Chapter 14 #3
My office was situated at the end of the hallway, and unless someone was in their office, they weren’t going to be able to hear me. So I screamed and ran smack into a wall of muscle. Shaking, scared that my father was behind me and was going to hurt this person too, I looked up to see Hudson.
He gave me one look, lifted me by my elbows, and set me to the side, before stomping towards my father.
My dad let out one high-pitched scream, before he thudded to the ground, and Hudson hit him once, twice, and kicked him in the side for good measure.
Before I could say anything, Sophia and Isabella were there, Isabella on the phone, while Sophia pressed her palm to my side.
I tried to figure out what the hell had just happened, but then I realized I was having a panic attack, my breath coming in so quickly I couldn’t catch up.
“Scarlett,” a deep voice said from beside me, I turned to see Hudson, the glare on his face frightening, and yet I knew it had nothing to do with me.
“Breathe.”
I opened my mouth to do so, and then black spots settled in front of my eyes, and before I could say anything, Hudson cursed and caught me as I fell.
* * *
“She’s fine. She’s going to be just fine,” Isabella said for the fifth time. I finally opened my eyes and realized I was now in the hospital.
“What happened?” I asked, as I reached out, and noticed I had an IV in my arm. I could barely feel any pain but something felt off.
“You’re awake. I’m going to go get the nurse,” Sophia said as she left the small room, and I frowned at my best friend.
“What happened?”
“You fainted. I think from adrenaline. Not from blood loss thankfully. You didn’t even need stitches on your side.
And we’re going to add so much fucking security to the resort it’s going to be insane.
People are going to complain about the amount of security and I won’t care.
” And then Isabella burst into tears, before reaching forward and cupping my face.
“Never do that again.”
“I promise I won’t. I can’t believe I passed out.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t,” Isabella said right back.
“The rest of the family will be here soon. As will your sister. So don’t worry.
They should let you out of here soon actually.
They said you had just passed out, and you would be fine, and you came to a couple of times, but I’ve been worried. You know me. I always worry.”
I frowned again and stared at Isabella. “Where did Hudson go?” I asked, trying to figure out everything that had just happened.
Isabella froze, and worry covered me.
“He left, didn’t he?”
He had left. I had been too much for him, and he had left. I didn’t blame him for that. How could I? But some part of me had broken.
Hudson had left.
“He isn’t here right now. But I’m sure he’ll be right back.”
“What happened, Isabella?” Even I could hear the lack of emotion in my voice.
Isabella didn’t comment on it, instead she just squeezed my hand.
“You had your phone open to your text with Hudson and it called him instead of texting back somehow. I do that sometimes with Weston when I press the wrong button. And so when he answered he heard your dad’s voice and his threats.
He had already been on the way to the resort to grab you for dinner tonight or something.
I’m not sure, I kind of missed that part of the conversation.
But he heard what happened, called the police, called us, and then he was there.
You had apparently already saved yourself because I love you and you’re amazing.
So he knocked your father out, made sure he was tied up thanks to Weston and some of the staff, and then helped you into the ambulance. ”
My mind whirled, and yet, Hudson had come. He had tried to save me.
“And then he left.”
Isabella winced. “For a good reason.”
I wasn’t even sure she believed that.
Before I could say anything, the nurses and doctors were there, telling me that I was just fine, and I could go home. I listened to them and they explained things, and then I spoke with the sheriff, and knew I would have to talk with him again.
And it felt like I spoke to countless people, except for the one person I wanted to speak to.
Nearly ready to be checked out, nausea whirled, and I realized that I was going to have to go home.
Alone.
Because it wasn’t as if Hudson would be there for me.
Before I could say anything, there was a knock at the door, and it felt like the floor had fallen out from beneath my feet.
Hudson stood there, a scowl on his face, a storm in his eyes, but he wasn’t who had surprised me.
My mother walked towards me, her face deadly pale, eyes wide, but then her arms were around me, and I was holding her, and I broke into tears.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. But I’m here now. I’m out of the house and I’m here now. You are safe. And I love you so much.”
“Mom.” That was the only word I could say, my voice cracking.
And as we held each other, I looked up and met Hudson’s eyes and realized why he had left.
He had brought my mom to me.
The one person in the world who would understand.
And I knew right then and there I loved Hudson Cage with all of my heart.
And I would never get over him.