Page 67 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson (A Sawyer Brothers Story #1)

“You son of a bitch.” Creed then lifted the phone to his ear and growled. “Whoever this is, if you do anything with what you’ve heard today. You’ll never see your friends again.”

My mouth dropped open, and I pulled free from Sulton’s grasp, feeling the chain around my neck split. At first, I thought I suddenly had super strength, but from the looks of it, he was leaving. And then I heard more banging coming from downstairs.

I moved towards Tommo to try and help, but then my focus swung to the door, which shot open and banged against the wall.

Phoenix Carter stood there with his phone in his hand. The way he swept into the room was almost like a prince in a panto. “Never say never motherfucker,” he boomed.

As Sulton went to dart from the room to flee the scene, I watched as Nix drew back his fist and smacked him in the face, knocking him out with one punch.

Stepping over the henchman’s body, he then stalked across the room towards Hudson and Rafe. Seeing his brother, his face warmed slightly as he said, “Hi, honey, I’m home.”

Although younger than the criminals in the room, Nix was much bigger than everyone there, and a look of horror swam over Rafe’s face.

“You’re a big fucker, aren’t you?” he sneered, backing away.

“And you’re the cunt who stabbed my brother. Big mistake.”

Phoenix stopped in front of Rafe, drew his leg up, and kicked Rafe in the balls. The guy crumpled to the floor like a piece of paper, clutching his crotch in agony.

Both Hudson and I gave him a what the fuck was that look, but Nix shrugged. “What? I like to mix things up a bit. Dude will be pissing blood for days. You good man?”

“Yeah, where’s the fuck’s Creed?” Hudson said, rushing over to take me in his arms. “Are you OK? they didn’t touch you?”

“No, I’m fine. We need to get Thomas to the hospital.”

Noise erupted as what sounded like a fire alarm started, and our eyes shot to the far corner. Anton Creed and Xander had the sports bag and were trying to flee from the fire escape.

Hudson saw what was happening and went to stop them. Upon seeing Hudson, Creed shoved Xander at him and then burst through the doors .

CRACK!

A loud noise, like something impacting an object, echoed into the room. Another thud followed, and then my father appeared. Dashing inside with a metal, dented baseball bat in his hand.

“Daddy!” I screamed, rushing towards him, and throwing my arms around his neck. I buried my face in his chest, overcome with emotion.

“It’s OK, darling. Everything’s OK. Did they hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m just so glad you're here.” I looked past him out into the back alley and could just make out a shod foot on the floor. The foot of Anton Creed, whom my father had just knocked unconscious with a fricking baseball bat.

Releasing my dad, I turned and clutched Hudson, who was behind me.

And then my father took a step forward and placed his hand on my boyfriend’s shoulder.

“Are you OK, son?”

Those four words felt almost magical, and I could see from Hudson’s expression that he appreciated them.

“I’m good, Sir.”

Rolling his eyes and dropping the bat, my father took a step forward.

“Fuck that. Call me Richard, and come here.” Dad then grabbed Hudson against his chest and hugged him. I could see Hudson’s face over my father’s shoulder. He didn’t know what to do, but after around thirty seconds, he relaxed his arms and placed them around my father’s back.

Phoenix took it upon himself to join in and wrapped his arms around them both. Considering what we’d just been through, it was almost comical.

“OK, get off, Nix. You’re suffocating the fuck out of me.”

All three men broke apart as Tommo cleared his throat. “Er, a little help wouldn’t go amiss?”

The police came into the room and started to arrest Rafe and Sulton. Hudson pointed at Rafe and said, “This is the man who was involved in the knife incident at the beach on Friday night. You might want to add attempted murder to his crimes.”

Anton Creed was being lifted onto a hospital gurney as he was still out cold. I watched as they handcuffed his arm to one of the legs.

As another officer walked over to Xander, Hudson moved towards them.

“Wait,” he said .

The policeman stopped and turned to look at him. “By all means, take him in for questioning, but know this. He’s a victim too, in all of this.”

My heart swelled in my chest. Hudson was doing the right thing. Xander had made mistakes, but he’d been bullied and abused by his father. He didn’t deserve to feel the full force of the law. And Hudson Gage knew what it was like to be abused by your own flesh and blood.

At that point, I didn’t know that my judgment of Xander might come back to haunt me one day.

Taking a deep breath, I zoned in on what Hudson was saying. “I think your father will be inside for a long time. He’s a drug-dealing dick, but he’s still your old man. Something to think about when he asks you to visit him.”

I knew Hudson was referring to the fact that he had never visited his father in prison. Part of him regretted that.

“Yeah, whatever, man. I really am sorry, Molly,” Xander said, his eye glazing over as they met mine.

