Claimed(75)
Hudson didn’t answer. Her mind was too busy trying to make sense of what Tamara had said. Was that what Connor had done? Claimed her in front of everyone? Declared her as his? The notion was too mystifying to unpack at the moment, so she shrugged, pretending to be unaffected by it all.
Then she changed the subject.
“When did you get here?” she asked, studying the other woman.
Tamara was in leather pants and a corset again, but she’d swept her long dark hair into a knot atop her head, giving her an oddly regal vibe. “I’ve been here all day. I was in the back with Lennox when Con came in. The three of us had a lovely chat about satellites.”
“Yeah, Connor was interested in getting his hands on more phones. Did you agree to help him?”
“Yes, and he’s definitely not happy about owing me.” Tamara grinned. “But Con understands that everything has a price.”
“Speaking of prices…” Hudson smoothed a hand through her hair, which was tousled from Connor’s fingers running through it. “I was hoping you’d be able to get me something too.”
“I see. What do you need?”
“Birth control.”
Those catlike eyes twinkled as Tamara glanced at the crumpled napkin Hudson was still clutching. “Yeah, I think you do need it. Condoms?”
Hudson shook her head. “Shots.” She hesitated. “The female breeders in the city get birth control shots twice a year. Each one is good for six months.”
The humor in Tamara’s eyes faded, replaced with deep suspicion. “How do you know about those?”
She gulped. “Ah… someone told me about it. I can’t remember who.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s true,” she insisted.
That got her a husky laugh. “Again, bullshit.” The woman’s hard expression softened, but her next round of laughter was mocking as hell. “Give it up already, will you? I know you’re from the city.”
Hudson froze. “What?”
“Come on, honey. Do I look like an idiot to you? I knew it from the moment I met you. Citizens are ridiculously easy to spot.” Her next pause lasted long enough to rattle Hudson even more. “Besides… you have his eyes.”
A chill flew up her spine and turned her veins to ice. “W-whose eyes?” she stammered.
Tamara examined the room as if to make sure no one was paying attention to them, then turned back and murmured, “Dominik. You look exactly like him.”
Hudson’s pulse took off in a breakneck gallop.
“No,” she said weakly. “You’re wrong.”
“Your features are softer, yes. Your hair’s a shade lighter. But you two are definitely related.” Tamara shrugged. “Last time you were here, I wondered why nobody else noticed the resemblance, but then I realized that not many people have ever actually seen Dominik. They know of him, and they’re scared of him, but how fucking silly is that? Being scared of a person you’ve never even met. It’s ludicrous.”
Hudson could barely hear what the other woman was saying. Her head was spinning. Her muscles were paralyzed. Tamara knew who she was.
Tamara knew.
“You’ve gotta be his sister, huh?”
She started to feel light-headed. What if Tamara told Connor? What if —
“Relax, Hudson. If I were going to out you, don’t you think I’d have done it by now? I know you’re living with Con and the boys. I could have easily sent a message their way if I’d wanted to.”
She finally found her voice, but it was unsteady, weakened by defeat. “Why haven’t you?”
Tamara looked like she was fighting a smirk. “So you’re not denying it, then?”
“What’s the point? You’ve already decided you’re right. But listen, whatever you think you know —”
“I don’t think I know. I know. Period.” The smirk broke free. “And your reaction confirmed it.” Tamara slammed her whiskey glass into Hudson’s shaky hand. “Drink. You look like you need it.”
She did. She really, really did.
She practically inhaled the alcohol. It burned a path straight to her gut, but no amount of warmth could thaw the block of ice that she’d become.
“So… his sister?” Tamara asked cheerfully.
“Twin,” she whispered.
The woman nodded.
Hudson gulped some more whiskey. “Why haven’t you told anyone?”
“Because I’m a good businesswoman, and I understand that everything holds value. You want to know what holds the most value? Secrets.”