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Sarah wanted to come but we all agreed it was too risky, especially now we know that it's Martin that's after us. None of us want her or Allie in danger. I wouldn't put it past Martin to hurt either of them for his stupid vendetta. We still have no idea where he is, he's gone to ground and everyone's efforts are focused on finding him. I don't think he'll be found until he wants to be, he managed to keep being Hudson's brother quiet for over fifteen years, it shows he's good at hiding things.
"I don't know, Dad called her earlier but there was no answer."
I think they've split up, no one is saying anything but Harrison has been staying at Hudson's and Mom's been staying in a motel. Whenever Mom comes to the house Harrison either leaves the room or leaves the house.
I glance at my watch, it's time to leave, and the car should be downstairs waiting for us. "We should go." I don't want to but I know that I have too. She was my best friend, my sister. I feel as though a piece of me is missing. I've buried it deep down, not wanting to feel the pain that comes whenever someone says her name, whenever I hear I took a pill in Ibiza by Mike Posner. It was our jam, whenever it would come on, we'd sing it at the top of our lungs. Now whenever I hear it, my eyes well with tears and I want to crawl into a corner and sob.
"Yeah, Princess, we should leave." He walks over to me and pulls me into his arms. I rest my head against his chest, my hands going around his waist, and I inhale his scent. He smells minty, he's just brushed his teeth. "Ready?" he asks after a couple of minutes and I nod, not wanting to let go of him. I reach for my sunglasses and put them on, it’ll hide the tears once they fall.
As soon as we leave our hotel room, I spot Harrison and Jagger standing by the elevator. I wonder how long they've been standing there. They're always waiting for us, I feel bad in case they've been there for a long time. Whenever I ask, I always get the same answers, not long, or it's their job. Everyone looks sombre, both Harrison and Jagger offer me a small, sad smile, one that I return. Hudson’s hand grips mine, offering me support as we step into the elevator.
The elevator doors close, no one says a word. What is there to say? Lacey's gone and she's never coming back, Martin's still out there and we have no idea where he is or what he has planned next. Every time Hudson leaves the house I worry that I'll never see him again. It's something that I have to get used to. Hudson is always going to have enemies, he'll always piss someone off, it's the nature of his career. While I don't condone him selling drugs, I have said that I'll stand behind him. I'm not going to change him, or what he does. There is only one thing I've asked and that is he be one hundred percent honest with me. If something's happening, I want to know, I don't want to be in the dark about it. He's agreed saying that it's going to be total honesty with us, although he won't go into details about the people he works with or the things he does, anything that leads to danger he'll tell me.
The elevator dings, and the doors slide open. Instantly I see, Aaron, Greg, David, and Liam. They're Hudson's men, they've proven to Hudson that they're not working for Martin and that they're loyal to him. They're all strapped, at least two guns on each of them, I can see the outline of it on Aaron's back. He has it hidden under his suit jacket, although not that hidden. I glance at Harrison, checking to see if he too has a gun. If he does, he has it well concealed.
Walking through the hotel lobby, the hair on the back of my neck stands up, someone's watching me. Glancing around, trying to see whose making me feel this way.
"Princess?" Hudson asks, his eyes narrowed.
I don't see anyone, maybe I'm imagining things? "It's nothing." I brush him off, "Has anyone heard from Mom?"
Hudson exchanges a look with someone behind me, whatever they're silently conveying doesn't look good. "Dad's going to call her and see where she is. She's probably waiting for us at the church."
I nod. "Yeah, you're probably right." I don't think she is, I just have a knot in the pit of my stomach, something is going on with her and I need to know what. She's tried her hardest since I've been home to make things right, but she just c
an't keep her disdain for Hudson to herself. Hudson, being Hudson makes sure she knows that her disrespect is noted and that she's skating on thin ice. He hasn't done anything yet because of me.
As soon as we're outside the men gather around us. "Aaron and Greg, you're in the lead car, David and Liam, you're trailing us," Hudson instructs and the men instantly nod. "Jagger, you're driving."
Jagger smirks. "Told you old man," he taunts Harrison.
Since Hudson and I got engaged, things between him and his dad have eased, they're getting along better and Hudson doesn't want to kill him. Harrison seems to have mellowed out a bit too, especially while staying in Hudson's house, he's always joking with the men, something Hudson told me he never did before. Jagger even teases him, telling that he's got better with age. I think because Jagger has been a part of their family for a long time, he's able to get away with it. None of the other men dare to say anything.
Hudson's mom hasn't been by, she won't while Harrison's in the house, I totally understand that and have told him that we could go to her house once we get back. I can't wait to meet her, from everything Hudson's told me she's really worked hard to find who she is. He told me that while his parents were married, that his mom lost a sense of who she was. She's moving on, I'm secretly hoping that she finds someone who'll treat her like a queen, just as her son treats me.
I slide into the back of the car, Hudson following right behind me, I glance down at my watch, its 10:40 am, there's only twenty minutes until the service starts, I don't want to be late. I can't miss her funeral. The car starts and Jagger pulls off toward the church.
"We'll be there in fifteen minutes," Hudson says and I give him a smile, he always seems to know what to say to reassure me.
"Thanks." I reach for his hand and intertwine my fingers with his. I sink into the seat and turn to look out the window, watching everyone we pass, they all seem so happy and unaware of the evils that occurs every day. I watch children chasing one another and wonder if Hudson and I will ever be able to have that? Will our child be able to live a relatively normal life like I had? Or will they be destined to be Kingpin just as their father was? I guess that's a conversation for another day.
"We're here," Jagger announces as he parks a little bit down from the church.
Relief washes through me, I'm not going to miss it. I reach for the car door handle and open it, wanting to get some fresh air into me.
"Mia," Hudson growls. "Wait for us to exit first." This is the third time that he's said this to me, it's something I'm not used to, waiting until it's safe.
"Sorry," I mumble feeling like a child that's been scolded.
He gets out of the car and walks around to my side. He opens the door and holds out his hand for me to take. "You've got to remember this Mia, anyone could be waiting to ambush us."
I roll my eyes. "I know, I said I was sorry." I climb out of the car and look around, so many faces that I don't know. I don't see Lacey's parents anywhere, maybe they're inside the church already.
"I didn't think you were going to make it on time." My eyes widen when I hear that raspy voice. A smile forms on my lips and I turn around. "Always the way with you though Mia. You can never be early."
I raise my brow. "Coming from the woman that can't do anything she's asked. What are you doing here Sarah? We told you it was safer to stay in New York." God, it's so good to see her. "Where's Allie?"
She nods her head to the left, a beautiful smile graces her face. Standing by the gate is Sarah’s brother Frankie who's holding onto Allie's stroller. "He got back last week, he called me and I told him everything. He flew to New York and has been staying with me, when I told him I wanted to come to Lacey's funeral he made sure I'd be here."
