Allie’s wide eyes darted to his. She was part of a deal? What deal?
“Don’t act so surprised.” The smile he gave her sent a chill down her spine. “You’re one hell of a trophy wife.”
And there it was, the cold truth.
Julian picked up his drink and beelined for the bottle of Grey Goose he’d left on the kitchen counter. Allie watched as he poured a hefty shot over the ice, making himself at home in her apartment just as he had in the rest of her life. She felt like such a fool. None of it had been real. The whirlwind romance, the impulsive proposal, not even the tender words whispered across a pillow. Allie’s eyes drifted shut as a wave of nausea rolled through her, and for a moment she thought she might be sick. Everything had been a means to an end, all part of his plan to worm his way into Ingram Media.
Ice cubes rattled against cut glass and she opened her eyes. Julian was staring at her, his lips curled into a smirk. “You haven’t learned a damn thing from your mother, have you?”
“I’m nothing like her.” Tears of anger and frustration threatened and she wiped them quickly with her hand.
Julian’s eyes flared over the top of his glass. “Where’s your ring?” he asked, leveling his stare on her left hand. Before she could answer he slammed the glass down on the counter and stalked toward her. Allie stepped back but he grabbed her with both hands, his fingers digging into her arms to the point of pain. “What the fuck have you been doing while I was gone?”
“You’re hurting me.”
He gave her a hard shake. “Answer me. Where the fuck is my ring, Alessandra?” His nostrils flared and his face twisted with rage. Allie had never seen him like this. Angry over a botched dinner reservation? Sure. Impatient with a valet? Absolutely. But the man standing in front of her was volatile and wild, totally out of control.
“You’ll get it back.” Her mouth was so dry she could barely get the words out. “Do you honestly think I’d try to keep it?”
“Peut-être,” he snarled. “Considering the money I’ve promised your father, you’re no better than the whores I pay.”
She flinched at first, then lifted her chin. What Julian was saying was ridiculous. He was just lashing out, trying to hurt her, and she’d be damned if she’d let him hurt her anymore than he already had. “My father doesn’t need your money.” She tried her best to sound unaffected, but her voice trembled, betraying her.
“Your father,” he said with utter disdain, “is losing his company one share at a time.” He let out a harsh, condescending laugh. “You didn’t think I was actually in a hurry to get married, did you?”
He paused, waiting for a reaction, but she refused to give him the satisfaction.
“Someone’s making a play,” he continued, “buying up stock left and right.” It was obvious how much he enjoyed being the one to break the news. “He needs me, or at least my cash, to save it.”
Still gripping her tight with one hand, he ran his index finger down her throat until he reached the low neckline of her dress. He hooked the material with his finger then let it dip between her breasts. Allie’s heart rate spiked and her eyes darted toward the door. Four steps, maybe five. Thank God it was unlocked. He’d catch her if she had to struggle with the deadbolt. All she had to do was break free.
A dark glint flashed in Julian’s eyes and he slowly licked his bottom lip. “I’d say you owe me.”
Allie struggled but he tightened his grip. Fear lodged in her throat, choking her and causing her breath to come in shallow gasps. She could barely draw enough air to speak. “Let go of me, you sick bastard.”
From out of nowhere the back of his hand struck her face. The force of the blow knocked her off-balance and she fell hard, her head smacking against the coffee table with a loud crack. White light flashed behind her eyes and her head exploded with pain. She felt a gush of warm liquid flow down the side of her cheek and instinctively her hand flew to her face. When she lowered it, her fingers were bright red.
Allie looked up, her vision blurred with tears and blood, to find him coming back for more. She tried to scramble away only to feel a sharp burn in her scalp as he grabbed a fistful of her hair. The room shifted as he hauled her to her feet, and for a second she thought she might faint.
Julian yanked her back against his chest. “You fucking bitch,” he growled in her ear. “All you had to do was play the damn part, stand up and say I-fucking-do.” With a hard shove he bent her over the back of the couch. The blow to her ribs knocked the breath from her lungs in a powerful gust.
