Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
HUDSON
I hadn’t spent my last night in Havenbrook how I’d wanted, namely in the bed of the woman I loved. Getting lost in her touch and her taste and her scent. Studying every inch of her as if I didn’t already have them all memorized. As if I hadn’t replayed them in my mind a thousand times over the years.
Instead, I’d spent it with my momma and sister, Caleb being the near-silent anchor to our foursome as we’d passed the night reminiscing about Jack Miller. It’d felt good talking about my dad, even if it hurt—that sting of knowing that all we had now were just memories sitting heavy in my heart.
After I’d gone to bed, when I’d fantasized about delaying my flight back to base by convincing Kenna to give us the shot I knew we deserved—the shot I knew she secretly, desperately wanted for us, too—I hadn’t once wished this would be the reason I’d stayed behind.
I’d only needed to catch a single glimpse of Kenna’s face to know something was wrong. And as soon as the words had spilled from her mouth, I’d leaped into action, following her straight to her Jeep and jumping in the passenger’s seat.
I’d called Caleb on the way and barked orders for him to get his ass to the school as soon as fucking possible. Luckily, the two of us had been on enough missions together for Caleb to recognize in my tone that shit was real. There’d been no joking. No hesitation. Just a “Yes, sir” before he’d hung up.
Caleb and I, along with dozens of well-meaning Havenbrook residents and onlookers, on- and off-duty officers as well as first responders, stood in the school parking lot, hanging on every word that came out of Kenna’s mouth as she outlined our rescue plan.
“This isn’t her first rescue,” Caleb said, his voice barely loud enough for me to hear.
It wasn’t a question but a statement, so I didn’t bother to respond, my eyes locked on Kenna. It’d been a long time since I’d seen her shine like this, but she shone like a beacon now, completely self-assured as she bossed around men twice her size and didn’t even blink while doing so. The woman who was hesitant to do town business and instead leave it to the good old boys was nowhere to be found.
I tried to ignore the way my dick twitched as I watched her command dozens of people without an ounce of self-consciousness. Now was certainly not the time to sport a raging hard-on for the woman I loved. Not when her niece was in danger. Not when Rory was near hysterics—something I’d never seen in my entire life.
Rory Haven didn’t do hysterics. She did calm, cool, and collected as she ordered people around with a heaping spoonful of sugar and a bright smile. Now, though, Nash consoled her, his sharp eyes also trained on Kenna.
“That means you, you, and you,” Kenna said, pointing to three people standing in the loose circle, “are gonna start at these coordinates.”
After rattling off the numbers, she dismissed them with a jerk of her chin, then continued down the line until everyone who’d volunteered had fled in the direction they were ordered, walkie-talkies strapped to their pants or belts or tucked away in their coat pockets. All of them on a mission to find Ella.
It wasn’t as cold today as it could’ve been—thank fuck—but I still hoped Ella was wearing a warm coat, a hat, and gloves or mittens. If she was, it’d make it harder to see the lights from her sweater that Kenna had detailed, but we’d make do. Ella wore a dark, navy-blue coat—also making it difficult to spot in the dense brush—but I was banking on her donning her bright green hat Rory had given her.
Kenna’s surprised eyes jerked to mine when I stepped up to her after everyone had fled. “Hudson! You’re not supposed to still be here. You’re gonna miss your plane.”
A plane I’d already put Caleb in charge of rescheduling.
I ran my eyes over her face, searching for any sign of stress or worry, but all I found were determination and focus. And I’d be damned if I didn’t support her in this like she deserved.
“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“But—”
“Caleb and I are gonna be helpin’ from up top.”
“You’re what?” she asked, whipping her head toward me.
“We’re takin’ a chopper up to see what we can find with eyes in the sky. With the trees losing most of their leaves, it’ll be easier to spot her.” But not easy . Something I didn’t have to tell Kenna if the look on her face was any indication.
“How the hell did you get a chopper?” she asked, her brows pinched.
That was the thing about Havenbrook—people helped each other out. Above all else, they did whatever was best for their family and friends and neighbors. Which would explain how I’d managed to commandeer a helicopter faster than I ever had in my life.
“Gleaves knows a guy.”
She breathed out a relieved laugh. “’Course he does.”
“I know you’re runnin’ this show—and doin’ a damn fine job of it—but I’ve got your back. All right?” I reached out and gripped her hand, giving it a squeeze. “We’re gonna find her.”
She rolled her lips between her teeth and nodded shakily. “Yeah. She…she knows how important it is to have on brightly colored clothes, and she’s smart enough to figure something out. She hates that damn hat, though.”
I could hear the worry in her voice, so I tried to reassure her as best I could. “But like you said, she’s smart. She’ll know what to do. She’ll do exactly what you taught her.”
“I hope so.”
“She will.” Without hesitation, I bent and pressed my lips to hers, whispering against them, “Be safe out there.”
And then I turned and walked toward Caleb and the waiting chopper, leaving Kenna to do her job while I did mine.