FOURTEEN
I ’m stressed.
There is no chance of me handling all of this on my own. I’d like nothing more than to be capable of taking on a human trafficking organization by myself, but I can’t. Something is telling me this is far different than the small flies I’m used to.
Ray will jump at the opportunity to help me but then it’s all pointless. I need resources and information that we cannot obtain—someone like Hudson. The two families have different ways of finding things out, and, if combined, this could potentially get resolved quickly and with little-to-no casualties.
But that means I have to set my pride aside and ask Hudson for help.
I’m tempted to bash in his skull and pull out his brain to check if there are any working brain cells. There is no reason for him to be stalking me to this extent. I noticed him the moment he walked in, despite remaining calm.
Lucas didn’t comment on that, but Hudson’s face is easy to spot, even when he’s wearing that god-awful beanie as a disguise.
Distrusting me is one thing; stalking my everyday movements is another. It’s pissing me off. He’s not giving me any space to breathe from him and to act the way I truly want to act. After all, I’m currently pretending to be a very virtuous and calm person who only kills people when necessary.
I’m in Hudson’s house.
To say it’s one of the biggest and most luxurious homes I’ve ever seen would be an understatement. It falls right below Ray’s manor and definitely above my penthouse. It makes my home seem like a little box.
However, the house is empty.
He doesn’t have a housekeeper, a cook, or a butler. That is odd, given that our families take pride in traditional values and back when the two households were established, there were at least ten workers inside the homes at all times.
Ray still has them on the clock every day.
I turn my attention to the sleeping Hudson. I did my best not to fuck up his entire security system and the lock on the front door. Then I remembered that he choked me, stabbed me, and sliced my cheek and all of a sudden, I no longer gave a shit.
While trying to navigate my way through this enormous house, I heard some faint noise coming from the basement. My curiosity was piqued, but I quickly shot it down. If he has someone locked up, I want no part of it.
Ignorance is bliss in this situation.
The white duvet only covers the bottom part of his body, and his chest and stomach are in my view. He changed the bandage and doesn’t seem to be in too much pain anymore, which is a relief.
Like a stalker, I’m staring at him while he’s sleeping.
His chest is moving up and down, and my eyes are drawn to his tattoos. There doesn’t seem to be a clear pattern. It looks like he picked as many designs as possible and had them permanently drawn on his body.
The only tattoo that makes sense is the serpent, as it does represent his family. I heard his father has one. It’s done elegantly, with the snake’s tail going all the way across his body and behind his back.
I blink, feeling my cheeks heating up.
Undoubtedly, Hudson is good-looking. Arranged marriages aren’t foreign in our lives, and I’m surprised that he’s not engaged and married already. He’s twenty-one, the same age our fathers were when they got married.
On the other hand, I can’t possibly imagine a woman ever having enough patience to put up with him. He’s a piece of work, and I can never understand his way of thinking. It’s like he acts first, thinks later. It’s a wonder he’s still alive.
Before I know it, I’m closer to his bed, sitting on the edge.
His dark-brown hair looks so soft. I’m pulled in, and I can’t stop the movement of my body. My hand touches his delicate locks, and I run my hand through the thickness. My heart flutters.
The air thickens around me, my lungs struggling to let it in. My lips part as I tilt my head to the side, looking at his face. It’s the first time I’m able to see him fully. His eyelashes are long, curled, and fucking thick.
He has a couple of freckles on the tip of his nose, and a small scar underneath his eye. The one I gave him decorates his face perfectly. If I had known how pretty he’d look with a facial scar, I would’ve given him one long ago.
I remember that I have a matching one, and my heart skips a beat.
My body feels hot.
Tingles spread all over me as I accidentally brush my finger against the tip of his ear. His brows crease before relaxing. At that moment, my heart stops beating. The anxiety of getting caught creates a trail of goosebumps along my arms, and I struggle to breathe.
Hudson’s eyes snap open.
“What are you doing?”
I panic and yank his hair as roughly as I possibly can, leaving a few hairs in my fisted palm. Hudson cusses under his breath, now fully awake, and stares at me in both anger and pure confusion.
I clear my throat.
“I’m waking you up.”
“Even your waking up methods are brutal,” he mumbles. His voice is low and deep, and it sends another wave of tingles down my spine. His eyes are shining, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget how a mere look can make me feel.
For that brief moment, I felt more alive than ever before.
It’s a daring gaze, masked as a provocation that promises to unravel all the darkness that I’ve been hiding. And all I want to do is let him.
“Get dressed. There are quite a few things we need to go over.”
Hudson freezes. “Did you go to the basement?”
I snort. “No. I heard some noise but what I don’t know can’t hurt me, so I won’t be asking about that.”
A sigh of relief slips past his lips.
