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I see Hudson talking to Kane, but the entire time we’ve been here, he’s either had one eye on me or Pepper has been by my side. Just like now, he’s watching me talk to Jose, and the look on his face tells me he doesn’t like the way Jose looks either.
“Wow. Vandalism? Really? How unfortunate. It’s such a shame. You’ll have to be closed for a while, huh?” There’s a hint of laughter in his voice.
Nodding to Jose, “Yes. Yes, I will, Jose.”
“You motherfucker!” Grace yells from across the parking lot when she sees Jose talking to me and charges towards us. “I will fucking kill you, fucktard!”
As Grace is running across the parking lot towards Jose and me, Hudson comes to stand in front of me as Kane intercepts Grace at the waist and throws her over his shoulder like she was a dish towel. She kicks and beats him on his back to put her down so she could kill Jose. I can’t hear what Kane says to her, but he walks away with her spewing obscenities at him.
“You should get your friend under control, Chica.” Jose says, not realizing that Hudson is only a small twig snap away from going nuclear on him as well.
“You need to walk away right now if you know what’s good for you.” Hudson’s voice is low and deep, but not too deep that Jose doesn’t get the hint.
“Oh, is the big man threatening me?” Jose clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “Shouldn’t do that. It’s rude.” He then taps something at his waist that is covered by his long flannel shirt.
“Declan.”
“Yeah?” One of the police officers a few feet away replies and starts walking over to us.
Jose pales. “I’m done with you, anyway.” He walks towards his car where some of his friends are waiting for him. “Good luck with your business, Chica.” He calls over his shoulder.
“What’s up?” the police officer, Declan, asks Hudson as he approaches, but is watching Jose and his friends drive away.
“We need to keep an eye on him and his acquaintances. He’s throwing threats and just indicated he’s armed.” Hudson turns to me. “Are you okay? What did he say to you?”
I shake my head, “Nothing really. Just told me that this all looks like an unfortunate accident. I don’t believe him, though.”
“I’ll run him.” Declan says as he writes down the license plate number on Jose’s car as they drive down Main Street.
“Thanks, man.” Hudson slaps him on the shoulder as he walks away.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nod, “Yeah. I’m just tired.” The sun is rising over the horizon as morning is starting to break. “I’ve got to go call my vendors and tell them not to make any deliveries for a while. Do you think it’s okay if I go into the office space now?” I point to my destroyed shop.
“Yeah, it should be okay. Hey, listen, when you’re done, I’m taking you home. You need some rest.” Hudson’s finger caresses my cheek and I nod in agreement. He’s not wrong.
I’ve got no fight left in me, anyway.
CHAPTER 24
HUDSON
Kate finished up contacting her vendors as Grace, Josh, Chloe and I packed my truck with anything of value left in Kate’s shop. Even with the boards up in place of the windows, the place isn’t really all that secure.
When I saw the look on Kate’s face when she was talking to the pizza guy, I knew something was wrong immediately. She was even paler than when she first saw her destroyed shop.
Declan says he’ll look into that guy, but I’ll make sure to follow up with him on it. I’ve got a bad feeling in my gut about that so-called pizza guy.
“Ready to go? You need to get some sleep.” I ask Kate as I walk into what is left of her shop office to find her staring off into space.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m ready.” I take her hand and lead her along the cleared path to the parking lot. “Did everyone leave?”
“Yeah. Grace just left and Josh took Chloe home about an hour ago.” We climb into my truck to leave. “Are you okay? I mean, I know you’re not okay okay, but…”
Nodding, “Yeah. I’m okay. Just tired.”
“Are you hungry? We can stop somewhere on the way to your house.” I start the engine and aim us to her place.
