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I heard a knock at the door to which he screamed, “Go away!” The person on the other side of the door wasn’t having it. The knocking continued, and I was grateful because that meant he had to answer it. He gave me a look like if you make a sound, I’ll kill you. When he opened the door, I saw Shawn being picked up by his throat with his legs dangling. Hudson!
“I didn’t want to doubt Laurel, but after hearing the story she told me before coming over, I was worried. So, I followed her over here and stood outside the door. I wanted to be here in case something likethishappened,” he said, staring at me to make sure I was okay.
“Put him down. There’s no need for that. Just call the cops,” I said to him.
He shook his head. “You can call the cops, but this fucker is going to get the shit kicked out of him. He is not going to walk away from this thinking it’s okay to put his hands on a woman, especially you.”
He didn’t waste any time before throwing him on the ground and kicking and punching him repeatedly. Shawn screamed for him to stop, but he was not listening. His rage was taking over, and I’d never seen him like this. To be honest, it was scary.
“Baby, stop! They are on their way. He’s going to jail. Just stop,” I said, trying to talk him down. I grasped his arm and looked into his eyes. I knew he wanted to defend me, but Shawn was begging for him to stop. There was no more danger to save me from right now.
He caressed my cheek with tears in his eyes. “Are you okay? I overheard him yell at you. I couldn’t help myself; nothing can happen to you. I don’t know what I would do with myself.”
Hudson and I stood there with him holding me against his chest until the cops arrived. They asked their questions and then detained Shawn for custody.
Hudson escorted me downstairs to get into his car but stopped. He jerked my chin up to look at him and said, “It’s not that I didn’t have faith in you. I do. It’s him I don’t trust. I’m glad I followed my gut tonight or else something a lot worse could have happened. I love you.”
This was the first time he had told me he loved me. Traumatic situations always made you think about the ones you love. I was glad he told me because I felt the same way. I loved Hudson. We were crazy together and pushed each other’s buttons, sometimes on purpose, but he was the only man I’d ever felt truly content around. I didn’t have to pretend at all around him. He loved me for all my quirkiness, and I loved him for all his douchebaggery. I pulled him close to him and replied, “I love you too, Hudson. More than you could ever begin to understand. You are it for me.”
Chapter 24
Hudson
The paramedics made me promise to take Laurel straight to the hospital to get checked out. She could tell me she was fine, but it didn’t matter. The point was that man had beaten her.
I didn’t comprehend how I stopped kicking his ass. My rage got the best of me, and all I saw was black. I wanted to kill him for what he had done to her, but she didn’t. Laurel, even though a victim, saw the best in everyone. She kept saying this wasn’t him. Something happened to him that made him act that way, and it still hadn’t made me want to stop. If it wasn’t for her advising me to stop, he probably would be dead right now. He should count his blessings.
The hospital took her straight back after the paramedics explained to them that she had been victimized. That fucker was here in this hospital, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t want him anywhere near her. After some exams, we learned she had two broken ribs and a fractured cheekbone. My hands fisted just thinking about that fucker getting away with this. How could someone do this to a woman? I just didn’t understand it.
“I’m okay. I just want to go home,” she said, looking deeply into my eyes, pleading with me to save her. I could understand not wanting to be in the hospital any longer than necessary. The doctor gave her the okay to go home, and that made her happy.
I hauled her out to the car and then inside the apartment once we arrived. I just wanted to make her feel better, but I had no fucking idea how. My sisters called to check on me, and when they heard I had been right about the danger, they cried. Why did we have so many bad people in this world? People that wanted to hurt others?
Laurel climbed into bed and fell fast asleep. That must have been traumatic for her. No one ever thought they would end up in a situation like she did. To be honest, most didn’t make it out alive. She was fortunate I had been there. I shuddered at the thought of what could have happened had it not been for my presence.
I took my shirt off and lay down next to her. I’d never seen her look so broken. My heart hurt thinking of how she must feel. I’d never seen her look so fragile before. I didn’t like it. I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t want to wake her up, but I wanted to be as close as I could to her. She needed to know I would always be here to protect her.
Somehow, I ended up falling asleep next to her last night, but duty called. I still must go to work today. A part of me didn’t want to leave her here alone, but I knew she was going to be okay.
I’d much rather stay home and lay next to her all day. I didn’t want to think about that fucker, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t wrap my head around why he would do this to her. If she was the only person he had left, why try and hurt her?
Shawn was lucky to be alive. I knew as soon as I heard him yelling at her, something bad was happening. When he opened the door, immediately I picked him up by his throat after seeing the state she was in. I could tell he had hit her, and my rage just took over from there. The biggest problem was I could have killed him and not feel an ounce of remorse.
The thought of that terrified me. I would have taken a life for Laurel easily, without hesitation. I loved her. Protecting her was my instinct and completely beyond my control. One day, I hoped to get the images of her getting beat out of my head.
The office seemed quiet, but I was here earlier than normal. I couldn’t sleep. I’d rather come in and work than lay in bed having nightmares. When I walked into my office, Chris was waiting for me, leaning back in my chair. My glaring must have made a point because he got up quickly and moved to the other side. “Why are you in my office? Should I start locking my door?” I asked, agitated.
“Just dropping off a file and heard someone come in. No one else would be coming in this early.” Chris being here didn’t surprise me. I didn’t know if he ever actually went home. One thing I could say was that he was extremely dedicated to his job.
“Where’s Laurel? I’m amazed you guys didn’t ride in together. Your mom wins Mother of the Year,” Chris said, smiling.
Mother of the Year? Why would she get the Mother of the Year because of Laurel?
“What exactly is that supposed to mean? Mother of the Year?” I couldn’t help but grow more agitated.
Chris looked at me with a smile that just pissed me off more. Why did he keep smiling? “Your mom’s plan? Laurel’s employment being backed by your mom. Lorelai wanted her to get under your skin. Who knew it would be the best thing that ever happened to you,” Chris said as he walked out of my office.
My heart was crushed right now. My mom put her up to this? Now, my mind was trying to decipher what had been real or part of the ruse. Deep down, I knew all of this couldn’t be fake. Our connection from the beginning had been genuine.