“I held up my end. Right now my dick’s hard, you’re here, and I’m just drunk enough.” He kicked her legs apart with his feet, one hand still in her hair, pushing her face into the cushions while the other unzipped his fly.
Panic gripped her. She tried to cry, to scream, but unable to catch her breath, managed nothing more than a silent plea.
No . . . please no. . . .
Chapter Thirty-seven
Hudson heard the guttural snarls of a man’s voice funneling down the broad stairwell as he entered the foyer of Allie’s brownstone. Panic washed through him and turned his blood to ice.
Without breaking stride, he bolted up the stairs two at a time. His heart started beating hard and fast.
Oh God, please let her be okay.
He burst through the door and the scene in front of him was instantly burned into his retinas. Allie bent over the couch, her legs kicked wide and blood running down the side of her face. Julian postured behind her, holding her down with one hand and working his fly with the other.
And he lost it.
Hudson’s body went on autopilot, all action and very little thought. He launched himself forward, grabbing Julian by the back of the neck and throwing him off Allie. Julian slammed into an end table, taking a lamp with him as he crash-landed onto the floor. The porcelain base shattered beneath him and the shards dispersed like marbles across the hardwood.
Staggering to his feet, Julian turned to face Hudson. His hand was bleeding from a deep gash in his palm, and when he clenched his fist, blood oozed between his fingers. The guy was definitely juiced up on something that was interfering with his pain receptors.
A calm menace vibrated around Hudson while he waited for the French import to get upright. “You just going to stand there, or are we going to do this?” His glare narrowed. “I’ve wanted to sack the shit out of you since day one.”
Julian fanned his arms out in a challenge, blood dripping off his hand. “Isn’t this sweet, the knight riding in to save his whore,” he taunted. “That’s all she is, just someone to wet the tip of your dick.”
The guy had a serious death wish.
In a blaze of white rage, Hudson charged at Julian and the two men collided, force against force and fist to fist.
Allie fell back out of their way. “NO! Hudson, please . . .” she sobbed, unable to do anything to stop the fury breaking loose in front of her.
Taking a double shot, a nice one-two to the ribs, Hudson sucked in a huge breath and shut out the pain. He methodically returned the favor and nailed Julian with a stunner of an uppercut, his bare knuckles absorbing the blow. Bones cracked and blood gushed. Julian’s head snapped back up and Hudson rebounded with a strong left, splitting his brow wide open.
The determined fucker wasn’t going down easily.
Julian wiped the blood off his face with his forearm and came back at him in a wide swing. Hudson dodged to the side and Julian’s fist plowed into his kidneys, throwing him off-balance. Pain exploded up his spine and down his legs. His face screwed tight and his teeth clenched. Goddamn, that hurt.
Hudson’s rage jacked further. That’s the thing about pain—it either knocks you down or fires you up. Right now it was one hell of a motivator.
Before Hudson was fully aware of what he was doing, he surged forward, caught Julian by the throat, and flattened him out on the ground. Julian’s eyes widened and his pupils dilated as Hudson’s Ferragamo came down on his throat.
Julain grabbed the shoe with both hands and tried to pry it off, but Hudson kept his foot pressed tightly to his neck.
“Did you know it only takes a small amount of pressure to crush your windpipe?”
Julian’s face turned red and his hands shook as he tried to push Hudson off.
“Ever come near her again and I’ll rip your fucking esophagus out and use it as a garden hose. Now nod.”
Julian nodded, his hands still white-knuckling Hudson’s loafer.
“Good boy.” He removed his foot from Julian’s neck and left him coughing on the floor.
Hudson turned toward Allie, and the blow of seeing the tears streaking down her bloodstained cheek was worse than any hit he’d taken from Julian. He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
She sagged against him, barely managing a nod.
“Let’s go.” He held her tight as he guided her out of the apartment, shielding her from the curious eyes of her neighbors.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Allie closed her eyes against the bright light and shivered.
