“Martin.” He breathes. “He kidnapped two women, he hit one of them on the head and she crumpled to the floor, I thought she was dead.” He shakes his head. “Things had changed, I couldn’t do it anymore.”
A gunshot sounds, followed by a thump.
Hudson shoots and I cover my mouth so the scream that’s lodged in my throat doesn’t escape. He shot Josie, I can’t help but stare at her lifeless body, she’s slumped on the ground with a bullet between her eyes. Tears sting but I don’t let them fall. Why did he kill her?
“Josie!” Clive wails, “You’re a coward.” He yells at Hudson, “You can go to hell, I’m not telling you anything else.”
Hudson stalks toward him. “You were there.” His voice deadly, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “You were with him when he took the two girls?”
I remember his words, he knew I was hit over the head. He was there? Oh my God, he’s meant to protect people, he’s meant to be the one that people trust when they’re in danger. Instead he was a participant in mine and Lacey’s kidnapping. This world is so messed up, he’s meant to keep me safe and the man that is viewed as a monster, the one I’m meant to keep away from at all costs is the one that has proven that he’ll protect me. Is it any wonder why I’m so at ease with the Boss?
“I asked you a fucking question. Now answer it!” Hudson yells, digging the gun into Clive’s chest, causing him to hiss as the heat from the gun burns his flesh. The smell is putrid but I breathe through it.
“Yes, I was there.” He spits out.
“You’re the reason that they were hurt, that she was raped and the other died.” Hudson tells him in a quiet voice. My skin breaks out in goosebumps and I bite back a whimper. That voice is the scariest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s something I never want to hear again.
“No.”
“Yes. You should have stopped him,” Hudson yells taking a step back. “What did this get you huh? Working for my enemy? Did it make you feel good? Hm? Or did you get paid handsomely for it?”
“Neither,” he responds instantly, his voice shaking.
“Then why?” Hudson’s out for answers and he’s not letting him go without them.
What happened to me affected him more than it did me. Yes, I wake with nightmares, I’m scared that Martin’s going to get me again, I can’t sleep without the bathroom light on. But I know that once Martin is out of my life that I’ll be okay, I’ll know that he won’t be able to hurt me again. Whereas Hudson, he blames himself. He heard what happened to me and it’s chipped away a piece of him. He thinks he’s failed me, he fails to realize that he saved me, that because of him I was able to survive what that animal did to me. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to get that piece back.
“What did you get out of this?” Again his anger is receding, it’s weird to watch how close to the edge he comes but he’s able to pull himself back.
“He was blackmailing me.”
I roll my eyes, isn’t that always the motive? God, have some damn backbone. I wonder if it was worth it? Was all of this worth whatever the hell he wanted to keep a secret.
“About what?” Jagger questions.
I glance around the room, each of the men are standing in the light. I’m the only one hidden in the shadows. All of them have their hands on their guns, ready for whatever is coming next, they all have the same look of disgust on their faces.
Clive looks at Josie’s body on the floor beside him, “he was blackmailing me about the child I have. The one that was the result of the affair I had. I didn’t want Josie to know.”
“You have a child?” Hudson laughs, “Imagine what they’re going to think about their father?”
Clive struggles against his restraints. “I pray you never have children, to inflict the evil that you are on them.”
“My children will know what I am, I’ll never pretend to be anything else. Unlike you, a man that acts as though he’s one of the good guys when in fact you’re no better than I am. Now, what is Martin’s endgame?”
A smirk forms on Clive’s lips, “To end everyone you care about. He’s going to kill everyone you love and then he’s going to kill you.” He’s revelling in dishing out that information.
“That’s never going to happen.” Hudson tells him and once again lifts the gun. When he pulls the trigger this time, I don’t even flinch.
Seven
Hudson
Jagger drives us toward home, David’s in the front and Mia’s head is against my shoulder as she sleeps. The rest of the men are in two other cars, one in front and one behind. Now we know what Martin’s end game is, we’re going to ensure that nothing happens. The car behind will be turning off soon and heading to the hospital. They’re on protection duty for my mom, there’s no way that fucker is going to get another shot at her.
“David, did you talk to Rory?” I ask quietly not wanting to wake Mia.
“Yes boss, he said your father was talking to them, that he’s been demanding answers and if they haven’t been forthcoming he’s been forcing those answers out of them.”
“Good, has Aaron checked in?” I ask, wondering how long my dad’s going to take, the longer he’s there the more chance he’ll be caught.
“Yes boss, he called just as we were leaving the church. He said to tell you that you were right. He has a visual.” David replies and I smile. “Boss, may I ask, what he has a visual on?”
“Martin,” I respond and watch as both Jagger and David immediately still.
“We have him in our sights?” David asks cautiously, I know he’s dying to get his hands on him.
“Yes, once my father has done his job, we’ll be leaving the bodies where he stays. Show him that we can get to his family as well,” I reply, wondering if I should have David go to Aaron or not? If I do, can I trust him to reign in his anger and stay hidden? Or will he lose the plot and maybe have Martin run, making us lose him again? “David, once it’s done, you’ll be with Aaron, watching to see where that fucker goes.”
“Boss, when Portia died I vowed I’d extract revenge, I promised her parents that I’d make the man that killed her pay. I’m not going to go against you to get that revenge because I know that once we have him, my promise will be made. I may not be the man to end him, but I’ll be part of the reason he’s dead,” He’s reassuring me that I’m making the right decision.
“I respect that, I really do, but I expect you to take the shot if that fucker runs. I’d rather him dead than have him regroup and take more shots at our families.”
He nods. “Understood boss, if he does a runner, I’ll take him out. If not, we’ll bring him in and we can play.” His tone is sadistic and I smile, my boys love their blood. Not only that, they love exacting revenge and I’m not one to let them down, except when it’s to do with my family.
“Jagger, once my dad’s finished, I’ll ask him to watch Mia. You’ll organize a meeting. Every man is to be in attendance other than Aaron and David. Anyone not in attendance will be put on notice. Once the meeting is done, I want you to have the men sweep the club for bugs. No more shit, we’re getting our house in order.”