Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Hudson
I had moved to Cage Lake to escape and to get out from underneath the eyes of my family.
I had thought living in the mountains would mean I would be able to avoid many of the commitments that came with being around people.
It wasn’t that I hated people, it was more that I didn’t like them all the time.
They could be greedy, loud, rude, and intrusive.
They could break you, take everything that you thought you could want, and shatter the lives of those you care about.
I did better on my own and liked being on my own.
Then I realized that moving to a small mountain town wasn’t exactly like I thought it would be. Because living in Cage Lake didn’t mean I could escape my problems or avoid the rest of the world—it somehow made it worse.
“Why the hell did you drag me down here again?” I rumbled, my voice as low as possible. But with how deep it was, it still carried. Hence the glare on a couple of faces.
I watched Isabella’s grin twitch ever so slightly and resented it. “I asked if you would like to join us. You’re the one who decided to follow through and join.”
I looked over at Weston, who just shrugged. “Hey. I’m only here because I fell in love with her. I didn’t have a choice.”
My friend grunted and rubbed his stomach from where Isabella’s elbow had just gone. My sister merely raised a brow at his look. “Really? You’re going to make that type of comment? You’re the one who’s from Cage Lake. Not to mention you’re the one who told us that there was an event today.”
Weston sighed. “It’s St. Patrick’s Day. And we’re Cage Lake. I assumed you knew there would be some form of ridiculous parade and event, with pies and whatever else they find. It’s what we do. We just didn’t help organize it this time because we were down in Denver, so I didn’t think about it.”
“I mean really, how dare you,” I said, my own lips twitching.
“Seriously, you should know by now that it’s Cage Lake, and we really do just go overboard,” my friend finally said, no longer hiding behind his smile.
I ignored both Weston and my sister. “This still doesn’t help me realize exactly why I’m here.”
I had been safe and happy in my own house, without having to deal with people, or this event, and yet here I was. With no escape because a few people had already seen me. Now running away was no longer an option.
“You’re so cute when you’re grumpy.”
I flipped off Weston and ignored the glare on one of the passersby’s face. I didn’t know what the lady was expecting. I was Hudson Cage, the town recluse and asshole. They should be used to my inability to act like a citizen of a polite society by now.
“If you really want to leave, we can make excuses for you,” Isabella whispered, worry in her tone.
I let out a sigh, my shoulders dropping.
And that right there was why I couldn’t leave.
Because of course Isabella would be kind to me in the end.
Sure, she had just as much of an attitude and ability to put all of our siblings in place as Aston could—it had to be an older sibling thing—but, just like Aston, she actually cared about us too.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll stay.”
“Because if you stay now, then you don’t have to do the next couple of holiday things? I see how it is.” Weston smirked, and this time avoided Isabella’s elbow.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, tilted her head back, and took her lips in a kiss that was mildly inappropriate for the public area, however, people just clapped and looked ecstatic that the town mechanic and one of the new Cages were happy and in love.
I rolled my eyes and watched as yet another parade float with green shamrocks and fake gold coins slowly meandered past.
“It’s still been snowing,” I said after a moment. “We have a fresh powder on the mountain, and I know that the resort has been busy as hell, and yet we’re out here in the cold, dealing with this. Why?” I asked.
Isabella gave me a look. “Because that’s when St. Patrick’s Day occurs during the year. I mean, it always happens on March 17th, so it’s not that big of a surprise. And you sure know a lot about the resort.”
This time I full-on glared at her, and she held up her hands, conceding. At least I hoped she was conceding. “Touchy subject.”
“I know about the business, thank you.” Because that was a decent excuse, right?
My sister slid her fingers through Weston’s as she spoke. “Okay. Though I know you haven’t been around lately. And Weston and I are heading back down to Denver soon. You think you can handle the resort? Or shall we send Flynn up?”
I tried to hear any worry or pity in her tone, maybe even a little disappointment, but there was nothing beyond a question.
She was honestly asking and would move her plans or force my twin to town so I wouldn’t have to deal with the resort.
I was still getting to know my new siblings, figuring out their tics, and Isabella surprised me daily.
“No, I’ll handle it.”
The smile on her face brightened, and she squeezed my shoulder through my light jacket and Henley. It might be winter, but I was used to the cold.
“Good. I mean, Scarlett has everything down by now. She really doesn’t need our oversight. It’s more of us being there to make sure she knows she doesn’t have to do everything alone. You know?”
I mumbled, once again not wanting to think about Isabella. Because if I thought about Isabella, I thought about Ronin. And I thought about those bruises. And the fact that I hadn’t been able to do a single fucking thing about them.
“Hudson? Are you okay?”
I grunted and pushed thoughts of Scarlett from my head, or at least I tried to. Because of course there she was, the sun bouncing off her hair like it always did so she stood out like a beacon.
“I got it, don’t worry,” I finally answered, not knowing if it was an actual answer to what Isabella had asked.
After all no one was paying attention at this point.
Isabella didn’t say a damn thing, but then her attention moved to Scarlett, and she let out an odd noise that I couldn’t decipher. It couldn’t be good for me either way.
“Scarlett! Over here,” Isabella called out.
I wanted to curse. Why the hell would she ask Scarlett to be here?
Why couldn’t she just leave well enough alone.
And why was my sister doing this to me? Of course, that was just selfish thinking.
After all, the two were friends. That had nothing to do with me.
For once I just wanted to be self-centered enough to think it like that.
“Hello Weston and Cages. I didn’t realize you would be here.
” Scarlett reached out and hugged Isabella tightly, then did the same to Weston.
When she made it to me, she just raised her brow, but her cheeks flushed.
At least we could both be awkward in this.
