“Yes, Ryan. Noah is your son.”
There’s a gasp from the doorway, and I glance over as Paige spins around. Hudson stands in the doorway, his expression as shocked as my own. There’s no doubt he overheard.
Noah howls, and Paige strides to the doorway with him.
“I have to go.”
Hudson steps aside to let them pass, but his gaze is locked firmly on me.
16
RYAN
“Tell me it’s not true,” he growls from his position in the doorway. “Tell me you didn’t knock my sister up and leave her on her own.”
He’s shaking with rage, and I want to deny it, but the shock of her words makes me speechless. I shrug. “I don’t know.”
Hudson strides toward the bed with his eyes blazing.
“Did you or did you not sleep with my sister?” He grinds out the words, and I shrink into the bed. This is the tough side of Hudson, excellent on a door-kicking mission, but this is the first time I’ve seen his anger directed at me.
I close my eyes and nod. “About three years ago.”
Rough hands grab my collar as he jerks my head up. My eyes pop open, and pain spikes in my stump as he drags my body upwards.
“Have the decency to look at me.” Spittle hits my face, and I catch the scent of the burger he had for lunch.
“I didn’t know she was your sister.” I’m not trying to defend myself. I just want him to have all the facts.
“And you abandoned her when she got pregnant with your son.”
As he shakes me, I have to grit my teeth against the pain. I deserve this. If he wants to punch me, I’ll lie here and take it because I am the scum he thinks I am. When I think about Paige going through pregnancy alone, my heart aches.
“I didn’t know.” My voice is a croak, but Hudson isn’t listening.
His fist comes up and stops an inch away from my jaw. He shakes with rage, then releases my collar.
“I won’t hit a man lying down.”
He drops me onto the bed, causing a fresh jolt of pain.
“I left the Teams becauseyoudidn’t own up as the father. I gave up a career I loved to step in foryou.”
There’s no point in telling him again that I didn’t know. Hudson has made up his mind about me, and he’s right. I’m an asshole.
“And you let me do it,” he spits it out.
He shakes his head as he strides to the door. I want him to leave. I want to lie here and burrow into the blankets and hide from all the pain I’ve caused.
Turning at the door, he points a finger at me. “I’ve been busting my ass to help you Ryan, but you know what? I’m done. You’re on your own.”
He slams the door on his way out so hard it shakes the walls. I listen to his angry footsteps fade away down the path until theonly sounds are the hum of the refrigerator and the tick of the wall clock.
My stomach churns, and my chest is heavy. I’ve let Paige down. I’ve let Hudson down. I’ve let every damn person who matters in my life down, including myself. I’ve caused that family pain, and I won’t do it anymore.
Rolling over, I grab the bottle of pills by the side of the bed. With shaking hands, I tip them into my palm.
The thought hits me, ugly and quiet—an easy way out.
