“The more the merrier. And we’d better take care of that other issue in the bathroom, too, when we get back.”
Hudson felt his gorge rise as he remembered the state of the dead guy. Gio gave his shoulders a squeeze and pulled him even closer.
“Me, I just wanna go home,” Art said, piping up for the first time in a long time. “But can I get my pay first, Mr. D?”
“You still got some cleaning to finish up, don’t you, Art?” Gio asked innocently, and Art scowled.
“Fuck you, Carlucci.”
“Yeah, fuck me,” Gio agreed with a grin.
“Tomorrow,” Finch said wearily. “You can come in tomorrow, Art, to finish up and collect your pay. Let Luca and Nick manage the bathroom situation tonight. As long as that body is gone, the rest of it can wait.”
“We owe you a debt of gratitude, Hudson,” Luca said sincerely, stopping on his way out the door. “I’m glad you were here to help. It’s good to know Finch can rely on you when he’s at work.”
How could Hudson ever have thought either of the D’Amato men were scary? They were kind-hearted, loving,family. It seemed like a blessing Connie had bestowed from Heaven, a reminder to him that he would never be alone, not anymore.
He’d always have family, even if she wasn’t there.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Finch triedto send Gio and Hudson home after the others left on their mission, but they refused. “Fine,” Finch sighed in the end. “We can all wait together to hear the news.”
Hudson had half-expected to fall asleep sitting there on the sofa in Finch’s office, but they were all too nervous. The sun had come up outside, Hudson figured, but time was still on an endless loop there in Kismet.
“Ziggy sure was convincing,” Gio said suddenly. “When he swore on the life of his daughter, I mean.”
“I believed him,” Finch offered. He was slumped in the big chair, feet up on the desk, staring at his phone as though that would make the news come faster.
“Me, too,” Hudson said. He recognized sincerity when he saw it. “But I guess he really was swearing on her life. He knew she’d be dead if he didn’t get out of there with the money like Brady wanted him to.” He wanted to ask what was going to happen to Brady after he took them to his accomplices and Ziggy’s daughter, but he also didn’t really want to know the answer.
“So, you two,” Finch said, flicking a finger between them where they sat on the couch, not snuggling up, but their thighs definitely pressed together. “You finally got your shit together? Gio’s been thirsty for you formonths, Hudson.”
Gio made a noise that could be accurately described as spluttering. Hudson gave a delighted grin and looked at Gio. “Really?”
“Really,” Finch confirmed. “That’s why he kept asking to be rostered on as my guard. Hebeggedto switch with Teo Vitali tonight. I told him okay, so long as he finally asked you out.”
Gio lookedalmostlike he was blushing, his olive skin going slightly pink across the nose, but then he shrugged. “Well, yeah. ’S’true. No need to deny it. I think me and Hudson are, uh. You know.”
“You haven’t asked me out,” Hudson said boldly. “He hasn’t actually asked me out,” he said again to Finch. “Not officially.”
“Is that so?” Finch asked, giving Gio a mock glare. “I think you’d better remedy that right away.”
“Oh, my God,” Gio mumbled into his hands, but when he looked up, he couldn’t hide his smile. “Fine. Hudson Taylor, can I take you out to dinner sometime?”
“Yes,” Hudson said at once, because he knew Finch was only teasing, but he also knew that sometimes teasing could get out of hand.
“That was easy,” Finch said. “See?” His phone started to buzz, and he answered it.
Hudson leaned in to Gio while Finch was talking. “And will you come home with me after this so we can pick up where we left off in private?”
“Oh,hellyes, Blondie,” Gio said, eyes lighting up.
“It’s done,” Finch said in relief. “Ziggy’s daughter is safe.” He said nothing about the others involved, for which Hudson was grateful. It was the Morelli way to keep information only for those who really needed it, and Hudson really, really didn’t need to know what had happened to Brady and his idiot friends. “They’re on the way back now. Once they’re here, you two can go on your merry way. And Happy New Year, by the way.”
“Happy New Year,” they chorused back.
