Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Hudson
The room was a chaotic mess—scattered papers, overturned chairs, and Jared’s presence making the air heavy with tension. Naomi stood just a few feet away, his arm locked around her waist, the barrel of his gun pressing against her temple. My heart pounded in my chest as I calculated every possible move, every potential outcome.
“Let her go, Jared,” I said, my voice calm, steady, a sharp contrast to the storm inside me. My knife was hidden in my hand, ready, but I didn’t make any sudden moves. One wrong twitch, and he’d pull the trigger.
Jared’s laugh was sharp, mocking. “You think you’re in control here, Hudson? Look around. You’re not calling the shots—I am.”
“You’ve got this all wrong,” I said, my eyes locked on his. “You think this is control? It’s desperation. Let her go, and we’ll talk.”
He pulled Naomi closer, his fingers digging into her arm. She winced but didn’t cry out. Her eyes met mine, steady and clear, as if she was willing me to hold on. I couldn’t let her down.
“This isn’t about talking,” Jared spat, his voice rising. “This is about what’s mine. And she was mine.”
“She was never yours,” I said sharply. “Naomi isn’t a possession, Jared. She’s her own person, and she left you because you couldn’t see that.”
His face twisted with rage, his lips curling into a snarl. “She left because of you. You poisoned her. You made her think she was too good for me.”
“She is too good for you,” I shot back, my voice cold. “And she’s with me now because she chose to be.”
Jared’s laugh was bitter, his hand trembling slightly as he adjusted his grip on the gun. “You think this is love, Hudson? You think she’s going to stay with you? You’re nothing but a stepping stone.”
“You’re wrong,” Naomi said, her voice strong and clear despite the gun against her head. “Hudson’s everything you could never be. And I’m not scared of you anymore.”
Her words hit Jared like a physical blow. He flinched, his face contorting with anger as he yanked her closer. “Shut up,” he hissed, his voice venomous.
“Don’t listen to him, Naomi,” I said, my voice steady despite the tension coiling in my chest. “You’ve already beaten him. That’s why he’s doing this—because he knows he’s lost.”
Jared’s laugh was unhinged, his eyes narrowing as he glared at me. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about winning or losing. This is about making you suffer.”
I tightened my grip on the knife hidden behind my leg, my mind racing. He was unstable, unpredictable, and that made him even more dangerous. I needed to distract him, to get him off balance long enough to act.
“You’re not going to win this, Jared,” I said, my voice firm. “You’re outnumbered, outmatched, and out of time. Walk away while you still can.”
His eyes flicked to mine, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of doubt. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by a cold, calculating look.
“You think I’m afraid of you?” he sneered. “I’ve been waiting for this moment, Hudson. Waiting to take back what’s mine.”
“She’s not yours,” I said, my voice sharp. “She never was.”
The tension in the room was suffocating, every second stretching into an eternity. Jared’s grip on Naomi shifted slightly, and I saw my opening. It was small, fleeting, but it was all I needed.
I moved.
The knife arced through the air, catching Jared’s arm as I lunged forward. He let out a sharp cry, his grip loosening just enough for Naomi to twist free. She stumbled back, and I stepped between them, my body blocking her from his line of sight.
Blood dripped from Jared’s arm, staining his sleeve, but his expression was one of rage, not pain. He lunged at me, his movements wild and desperate, and I caught him with a solid punch to the jaw. He staggered back, his hand fumbling for the gun he’d dropped in the chaos.
“You think this changes anything?” he snarled, his voice shaking with fury. “You think this is over?”
“It’s over if you make it over,” I said, my voice low. “Walk away, Jared. Don’t make me finish this.”
He laughed, the sound cold and bitter. “You don’t have the guts.”
I tightened my grip on the knife, my jaw clenched. “Try me.”
Jared’s hand darted toward the gun, and I moved instinctively, kicking it out of his reach. He let out a growl of frustration, swinging wildly at me, but his movements were sloppy, fueled by anger rather than strategy. I sidestepped easily, driving my shoulder into his chest and sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Stay down,” I said, my voice cold and commanding.
But Jared didn’t stay down. He scrambled to his feet, blood dripping from his arm as he glared at me with unbridled hatred. “This isn’t over,” he spat, his voice shaking. “You’ll never be rid of me.”
I stepped closer, my knife still at the ready. “Walk away, Jared. This is your last chance.”
He hesitated, his eyes flicking between me and the door. For a moment, I thought he might listen. But then he smirked, his lips curling into something twisted and cruel.
“You think you’ve won?” he said, his voice low. “You haven’t won anything.”
And with that, he turned and bolted, disappearing into the shadows before I could stop him.
The room fell silent, save for the sound of my ragged breathing. I turned to Naomi, my chest tight with worry. She was standing near the wall, her arms wrapped around herself, her face pale but determined.
“Naomi,” I said, my voice soft.
“I’m okay,” she said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m fine.”
I crossed the room in two steps, pulling her into my arms. She held onto me tightly, her body shaking against mine as the adrenaline began to fade.
“He’s gone,” I said, my voice steady. “It’s over. For now.”
She pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting mine. “But it’s not really over, is it?”
I shook my head, my jaw tightening. “No. Not yet.”
Her gaze hardened, and I saw the same fire in her eyes that had kept her fighting all this time. “Then we finish it. For good.”
I nodded, my resolve solidifying. Jared wasn’t done, but neither were we. Next time, there wouldn’t be an escape.