simply. “Do that, and I’ll give you everything you need to take him down.”
Hudson stared at him, his expression hard. “You’re asking us to go to war with The Fold.”
“Not war,” Marco said, his smirk returning. “Just a little disruption.”
I looked at Hudson, my heart pounding. This wasn’t part of the plan. It was dangerous—reckless even—but it might be our best shot.
“We’ll do it,” I said before I could stop myself.
Hudson turned to me, his eyes wide. “Naomi?—”
“We’ll do it,” I repeated, meeting his gaze. “This is our chance, Hudson. We can’t pass it up.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he turned back to Marco. “We’ll need details.”
Marco nodded, then leaned forward, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
The ride back to the apartment was tense, neither of us speaking as we processed what had just happened. When we finally arrived, Hudson closed the door and turned to me, his expression hard.
“Do you have any idea what you just agreed to?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“I know exactly what I agreed to,” I said, meeting his gaze. “And I stand by it.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the length of the room. “This isn’t a game, Naomi. One wrong move, and it’s over.”
“I know,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “But I’m tired of waiting for them to come to me. I want to fight back.”
Hudson stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes blazing. “Then we do it together. No more going off on your own. No more risks. Promise me.”
“I promise,” I said quietly.
He nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. But the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t convinced. Not yet.
Later that night, as I lay awake in bed, Hudson’s words echoed in my mind. No more risks. No more going off on your own.
I wanted to believe we could do this—that we could win. But as I replayed Marco’s words, a sinking feeling settled in my chest. This wasn’t just a battle. It was a race against time.
When Hudson came to check on me, I couldn’t hide the fear in my eyes. He sat on the edge of the bed, his expression softening as he reached for my hand.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said quietly. “I promise.”
I nodded, but his promise wasn’t enough to ease the knot in my stomach. Because deep down, I knew he was right.
We were running out of time.