“I miss her too,” I admit, knowing King would only take a jab when I was face to face. Right now, he’d try to remain supportive. I had a job to do and he needed my focus here.
“Are you doing alright?”
“I’m fine,” I lie. He knows the truth though. This job isn’t easy and missing her isn’t helping.
“They still got you running?”
“Yeah, hopefully tonight was the end of it.”
“Was it a big one?”
“Huge,” my voice has gone monotone thinking about the job I was assigned tonight. It was bloody and it was tiresome. “When do you think we’re going to be able to roll on this?”
“Soon,” he answers. “They’re prepping. It shouldn’t take more than two or three days more.”
“Good,” I breathe a small breath of relief. It’s taken too long to nab this one. We took this job weary how intricate it would be, but the payout was too good to pass up. I could live comfortable on the payout for the next year or two, without picking up any more jobs.
“She’s safe Hudson, we’ve got your back,” his voice dips at the end and he pauses. I yawn, feeling lighter than I had before talking with King. “Hang in there.”
“I will,” I close the phone, ending the call. After powering down the burner, I stuff it back into the wall and replacing the loose panel.
I sit back onto the bed, rubbing my head. It was easier hearing she was protected and safe but it still hurts. I should be the one protecting her. A few more days and I will hopefully right this wrong. I will make it up to the both of us. I will tell her how I feel and never let her go.
Chapter 28
Alice
Another week passes…
It’s been two weeks since Hudson left and still he hasn’t called me, or anyone for that matter. Beyond his scheduled email check-ins, no one knew anything more. I couldn’t breathe most days, those being the days he was supposed to check-in. Like clockwork, the emails come and I’m the first on King’s list of people to call, a position I battled out with Missy. Tonight, though, I felt lighter and calmer.
Missy called me this morning and instead of our usual movie night, she told me about the Sunday dinner she was planning. Of course, I would go with whatever one of the guys was assigned to me but this meal was going to more like the meal I first shared at her place. A couple of the guys were in town and it was tradition to get together for a meal at Missy’s house. Sort of like a welcome home dinner. I found myself looking forward to it and meeting more of the team.
Since I wasn’t allowed to help prep or cook, I sat on a stool in the kitchen visiting with Missy. I didn’t mind it but I would have rather done something a little more productive. The day dragged on and dinner couldn’t get here soon enough but the feeling didn’t last long when the guys arrived one by one. Apparently they congregated while she cooked and did exactly what I spent most of the day doing, watching her. It wasn’t until we were sitting at the dinner table did I suddenly miss him.
“He’d want you to enjoy yourself,” Charlie, a member of the team met only tonight, tells me. His dark eyes were curious and watching. I nod forcefully and my fork clatters to the table.
“You all right Alice?” Dizzy asks. His looks at me with concern. I needed to get out of here before I did or said something I’d regret later. Pushing back my chair, I excused myself to the bathroom, throwing a look over my shoulder asking for privacy. No one moved.
I walked down the hall towards the bathroom, closing the door softly behind me. Turning the water on, I splash some on my face, trying to fight back the tears welling in my eyes. My stomach clenches in agony, I was tired of crying, especially over Hudson. This ache in my chest was becoming too much to carry. Turning the water off, I step back and stare at the woman in the mirror. She’s exhausted and ready to burst at the seams. I know they mean well, every one of the men out there but I was tired of their reassurances. I wanted to go home, pull the blankets over my head and sleep until he comes home.
My stomach growls, reminding me of the dinner I just walked out on and I hang my head, feeling ashamed of my behavior and disrespect. The guys didn’t deserve it, they’d done so much for me.
Shit.
I make straighten myself up and take a few deep calming breaths. Opening to the door to the hallway, I step out and close it softly behind me. The sound of a baritone voice stops me mid-step and my ears strain listening closer.
“I told you, she’s alright. She’s tougher than you think,” the voice laughs quietly. There’s a slight pause before he speaks again.