by Emma Renshaw
“Well, it’s not,” I snap, resisting the urge to stomp my foot.
His eyes swing back to mine. They’re the same shade of blue as Hudson’s, but so vastly different. Hudson’s shine with warmth, light, humor, and good times. Maddox’s are clouded and sealed tight, not allowing anyone to see more of him than he’s willing to give.
“Hudson and Callan found a dead body and a gun on his job site today.”
I suck in a breath and my hand clutches my throat. “What?”
“The man was a large cocaine distributer in Austin.”
“Oh God,” I whisper. “Is this connected to the drugs he found?”
“We think so.”
“I don’t understand. Why does this mean Hudson was arrested?”
“Detectives questioned the drug dealer’s wife and mistress. The mistress said he was with her the last time he was seen, and he left with a man matching Hudson’s description and a car with his plates.”
“What?” I yell, then clap my hand over my mouth and turn toward the living room, making sure Lilly isn’t going to come in here.
“When did the . . .” I pause and close my eyes. “Murder happen?”
“Two nights ago,” he says. “Was he with you?”
I think back and clam up. We weren’t together two nights ago. I shake my head slowly, looking to the ground. The tears I’ve been holding at bay rise up. I blink a few times, clearing them away. “No.”
“Fuck,” Maddox murmurs.
“You don’t think . . .”
Maddox’s head whips up. “No,” he growls and pauses. “Do you?”
“No. I don’t know what’s happening or how Hudson is involved, but I know he wouldn’t do that.”
“No, he wouldn’t.”
“Why can’t you do something?”
“I’m doing everything I can,” he hisses, stepping forward and looming over me. Anger breaks through his usually calm features. “I was taken off the case because he’s my brother, but I will do everything I can to figure this out.”
I take a step back from him. “I know. I’m sorry. What’s going to happen now?”
“He’ll be questioned, there will be a line-up, and depending how that goes, he’s either charged or let go.”
I nod. “He’ll be let go.” My voice quivers, betraying my confident words. “Who would set him up?”
Hudson doesn’t have any enemies. He’s a good man from a good family with several friends. He doesn’t hold grudges with anyone. Who would set him up this way? And why?
Maddox doesn’t answer my question. “I need to get to the station.”
“I need to get Lilly home.”
Maddox hands me his phone. “Put your number in here. I’ll call if I have an update.”
“Thank you.” I hesitate before stepping forward and wrapping my arms around his waist. “Please protect him.”
Maddox squeezes me quickly, then heads out the door.
Chapter 29
Hudson
Even though my brother has worked with the Austin Police Department since he got out of the military, the closest I’ve come to seeing the inside of a room like this is on TV. It’s exactly how they depict it.
Dreary with a single light about the silver table. The chairs are hard and uncomfortable. I’ve been here for God knows how long. It feels like hours but could be a minute or a fucking day for all I know. Without windows and my ass cramping from the metal chair, time has stopped existing. Heavy footsteps march past the door every few minutes, but the door for the room I’m sitting in has remained closed.
Are Ava and Lilly okay? She was so terrified when the police came to the door and pinned me against the wall. Maddox showed up a few minutes after them, asking me why I hadn’t been answering my phone.
Why the fuck hadn’t I answered my phone?
I left it on the coffee table after Ava and Lilly got home from school. When Ava left to go to the store, I didn’t pick it up, just sat next to Lilly, helping her with her homework.
I could’ve at least tried to prepare Lilly or put her in another room, something so she wouldn’t have to see that. I couldn’t console her when she started crying, and when I tried to speak to her, the cop told me to shut up, which terrified her more.
Luckily Maddox showed up quickly, then Ava not too long after that. Every time I close my eyes, the devastation and confusion on Ava’s face and the tears streaming down Lilly’s cheeks are all I see. My chest feels like it’s being ripped open from the inside out.
I stare into the two way mirror. Is someone on the other side? Are they watching me? I want to launch my chair into the glass, demanding someone tell me what the hell is happening. I want someone to come in here, so we can get this mix up over with and I can get back with my family.
Maddox comes into the room and takes the seat across from me.
“What the hell is going on?”
His eyes flick to the camera on the ceiling in the corner of the room. “I can’t answer that. They’re letting me give you your cell to call a lawyer. Know any?”
The only lawyer I can think of is Kevin. He annoys the fuck out of me—he has since I met him at age five—but I know he’d show up in a minute. He helped move Callan a few weeks ago without even asking, so I know he’d come no matter what time it is. For some reason, he’s always tried to insert himself into my life. I know this isn’t his area of expertise since he’s the company’s real estate lawyer, but he’s the only lawyer I know.
Maddox hands me the phone.
“Just the phone call,” Maddox orders. “To a lawyer. Not Ava.”
“Yeah.” At the same time, I’m pulling up Ava’s name to send a quick message.
I’m so sorry, bluebonnet. I’ll call as soon as I can. I hope Lilly is okay. I’m thinking of you both.