“Give me a few,” he says and takes the duvet off his body.
“Dear God!” I yell out and immediately turn my head to the side. “Who the fuck sleeps naked?”
“I do.” I can’t see him, but I can feel his stupid grin. “This a unique opportunity for you to get a good look.”
“Not interested, thank you.”
“Aw, you learned some manners? How unexpected.”
“Get dressed, or I’ll cut your dick off.”
“Never threaten my dick, Noelle. That’s just going too far.”
I hear some shuffling in the room and try to ignore the beating in my ears. My heart rate is getting unstable, and I don’t know what to do or how to act.
“You can look now.”
Hudson appears in front of me, and I take a step back. He cages me between the wall and his arms, grinning widely. He only put on a pair of boxers, his nude body an inch away from mine.
“You look flushed, Noelle,” he mocks. “Do you have a fever?”
“Move,” I grit out.
“I don’t think you want me to move,” he whispers. “Your cheeks are red, and your eyes are glossy. You seem to find this situation quite enjoyable.”
I take a deep breath, put both of my hands on his chest, and push him off me. I ignore the burning sensation that floods my veins as our bare flesh touches and immediately put distance between us.
Hudson allows me to push him, though he continues to grin.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“A few things. Why the hell are you following me around?”
Hudson shrugs and walks out of his bedroom. Like a dog, I follow behind him, staring into his broad shoulders.
“I don’t trust you,” he says and enters the kitchen. He makes two cups of coffee and gives me one. To my surprise, it’s the exact same coffee I drink. “And quite honestly, you seem like the type to stab me in the back. I’m trying to prevent that.”
“Ouch.” I feign hurt. “There’s only so much I can let slide, little De Santis.”
He rolls his eyes. “Will you ever drop the nickname?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Well, you are little De Santis.”
He smirks. “You saw a moment ago that I’m not little. Not at all.”
I cough, nearly spitting out the drink. My glare doesn't affect him at all, and he continues to drink his coffee and scroll on his phone.
“Anyway, I’ve found out a few things.”
That grabs his attention. The phone gets put away, and his attention is on me. He switches into business mode quickly, and it’s scary just how fast his demeanor changed.
Slowly, I fill him in on everything Lucas was able to discover.
He taps his index finger on the table, eyes locked on mine. He doesn’t interrupt me and nods from time to time. This is the most serious I’ve ever seen him, and a glimmer of hope flashes behind his eyes.
Maybe I’m delusional, or maybe I’m that desperate.
I shoot down the delirious thoughts and focus on finding common ground with Hudson. I’m praying he won’t actually tell me to ask him nicely for help.
“I understand if you don’t want to involve yourself—”
“Who said I don’t?”
My left eye twitches because he interrupted me again. “Well, you never interfered before.”
“That’s because you always got to them first,” he mumbles.
“Oh, so you’ll work for me?”
He blinks. “Work for you? No, no, Your Highness. I’ll work with you.”
I give him a tight smile. “Good to know. Now, show me the bullet.”
“I don’t have it on me, but I have pictures of it.”
He unlocks his phone, scrolls a bit, and then gives it to me. Immediately, I send it to myself as evidence before giving it a good look. It looks like any bullet except it’s engraved with the same skull that was found on the victim’s necks.
“It matches,” I mumble.
“Do you suspect anyone?”
“No.” I sigh, then rub my temple with my index finger. “There are too many criminals who’d love to see me dead, you included. So I’ll go and find out everything I can about who purchased the bullets, and you try to find out where the girls were taken and if there are any auctions.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Auctions?”
“Yes. They’re probably selling them. It’s just a guess, though. If it does end up being like that, it works in our favor. It’s easier to find them like that.”
“This is dangerous,” he says, rising to his feet and approaching me. “Are you sure you can handle this?”
“Yes.” I don’t miss a beat. “I’m capable of doing at least that much. Besides, you’re helping. I’m not just using you for information. I’ll need you to go to the auction with me.”
“Absolutely not. I’ll go; you stay put.”
“Careful, little De Santis.” I wink. “One might think you actually care about my wellbeing.”
Hudson gags. “What gave you that impression? Listen, Noelle. We have a temporary truce. It means I’m putting up with you because the enemy of my enemy is my friend. That’s all. The moment that scum is wiped off the face of the Earth, I will skin you alive and dry your bones.”
“And turn them into a pretty necklace?”
Hudson is speechless. A rosy tint covers his cheeks, darkening at the tips of his ears. His eyes are wide, mouth slightly open. I managed to leave this blabbermouth without words. It’s one of my proudest moments.
“What?”
I inch closer to him, closing the distance between us. My finger is outlining the scar I gave him, and a small smile tugs on the corner of my lips. Hudson shivers under my touch. I can’t help but feel that I managed to get permanently sucked under his skin.