Isabella didn’t miss the interaction, but it wasn’t what my sister probably thought it was about.
No, there was nothing going on between the two of us.
Instead there were only memories that we both wanted to forget.
“Hudson.”
I lifted my chin. “Scarlett. Surprised to see you here. You’re usually chained to a desk at work.”
Her gaze narrowed, and I was only marginally annoyed at myself for even saying something like that. I was an asshole, but I didn’t need to be constantly rude.
“My bosses sometimes give me the day off.” She turned away from me, giving me her back as she spoke to Isabella. “I figured it’s time that I tried to get more involved in the town, rather than working nearby with mostly tourists. Perhaps I should take a break and not work too hard.”
“You know, I don’t quite believe you,” Isabella said with a laugh.
“Oh?” Scarlett said, eyes wide.
“I mean about the whole not-working-too-hard thing. Scarlett, you work far too many hours, even though we yell at you constantly to take a break.”
The pretty flush on Scarlett’s cheeks deepened, and I held back a groan, hating the fact that I was even thinking about her skin. What the hell was wrong with me? Oh yeah, she was what was wrong with me.
Another parade float passed by, but this time, when they began tossing chocolate coins, everyone around us began to move closer, laughing and reaching for the chocolate.
I cursed, not wanting to move as they shoved by, but as a super-sized chocolate coin the size of my fist flew in an arc in the air, I moved without letting myself think about it.
Two steps forward, and then my hand was over Scarlett’s head, catching the damn coin before it smashed into the side of her face.
Somebody cheered, ignoring us, as I looked down at Scarlett who was now so close to me I could feel the heat of her against my chest.
Eyes wide, she blinked. “Thank you. Though I could have caught it myself.”
I clenched my jaw and dropped the chocolate into her open palm. “Sure, Scar. Unless you mean catching it with your face.
“I was moving. But thank you.”
“Not fast enough,” I grumbled.
The cannon on the side of the float sputtered, sending a large burst of sound directly towards us.
Without thinking, I threw my arms over Scarlett, pulling her close, as sweat slicked my brow and my entire body threatened to shake.
Nobody seemed to pay us much attention, but I tried to catch my breath, my chest seizing.
Then I realized what I was doing and quickly dropped my arms, embarrassment crawling up my skin.
“Hudson?” Isabella asked, worry etched on her face.
I held up both hands and shook my head. “Fine. Just startled me.” An understatement. I tried to turn on my heel and walk away, but then Scarlett’s hand was on my shoulder, and I froze.
“Hudson?” she asked, the thousand questions I knew she had buried deep within that one word.
“It’s nothing,” I lied.
I pulled away from her, bumping into a few others as I moved back to the main street.
I’d done my duty, shown up as a Cage in a town that our family owned.
I nodded at a few townspeople, knowing they would probably gossip about me later.
Just another soldier coming home from deployment, jumping at loud noises. A shocking development.
I sighed and turned down an alley so I could take a deep breath.
I wasn’t like most of the people who had come home. I could sleep during a thunderstorm, and fireworks didn’t bother me. But every so often, a single loud noise would take me right back to a time I didn’t want to remember.
But it wasn’t what came at me. It wasn’t the memory of the burning metal tearing its way through my skin, leaving puckered scars. No, it was those left behind. Every loud sound that slammed into me was a lashing at my brain of those who didn’t come home.
And the person I couldn’t save.
I ran my hands over my face and knew I needed to get back to my truck. Maybe I did need that dog. Somebody that would be at home waiting for me. Or hanging out with me at something like this. Maybe then Isabella and the rest would get off my back.
I let out a breath and turned, only to run smack into Scarlett. I reached out, grabbing her shoulders to keep her balanced.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped, embarrassed that she had seen me trying to catch my breath.
Her eyes widened. “I was just checking on you. No need to yell at me.”
“I’m not yelling,” I yelled.
“It sure sounds like it. But if you’re just going to shout, I’ll go.”
“I didn’t need you here to begin with, Scarlett. That’s what we do, right?”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
I didn’t know what the hell I meant by that. Because if I went down this path, we would talk about the one thing that we didn’t ever talk about. “It’s nothing.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re not still mad that I wouldn’t let you help me, right? Because I didn’t need help.”
“Just like I don’t need help. Now, if you’re done, I’m heading home. I did the small-town thing. I’m out.”
“Then go. Isabella’s already here, and your family takes turns doing the Cage thing and showing the rest of the town that you’re nothing like your father. There’s no reason for you to be here.”
“What the hell would you know about it? Is that what you think? That we’re trying to right wrongs?
Everyone knows that we’re not our dad. He was a philandering asshole who didn’t like his kids.
Which is funny because he had so many of them.
He didn’t like this town. Didn’t like anything.
He only liked gaining power. So I don’t think this entire town thinks we’re anything like him. ”
I couldn’t believe I had said those words. Or even spoken at all. What was it about this woman? And why did she have to ruin everything?
“We don’t think that any of you are like your father. Even Aston turned out to be a nice guy.”
I snorted. “I love the qualifications on that. Though marrying Blakely did seem to make him a little nicer.” My lips twitched.
“That is true. I like Blakely.” She let out a breath. “I’m sorry, Hudson. For intruding.”
My shoulders stiffened again. “There’s no need for an apology. I’m heading home.”
“Because you did your duty.”
I nodded, feeling the disappointment dripping from her tone. “Because I did my duty.” I moved past her, out into the crowd and towards my truck.
I could feel her gaze on me, but I ignored it.
We didn’t need each other. And we sure as hell didn’t need to help each other. Life would be better off if I just stayed out of the main part of Cage Lake.
And away from Scarlett Blair.