I almost type out I love you, but I stop myself. I can’t confess I love her while my ass is stranded in a damn police station. That’s real fuckin’ romantic.
I find Kevin’s information and press call.
“This is Kevin Thurber.”
“Kevin. It’s Hudson.”
“Hey, man. What’s up? How are you?”
“Listen.” I hesitate, inhaling and running a finger along my brow bone. “I’m in a situation. I’m at the police station on Cypresswood and could use your help.”
“I’ll be there soon. I promise.”
I roll my eyes at his tone—like I’ve just invited him to the Super Bowl, not to a police station to help me get out of fucking jail. “Right.”
“See you soon, Hud.”
I shake my head, not bothering to correct him. He’s coming to help me. I need to be grateful and appreciative of that, not annoyed by his over eagerness.
I hang up the phone. Maddox takes it from my hands before I can look to see if Ava has replied. He looks down at my phone, up at the camera, then at me and gives the barest shake of his head. The movement is so minuscule, I almost miss it.
“Do you need water or anything?”
“Only thing I need is to see Ava.”
“You need a lot more than that, brother. Keep your head on straight.”
“Was she okay?”
“She’s tough.” With that, he leaves the room, and once again, it’s a waiting game. Ava is tough. She’s the strongest and most resilient woman I’ve ever met and I have some pretty badass females in my life. Harper and Savannah have been through some crazy shit and only came out stronger. Tatum showed up for James in a huge way.
For me, Ava tops them all.
She’s everything.
I’m still in the dark for the most part. I’ve been told I was brought in for questioning about the body that was found on the site and that I’m a suspect. How the fuck can I be a suspect though? Just because I’m the one managing that area? Because I was there? Is that why?
Dammit.
I hope Callan doesn’t get dragged into this shit.
I put my elbows on my knees and my hands behind my head
. The floor is concrete with small cracks running through it. That can be a sign of foundation issues. If I’m really lucky, maybe the whole place will collapse on top of me.
The door opens again and Kevin walks in. Damn, he got here really fast. In a suit, too. Does he sleep in the thing? He breaks into a smile when he spots me.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” he asks like we’re at a fucking picnic. Dammit. Maybe calling him was a mistake, but he’s the only lawyer I know and I didn’t exactly have time to do some research.
Didn’t think I would be in a situation like this.
“Just hanging out,” I spit out sarcastically.
Kevin chuckles, but hurt crosses his face.
I run my tongue over my lips. “Sorry, man. Just pissed.”
Kevin nods and takes a seat beside me. “Understandable. We only have a minute before they come in. They want to get this moving quickly.”
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“I was briefed before I came into the room. You’re a suspect in a murder case. There’s witness testimony claiming you were with the victim at the time of his murder. The witness alleges he was in your car.”
“What the fuck?” I whisper. “I never saw that man before my backhoe dug him up today.”
“That’s not the most damning part.”
“What?” Dread coats every inch of my stomach.
“The gun they found was yours.”
Before I can process that revelation, a detective, one I’m unfamiliar with, enters the room. Is he friends with my brother? If so, this could go well. If not, this could be a fucking shit show.
“Don’t answer unless I nod,” Kevin whispers in a low tone.
The detective takes the seat across from me and leans back in his chair. He’s older and barrel chested with a mean scowl on his face. A dark brown mustache curves down his lips.
“I’m Detective Wainright. Where were you the night of the fourteenth at eleven p.m.?”
I think back to a few nights ago. Ava and Lilly had dinner with Carmen at her place, then went home. I worked late and then went home alone.
My gaze slides to Kevin. He nods his head once.
“I was at home,” I reply.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
Detective Wainright scribbles on the notepad in front of him. I’ve been wanting to ask Ava to move in with me. I want her and Lilly there every day. If I hadn’t stalled and worried that I was pushing her too fast, I might be walking out of here right now with a clear name.
How in the hell did my gun get to a crime scene? It’s been locked away in my office since the last time I was at the range.
“The officers on the scene today mentioned a girlfriend and her daughter. They weren’t with you?” One eyebrow quirks and his mouth twists as he waits for my answer.
“No,” I respond. “I was alone.”
“You were home all night?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. The shitty room, the hard-ass cop, the fading yellow light—it’s like I’m starring in a bad police drama.
“Yes,” I answer again. My hand comes down on the table as I release a sigh. I look at Kevin, hoping he can step in and do something. “I came home from work around seven thirty and stayed home the rest of the night.”
“No one can corroborate that?” His eyes squint as he scans my face. I think he’s searching for a lie, but he won’t find one, because there’s nothing to fucking lie about.
“No,” I answer, irritation poking through in my tone. Kevin’s hand lands on my shoulder trying to halt me from saying anything else with attitude. I shrug off his hand.
“What did you do?”
I shrug and squash my temper. “Hung around the house.”
“Details,” the officer commands.
“I jerked off to thoughts of my girlfriend,” I snap. “Is that what you want to know?”
Fucking Christ. Does he want details of my thoughts? No way in hell I’d give him that shit. How does this help?
“A gun registered to you was found on the site.”