“Being confident is good. Being arrogant will be your doom, little De Santis. Physically, you’re stronger than me. In every other aspect, you’re lacking. If I get killed by someone like you, then my aspirations and dreams are too small. Give it your best try, but I’d never allow you to come close to my bones, let alone allow you to dry them.”
With a deep breath, I step back and leave Hudson to ponder my words. He doesn’t blink, doesn’t move, and doesn’t speak. He’s frozen in the spot and remains there until I’m gone, leaving me to wonder what the hell possessed me to act like that.
I’m in a daze.
For the first time, I deliberately closed the distance between Hudson and me. It was an impulse I couldn’t control. Every inch of my body yearned to be suffocated in his scent.
I’m praying he didn’t notice it.
“Hello? Noah? Are you listening to me?” Lucas screams in the earpiece, and I wince. I shake my head, desperately trying to shut off any thoughts about Hudson for the time being. Once I make it out of this mess alive, I’ll have more than enough time to analyze him.
“I’m here. Stop yelling,” I whisper and pull the zipper of my jacket up.
“I need you to focus,” Lucas warns. “There are four people inside. I don’t know anything else. The CCTV only shows that much. You’re on your own once you go inside. Are you okay with that?”
“Does it matter if I’m not? I need to do this regardless.”
“I still think that you should’ve had De Santis come with you.”
“I’m capable enough,” I grit out. “I don’t need Hudson.”
“If you die, don’t blame me. Blame yourself for being reckless.”
“Is the lecture over, mother? I need to go.”
“Wait.” He pauses. “I see some movement. Give it another minute.”
I’m hiding across the street from the house where the bullet maker is said to live and handle his business. The black van is conveniently parked under the only streetlight that is off, giving me a good place to observe without being seen.
My outfit matches the van’s color, too. It’s all pitch black, and I’m wearing a ski mask. For tonight, my lovely knives aren’t enough. I have six on me, but my hand is firmly wrapped around my Sig Sauer, ready to shoot.
“Two are leaving,” Lucas announces. “Whatever you do, don’t let them see the earpiece. If you get kidnapped, I can track you with that.”
I snort. “That’s the worst-case scenario. They have no need for me, right?”
“Who knows? The bullet maker might as well be the ringleader.”
“That’s highly unlikely.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “Ringleaders have a superiority complex. No way they’d be making weapons on their own. Oftentimes, they’re too arrogant, which does prove to be useful for my case.”
“Right,” he agrees. “Okay, two men just left through the backdoor. Two more are inside. It’s now or never, Noah.”
I nod. “If anything happens, let me know. I won’t be able to respond, though. If not, remain quiet. I have to focus.”
With a deep breath, I step away from the shadows, showing my presence. This part of the city is good, the criminal rate lower than expected. However, it doesn’t make it safe. I bet his neighbors have no idea what he’s doing to pass time. The house has two floors, but only the lower-level lights are turned on.
I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. I’m not someone who blindly follows danger, yet here I am, determined to do everything on my own and convince myself that I’ll never need anyone to help me with such tasks,
It’s quiet and dark. The snow is no longer falling, though I’m careful to make sure my footsteps can’t be heard over the heavy snow. The thick curtains are closed on one window, and I’m moving slowly toward the open one.
Carefully, I glance around, cautious of my surroundings. It’s quiet for the most part, aside from some hushed noises on the inside. I peek through the window, but I can’t see anyone.
It looks like a regular living room; nothing is out of the ordinary. The TV is turned off, and there are four empty glasses on the small coffee table with a half-empty bottle of whiskey.
I move and find myself standing at the front door. There is a moment of hesitation, but I brush it off quickly. This isn’t the most dangerous or the hardest task I’ve had. There’s no reason for me to be this reluctant.
My eyes close briefly as I take in a deep breath, and that’s all it takes for me to grab the doorknob with my free hand. The door is unlocked, and I push it open with ease.
I pause, waiting to see if someone heard me.
After a moment of silence, I softly close the door behind me and make sure my gun is the first thing they’d see. With slow, silent steps, I stroll forward, glancing to the right and left every few seconds.
The voices are coming from the last room down the long hall. The closer I get, the louder their voices are. They seem to be arguing about some payments, though that’s none of my business.
I lower the gun and knock on the door.
The voices suddenly stop, and I push the door open with a small smile on my face.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” I greet with a small nod.
The man on my left whips out his gun immediately, aiming it at my head. His posture and stance are terrible. The chances of him missing me, despite being within breathing distance, are higher than him actually killing me.
However, the man I came looking for is right in front of me. I know it.
He’s older, in his fifties, with a big beer belly. His expression shows no sign of shock or surprise. I’m impressed by the poker face he’s displaying. He’s holding a thick cigar between his lips, staring at me.
