I let them hash it out, running through every possible scenario, exploring the possibilities. Dizzy, Bear and Zero would be my backup but I didn’t want them in Detroit with me. I already knew what I was going to have to do and there wasn’t anything they could do to better support me. The family was going to be watching me like a hawk. Any chance of busting these assholes was fading and I would have to work fast to have any hope of making this job successful. This meant I needed faces and names of the leaders, the shot callers and negotiators. My forced meeting with the family might get me the information but at what cost was the question. The price might be too high. What good would all this work do if I wasn’t alive to report it? A month ago this choice wouldn’t have been that big of a deal but now I had Alice to think about and what it would mean to her if I didn’t come back.
“I’m not going,” I tell them. Four sets of eyes land on me.
“You’re going to risk two years of work?” King’s hands drop to his lap, his eyes narrow on me. He knows why I’m making this choice.
“King, we can always try with someone else,” Zero says, his eyes on our boss.
“Too much time and money has spent getting Hudson where he is. We can’t afford to start over, we’re too close,” he shakes his head and glares at me. “You don’t have a choice. We’re one meeting away from shutting this shit down.”
I roll my eyes, my stomach twisting in knots. Fuck, he’s going to make me say it.
“I can’t leave her,” the words leave my mouth soft and hard. I’m trying to stay firm but I know he’s right. The thought of leaving her does something to me, something I can’t explain.
“Which is why I made sure the guys were here today,” he reaches over and pushes the intercom button, summoning Annabelle. “Annabelle, send her in please.”
The door opens and Missy comes into the room, her eyes meet mine. She’s trying to remain neutral but I know her better, she’s scared as fuck. I don’t know what King told her but she knows something is up.
“You called my sister?” I turn to him, finding the moment incredulous.
“Yes, I called your sister,” he grunts. “You’re going to need all the support you can get.”
“Hudson, please, let me help,” Missy’s voice comes from beside me. She reaches out and touches my shoulder, sitting in the empty chair next to me. I close my eyes and sigh, King was right. Too much time had been put into this case, too much blood had spilt and it would be all for nothing if I don’t let them help me.
“How would this work?” I run my hand through my hair. “She has to be protected, especially now that he knows who I am.”
“Someone catch me up please,” Missy asks her eyes now concern filled. King briefly explains leaving out the parts about the danger my life will be in and I’m grateful he spared her the extra worry.
“Between the five of us,” Dizzy interjects. “We’ve got your girl covered. We’ll have a man on her at all times. We’ll take shifts, twelve hours. No one leaves until the next man or woman on is briefed. Is that cool with you Hudson?”
It wasn’t but what other choice did I have. She wasn’t going to like it either.
“Night shifts sleep on the couch in the living room,” I stare down at the table, trying to stifle the burning in my gut. Everyone here knew Alice was special to me but the only King and Missy knew to what extent. I trusted my brothers though, they wouldn’t betray me. “Someone is always with her, no matter what. She isn’t going to like it but she’ll deal.”
“We can do that,” King speaks and I look at him, allowing him to see the worry and fear I’m battling. He nods, taking it in. “She’ll be safe, so you can be safe.”
I nod.
Fuck if something didn’t sit right.
It was going to take everything in me to leave her.
Chapter 22
Hudson
Tonight, my own demons haunted my dreams. I sit up breathing heavily, trying to calm my racing heart. I thought I was past them but with everything spinning out of control the last few days, I should’ve expected this. I had serious reservations leaving Alice and there was nothing I could do to fix it. I had to go.
Hoping I hadn’t woken her, I get up and walk down the hallway, straining my ears to hear anything from her. Her nightmares had gotten better since she opened up to me, a relief for both of us. She’s taken to leaving the door open since my accident with it.
I peek in on her. The moonlight pours in from the window and down onto the bed. Her small form was lying center of the massive bed, spread out. A pair of shorts and one of my shirts cover her body. The blankets are twisted around her legs and the pillows are strewn around her, some on the floor. I can see her moving erratically, kicking and turning. She emits a small yelp and I know she’s dreaming. Worried she might hurt herself, I step into the room and cross to the bed. She whimpers again and mumbles something but I can’t make it out.