“Sound like an excellent mantra. On that note, why don’t we grab some wine? Right now, I could really use some.”
“You know what? I’d love some.” Her entire face had brightened.
“Bella will need to meet you. Don’t worry. In contrast to her mother, she loves everyone.”
“She’ll soon learn. Won’t she?” Before I headed toward the kitchen, she snagged my arm. “I know this isn’t my place and you’re in a tough position. I have no idea what I’d do if I had some twisted fuck eager to come after me. I also can’t believe I’m saying this after what happened other than I could be softening in my old age, but you can trust Hudson.” She shook her head as some memory plagued her.
“Are you saying you don’t?”
“I’m saying… He’s a Marine. He knows what he’s doing.”
The story between them was becoming more interesting.
“He told me he was former military. I think he believed I was doubting his ability to keep me alive.”
Camille gave me another scrutinizing look, but for an entirely different reason than before.
“Let me give you a word of advice. Again, not my place, but rules and boundaries never stopped me before. I’m not saying anything against Hudson. He’s an incredible judge. Very honest. Very fair. Sometimes too fair, allowing the letter of the law tointerfere with what’s right and just. What you see is truly what you get, but don’t allow yourself to get too close to him.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded. “He has a very thick plate of armor surrounding himself and there are no tools that you can use to pry the protective gear away from him.”
“Does that mean you’ve tried?”
Her smile also represented a memory. “We have history, but not like what you think. I’ve simply seen his aloof behavior in action and it’s highly annoying. Hudson isn’t the forever kind.”
“Then what kind is he?”
“He’s the kind that will draw you in then fail to deliver. In doing so he’ll break your heart.”
CHAPTER 20
Hudson
I hadn’t expected to hear laughter coming from the kitchen. If anything, I thought I’d heard words of anger. Asking Camille for this particular favor would likely add to the list of reasons why I’d end up in hell. But at this point, what other choice did I have?
Since Valentina hadn’t picked up the phone, she’d had no advance warning of Camille’s arrival. I’d been beside myself when I hadn’t been able to get in touch with her, nearly screaming at my buddy Tim before bothering to listen to him when he’d mentioned Valentina had been safely tucked away inside the house.
Yeah, I was losing my cool very quickly. A fucking hit list. I couldn’t care less about myself being on the infamous list, but I also had no doubt Valentina’s name was there was well. The wheels were in motion. By now, Worthington had been made aware I had no intentions of backing down. That would push both Delgado and Worthington further on the edge. If only Icould figure out the end game. Was it controlling the drug market or something else altogether?
Valentina had no idea how close she’d come to having the house surrounded by ten cop cars.
Then I’d received her text.
I owned Tim a case of scotch as well as a hefty paycheck for doing me a favor.
Although I was going to give Valentina a piece of my mind. When I gave her orders, she was going to follow them or face the consequences. She just didn’t seem to understand this wasn’t a game to be played.
As soon as I stepped foot in the kitchen, I immediately launched into her without even thinking.
“What in God’s name did you think you were doing by not answering your phone. Do you have any clue how worried I was about you? Do you? Do you know that my doors and windows were almost blown out by officers of the law coming to rescue you?”
Valentina stood with her back toward me and when she slowly turned around, placing her finger over her lips while nodding toward sweet little Bella, I huffed.
Then I allowed my gaze to fall. For a few seconds, I was completely speechless. Valentina was a beautiful woman whether she was in work clothes that gave me a hunger for barbeque or in nothing at all. But seeing her in a dress with low heels had my blood pumping. I’d given Camille little advice other than to pick up a few necessities including some toiletries.In truth, I’d wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible. Dredging up old memories had been too painful.
But I couldn’t deny that Camille had excellent taste.