“Are you cold?” Hudson knelt in front of her, gently wiping the blood off her face with a warm washcloth.
She shook her head and it made the room spin. “No, I just can’t stop shaking.”
He frowned and a deep furrow creased his brow. “It’s the adrenaline. Let me get this bandaged and then I’ll find you some warmer clothes.” Lowering the cloth, he quickly folded it in half, but not before she saw the blood. So much blood.
“How bad is it?” She was half afraid to ask. Her perch on the side of the tub faced away from the mirror, a position she was beginning to think wasn’t entirely coincidental.
“Looks like the bleeding finally stopped. But you’re going to have one hell of a shiner.” Hudson reached into the first-aid kit for a brown bottle. A moment later he held up a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic. “Close your eyes.”
Gently, he dabbed the cold liquid on the gash above her eye. Ouch! The sharp sting made her wince, and she heard Hudson suck in a sharp, sympathetic breath.
“God, Allie, I wanted to kill him.” His voice was menacingly calm.
Allie opened her eyes. Hudson was staring at her, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he cleaned her wounds. She held perfectly still, letting him tend to her, knowing he needed to do this for her as much as she needed it done. When he finished, he pitched the cotton in the trash and rummaged through the kit for a large bandage, which he coated with antibiotic ointment.
“I’ve never seen Julian like that,” she whispered. “It was like he was possessed or something. He just snapped.”
A muscle in Hudson’s jaw twitched but he kept his eyes focused on the business at hand. He brushed her hair off her forehead, then lightly pressed the bandage into place. “What set him off?”
“I told him it was over.”
He stilled. “You did?
Allie nodded. “What you said last night, about two weeks not being enough? I feel the same way.” She paused, trying to gauge his reaction, but he gave nothing away. Her heart raced as a thought she hadn’t considered rushed unbidden through her mind. What if he’d been pushed too far? A cold chill ran down her spine. There was nothing she could do but lay it all on the line and hope he still felt the same way. She drew a shaky breath and continued. “I can’t walk away from us, Hudson. Not this time. I need you in my life.”
His expression softened with an unexpected vulnerability and he gently cupped her face between his hands. “I need you, too,” he murmured.
Allie curled her fingers over his, wanting to hold tight to not only the moment, but the man before her on his knees. He leaned closer and his lips pressed against hers in a warm, lingering kiss. Her entire body shuddered in a rush of pure joy that was quickly followed by a wave of physical pain. It was too much, the intensity of her feelings for him and the sobering reality of what had almost happened in her apartment. Overcome with emotion, she began to sob.
“Don’t,” he whispered. His thumbs swept over her cheeks, catching her tears. “It shreds me to see you cry.”
“If you hadn’t gotten there when you did . . .”
“Hush, I’m here.” His strong arms wrapped around her and he carefully pulled her into his lap, cradling her as if she were the most delicate glass. “You’re safe with me, Allie. Always will be.” He held her close, soothing her with tender words and gentle touches, until her breath no longer came in trembling gasps. When she finally calmed, he lifted her to her feet. “Come, let me get you into bed.”
Hudson undressed her with the utmost of care, slowly unwrapping her bloodstained dress. As he slid it off her shoulders, his eyes flared. Allie followed his gaze to her ribs, where dark bruises had already begun to form.
“It looks worse than it feels,” she tried to reassure him.
He gave a tight nod and reached for a stack of neatly folded clothes that were piled on the end of the bed. “Can you raise your arms?” he asked. His tone was grim.
She complied and he slipped a T-shirt over her head, careful not to disrupt the bandage on her forehead. Allie inhaled deeply as the soft cotton brushed over her face. It smelled like fresh laundry and Hudson Chase. The combination made her feel warm and safe, and for the first time all night, her body began to relax.
“Lift your foot.” He crouched down in front of her with a pair of his boxer briefs in his hands. The sight of him blurred the fine line that often existed between emotions, and in spite of everything a small laugh escaped her lips. He looked up at her, confused. “Something funny?”