“This isn’t a place for a young lady like yourself.” He waves at the other man, and he lowers the gun.
I take a couple of steps forward until I reach the desk he’s sitting behind.
“That’s true, but I’m here with a purpose.”
“Which is?” He chuckles.
While holding eye contact, I grab my phone and automatically find the picture of the bullet that I sent myself from Hudson’s phone. I place it on the table and push it toward him.
He picks it up, still holding my gaze before flicking his eyes to the picture. It’s only for a split second, but his brows crease, and that’s enough for me to know.
“What about it?”
“Did you make it?”
“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Why should I tell you?”
“That bullet was found inside of the body of a very important and dangerous person. All I need is the name of the person who had these made.”
“If it was found in a body, then there’s no reason for me to tell you anything.”
I grin. “Oh, he’s very much alive. You’re lucky that I came here instead of him, though. He would’ve killed you before you even got the chance to negotiate. I’m here to offer you a deal.”
He snorts, and I know I’ve lost his attention.
“A deal? I don’t make deals, young lady. I work for money.”
In an instant, I raise the hand holding the gun and aim it at the man on my left. He’s certain I won’t shoot and raises a brow at me. He’s challenging me and despite knowing that it’s nothing more than bait, I bite and pull the trigger.
The bullet lands between his eyes and after a second, he falls to the floor with a thud.
“As I was saying.” I straighten my back and tuck the gun away. “Strike a deal with me or end up decapitated.”
“What kind of deal?”
His voice is rougher, his eyes sharper. He’s pissed off because, from what I’ve observed, he doesn’t have a weapon on him. The closest one is a rifle that’s too far for him to reach without being detected.
“Tell me who made the bullets and live. Don’t tell me, and… Well, you can figure out the rest.”
“I can’t tell you that,” he says and slowly puts out the cigar. He’s tapping his finger impatiently against the desk, contemplating his choices here. Then, he stands up and starts pacing around the room.
He’s too predictable; it's almost funny.
“Rest assured, I’ll find your buyer without your help. Though it would speed up the process if you helped.”
“I don’t know his name.”
“Really? That’s the lie you’re going with?”
He whips his head toward me and stares with something that goes beyond irritation and annoyance, but it’s not quite anger. If he is angry, then it’s at himself for being discovered.
He takes a sharp intake of breath. “You’re acting like a brat. If you kill me, he’ll just find someone else to make the bullets for him.”
“And I’ll find all of them. Someone is bound to open their mouth.”
“All I know is that his goal is the destruction of the De Santis’ and the Campbells.”
I raise my hand with a cheeky grin. “Noelle Campbell here. I’m aware, but that’s not what I’m asking you.”
He finally realizes that no matter what he tells me, he dies tonight. A part of the reason is that he dared to hurt the person I vowed to kill. It was indirectly, but he might as well have pulled the trigger himself.
He closes his eyes, and I realize that I don’t even know his name.
“Noelle Campbell,” he muses. “I’ve heard a few things about you. Your beauty is truly one of a kind.”
“Cut the crap, grandpa and either speak while I’m asking nicely, or I will kill you.”
He’s next to the rifle, and I know he intends to use it on me. His back is turned to me, and I use the opportunity to fill my hands with weapons. A knife and a gun are both in my hands, prepared.
“It’s always done by a proxy. I receive a call and a date, they pay when they pick it up. The boss has a nickname—The Silencer. He’s been around for quite some time, but he only recently showed himself.”
The Silencer? Both cliche and unheard of.
“How long has he been using your services?”
“Four years, give or take a few months.”
He reaches for the rifle, thinking I’ll be caught off guard. By the time he’s turned around and pointing his weapon at me, my finger is already on the trigger.
“Not tonight, grandpa.” I grin. “Sleep tight.”
I’m the first one to shoot, and he falls to the ground. Since it’s been some time since I last used a gun, I thought my aim would be off. However, it’s perfect. His eyes are wide as the bullet pierces between them, killing him instantly.
He falls to the ground, and I’m next to him, pushing the rifle away. Now that he’s dead, there has to be some information about The Silencer around here.
“Did you hear all of that?”
“Of course,” Lucas pops in. “I’m trying to look for The Silencer.”
“Good.”
We don’t talk for the rest of my stay. We both focus on doing our things, and, before I know it, two hours have passed in a blur. There isn’t much on the man, but there is a hint that makes me grin widely.
“Hey, Noah.” There’s a hint of reluctance is in his voice. “You know how you told me to tail Hudson?”
“Yes?”
“Well, as we speak, Hudson, Henrick, Ray, and Niko are together.”
“Motherfuckers,” I cuss. “Send me the location, and I’ll bring them a gift.”