“I’m the one who called the fucking cops. Why would I call you if I murdered someone? How about I report my gun as stolen and you go do your job and find the person who stole my gun.” My voice rises with the last few words.
“Settle down,” Kevin hisses in my ear.
Wainwright leans closer to the table, getting as close to my face as possible. “When was the last time you used your gun?”
I scrub a hand down my face and along my jaw, thinking back to the last time I went to the range. “Three months ago. The last time I went to the shooting range. It’s been in a safe in my house since.”
“Why didn’t you report it missing?” I grind my teeth together and my jaw clicks from the force.
“I didn’t know. I don’t check my safe every day.”
The officer smirks and rises from his seat. “Stand. You’re going to be escorted into a line-up.”
I look to Kevin.
“Since you were identified, they’ll do this. We both know she has the wrong person. Follow their orders and we’ll deal with the rest after.”
None of this gives me confidence that it’s going to work out. I stand from my seat.
I’m herded into a room with other men that look like me, more or less. Some of them have longer hair, are shorter, have tattoos. But they are all blond and blue eyed.
Fuck.
A board with the number three on it is handed to me and I’m instructed to line up in the correct position.
Once ushered into the room, I stand in front of a wall measuring height. The bright lights hit me right in the eyes. I squint, staring at the glass that I know is a two-way mirror. The person accusing me of this crime is on the other side.
Who are you?
We are asked to step forward one by one and then we go back to the wall. After a few minutes, we’re ushered back out and I’m guided back to the room Wainwright questioned me in, where Kevin waits for me.
The detective is right on my heels. I don’t have a chance to sit before he drops a bomb and my life implodes.
“You’re being booked, Wells. Positive ID.”
Chapter 30
Ava
I didn’t see Hudson’s message right away. It took Lilly longer to relax and go to sleep tonight. We finished the book she’s been reading and started another. Throughout the evening, she would start to cry again and ask questions I didn’t know how to answer.
Of course Hudson is coming back.
He’s okay.
Her biggest concern is for Hudson. She misses him. Will she be traumatized by this experience? Kids are so resilient, but will this stay with her? Will she be scared of police officers? Will she be nervous around Hudson?
My heart clenches in my chest.
Will we even see Hudson again?
I look at my phone. The message I sent to Hudson in response doesn’t have the delivery notification underneath it, as if his phone has been turned off or something.
I’ve been pacing my room since Lilly finally fell asleep, waiting for a call from Maddox.
Or Hudson.
Anyone.
Anyone who can give me real information.
Does any of the rest of the gang know what’s happening? I doubt it. I don’t know Harper, Savannah, Tate, or Valerie well, but they seem like the type to show up armed to the teeth with necessities when there’s a crisis.
I loved meeting them and wanted to know them better. If Hudson doesn’t come home, they would be out of my life as well.
Will Lilly understand what any of this means? How can I explain it to her?
It’s times like these I wish I had a real relationship with my mom. I’ve envied women that could call their mothers asking for motherly advice. Mine kicked me to the curb, never looking back as soon as she found out I was pregnant.
I want to call Monica for an update, but I don’t know who knows about Hudson. I don’t want to alert everyone
in his life if they don’t know. It’s his choice who knows about this or not.
Besides, Hudson wouldn’t do what they’re accusing him of doing.
I close my eyes, wishing this hadn’t happened. We’d be in his bed and Lilly in the bed he purchased just for her.
Knock on my door, Hudson. Please.
There’s no knock on my door when I open my eyes, but my phone does start to ring. Panic rushes up my throat when I read Maddox’s name on the screen.
“Maddox. What’s happening? Is he okay?”
“Ava,” Maddox speaks low into the phone. “He’s been booked. A witness ID’d him, and the gun that was found next to the body was registered to him. It’s why this happened so quickly. When officers were sent to check his safe, that gun was missing.”
“What?” I cry, my hand coming up to cover my mouth. My nose starts to burn and I blink, trying to stop the tears. There’s no stopping them though.
“He’s being charged. There’s a hearing tomorrow at nine a.m. to set bail. He’s never had an offense before, so he’ll get bail.”
“Then what?” I plead.
“Then it’s up to a lawyer to save his ass and prove his innocence.”
“Oh God.” My voice is broken as I process what he’s saying.
“Stay strong, Ava. Call if you need anything.”
Maddox hangs up the phone and I’m alone. Alone with my thoughts and questions and decisions.
I message Carmen asking her to take care of Lilly tomorrow, making the decision to keep her home from school for the day. The seating chart from my first day of school is going to get used for the first time.
Hudson is the first person who has ever been there for me unconditionally. I could ask anything of him at any time and he’d show up. Tomorrow, there is no other option. I’ll be standing by my man.
Chapter 31
Hudson
As I walk into the courtroom, the faint odor of piss still burns in my nostrils. The jail cell I spent the night in was a form of torture.
My stomach revolts as I pass a fan that makes the smell worse. Grime coats every inch of my skin. I need to get out of here and never look back, never come back.