Allie smiled and ran her fingers through his unruly hair. “You, offering me your underwear.”
He smirked. “While I do prefer stripping them off, now is hardly the time. You need to rest.”
For once he’d get no argument. She did as he asked, placing her hand on his shoulder for balance as she stepped first with one foot and then the other.
“I have a pair of sweats here if you want them. We can roll the ends.”
“I’m fine like this.”
He pulled back the duvet and she climbed in. The cool, crisp sheets felt like heaven against her aching muscles. He arranged the blankets over her then bent and touched his lips to her forehead just above the bandage. When he turned to leave, she reached out and caught his hand.
“Aren’t you coming to bed?” Even she could hear the panic in her voice.
Hudson gave her fingers a comforting squeeze. “I’m just getting you some Advil. I’ll be right back.”
He returned a few minutes later with two capsules and a tall glass of water.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He studied her face as she swallowed the medicine. “That should help with the pain.”
“I’m feeling better already.”
His answering smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. She knew Hudson wasn’t buying her act for a minute, but he let it go and made quick work of the buttons on his shirt instead. Allie leaned back against the pillows, drinking in every detail. The hard planes of his chest flexing as he peeled off his shirt and tossed it onto a nearby chair; the rippling muscles of his abs curling as he lowered his pants and boxers in one fell sweep; and the firm curves of his very fine ass clenching as he pulled his pajama pants up over his thighs. It was quite a show.
When he was ready for bed, he slid in beside her, tugging her carefully across his chest and kissing the top of her head. Allie sighed as she melted into the warmth of his body. She lay like that for long moments, her breaths in perfect harmony with the steady rise and fall of his chest, until something occurred to her.
“Why did you come to my apartment tonight?” she asked, tilting her face up to see his.
He stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “I wasn’t going to let you go without a fight. I know I said I’d accept whatever you decided, but then I got your message that Julian was back in town . . .” Hudson flexed his arm over his head and ran a fru
strated hand through his hair. “Goddamnit, Allie, you wouldn’t answer your phone.”
“I’m sorry you were worried,” she said quietly.
His eyebrows shot up as he lifted his head to look at her. A fistful of hair was still clenched in his hand. “Worried? I was going fucking crazy just thinking about you in the same room with that asshole.” His head fell back against the pillow and he made an exasperated sound. “Honestly, what did you ever see in him?”
“I was asking myself that same question earlier tonight.” Allie tucked her head back down against Hudson’s chest. In hindsight, she felt like a fool for ever getting involved with Julian in the first place. But hindsight is 20/20, and although Hudson’s question was probably rhetorical, Allie still felt the need to somehow justify her decisions. “Julian can be very charming when he wants to be. In the beginning he was very attentive; thoughtful, even.”
Hudson let out a short, harsh laugh.
“I know it’s hard to picture, but he was. He’d surprise me with flowers for no reason, stop by for lunch just because he missed me, or even leave little notes on my pillow.” The offhanded reference to sharing a bed with Julian slipped out without much thought and she instantly regretted it. Feeling the muscles in Hudson’s arm tense against her back, she quickly steered the conversation in a different direction. “Of course now I know he had an agenda.”
“What do you mean, agenda?”
“Julian was only marrying me so he could gain control of Ingram Media. He told me tonight that someone is buying up stocks and my dad is in serious danger of losing the company. All of it—the newspaper, the magazines, even the cable network. I guess Julian promised to give him the cash he needs to regain control.” Allie sat up, wincing at the pain in her ribs. The sudden movement made her head swim, but it didn’t stop the pieces of the puzzle from falling into place. “It all makes sense now.”
Confusion creased Hudson’s brow. “What does?”
“My dad’s plan for an early retirement. It was so sudden. One minute he’s working eighty hours a week, and the next he’s saying he wants to scale back, work on his golf game like the other board members. Whoever is behind this takeover must be getting close.”
Remind Me Page 24