And then Xander Creed was led away in handcuffs.

Hudson helped them take Tommo to an ambulance.

I was walking behind with my father and Nix.

I could hear he was apologising with a deep-rooted regret drumming along with every word.

They then took Tommo away, the ambulance sirens whirring as they pulled into traffic.

They suspected cracked ribs, but the rest of his wounds were superficial.

Hudson was instructed to take a seat on the edge of the doorway into another ambulance.

There were police everywhere, searching the premises.

I mentioned my lost necklace to one of the female police officers.

It must have been in the club somewhere, but I couldn’t bring myself to go back in, and I couldn’t leave Hudson.

I could see Phoenix chatting up one of the paramedics, and I rolled my eyes.

Whilst Hudson was getting checked out, he and my father explained what had happened. Hudson had gone to ask for his help.

From the sound of things, the plan had been orchestrated by Hudson and had worked perfectly.

The only hiccup had been the fight, which hadn’t been part of the plan, as Hudson could have damaged his phone.

A call had been left open with Phoenix, who had been outside in my father’s car, recording the discussions.

They needed to prove that the drugs belonged to Creed.

Finding them on the premises may not have been enough to put him away for long.

“So?” my father said as he walked over. I was sitting next to Hudson with my head on his shoulder.

“So?” I said, looking up into my father’s eyes.

Any animosity he’d felt towards Hudson had lifted slightly, and they started talking about their brilliant plan. It was like I wasn’t there. There was still a wariness between them, but the fact that they were talking was such a relief .

I listened as Dad brought up the part where he had knocked Creed out with the baseball bat. It was like he hadn’t seen any action for years, and so had fed upon tonight’s drama.

“Are you OK to drive. Hudson?”

“Yes, sir,” he said respectfully.

“Then I’ll trust you to bring my daughter home safely.”

I smiled and stood up, hugging my father. I could tell from his words that he was giving my relationship with Hudson the OK.

A nurse started to clean the cut on Hudson’s head, and my father moved me to one side.

“Are you sure you’re OK. You seem so calm, considering what you’ve just been through. It must have been scary.”

“It was terrifying, but as soon as Hudson was there. I knew it would be OK. Don’t tell me how.”

“Yes. He clearly cares for you, Molly. I can see that now.”

“Does that mean you’re OK with me seeing him?”

“Look, if you’re happy. I’m happy. But that doesn’t mean I won’t break his legs if he steps out of line.”

I grinned and kissed his cheek. “I love you.”

It was the first time I had said it in years, and my father was truly humbled, his eyes welling up. “I love you, too, Mols.”

As I made my way back to Hudson, the nurse was back in the ambulance.

I cradled Hudson’s face.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, eyeing his wounds.

“Little bit. But not as much as when I thought of you in danger. Fuck. I’m so sorry, Molly.”

I kissed his face, careful not to hurt him.

His expression was pained, and he looked almost childlike. He was so big and strong and grown-up looking, it was easy to forget he was only a teenager.

“I’ve been such a fool. I’ve been trying so hard not to become like my father that I turned myself into a different type of monster. I fucked up, and I’m so sorry that I dragged you into all my shit. If you never wanted to see me again, I’d understand.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

He stood and pulled me against his chest .

“I know it hasn’t been long, but I want you to know that I love you, Molly. Shit, I think I’ve been in love with you since that first day in the library.”

My heart almost burst from my chest with happiness.

“Even though I attempted to kill you with a stack of encyclopedias?” I teased.

Hudson pulled back and smiled down at me. He was so handsome, and he was mine.

“Hey, as long as I’d met you first, I would have died a happy man.”

“You know I love you, too, right?”

Joy spread over his features as he said. “Now I do. Shit , I thought I’d fucked everything up.”

“I love everything about you, Hudson. The rough and the smooth. And neither of us are perfect. We both have our baggage and stuff to deal with. My mom, your mom, your dad. Shit, my dad, to a certain extent, everything is still so new. But this is home now, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.

And knowing you are part of that makes me excited and terrified. ” I paused.

“Terrified?” Hudson said, arching an eyebrow.

“Yes. Scared out of my wits. I’ve never had a boyfriend before.

But I’m also ecstatically happy that it’s you, Hudson.

When my mother died, it was like part of my lifeforce was drained away; even with all your complexities and the torment you’ve survived, you put the energy back into my world.

You made it make sense. And we have so much to look forward to. This is just the beginning.”

“Oh, I know we have loads to look forward to,” Hudson said, with a wicked look. “I fucking love you, English. You’ll always be my, Just Molly.

And then he sealed the deal with a kiss that I felt in every fibre of my body.