“What?” Hudson snarled, immediately bristling.
“He’s standing outside under the streetlight just like he did before. Come look. Please. You need to know I’m not crazy.”
With his jaw clenched, he took long, pounding strides into the bedroom and to the window. I could tell in two seconds he was seeing no one.
“Don’t tell me he’s not there.”
“Where was he, Valentina?”
I moved beside him at the window. “Right there under the light.”
“Okay. Listen to me. Stay right here. I’m going to go check it out.” He moved quickly back to the front of the apartment. “Lock the door behind me.”
“Don’t go. I don’t want you to leave. I’m afraid something will happen to you.”
The way he looked at me was as if no one in his life had ever worried about him. “I’ll be fine.”
I took a step closer and that same feeling boiled over me, a terrible premonition that something tragic was about to occur.
With my heart racing, I peered at the cabinet under the sink. It was ajar. That wouldn’t necessarily mean anything except I had safety latches on several of them since my bound and determined little girl was very curious about everything. The one ajar definitely had a safety latch. It was where I kept all my cleaning supplies.
With careful steps, I inched closer, every inch of me shaking. As soon as I curled my fingers around the top edge, a tiny moan escaped. But I found the courage to swing the door open.
“Hudson,” I whispered, tears immediately forming.
“What?”
“Come here. Please.” The terror was exposed in my voice.
He had no clue what I was concerned about when he moved beside me. “What?” His voice dipped to little more than a husky whisper.
All I could do was point.
The red digital numbers were all I could see.
His fingers wrapped around my arms and he pulled me back by several feet. Now I was shaking so badly I could no longer feel my legs.
“Listen to me,” he said, his voice commanding and comforting.
“Huh?”
“Listen to me.” The tone was more demanding.
I lifted my gaze, blinking several times. “Yes?”
“Get out of the building. Now. That’s a bomb. There’s not much time,”
“There are neighbors. I have neighbors.” Every inch of me was shaking.
“I’ll alert them. Now, do as I say. Get out. Now. Go across the street. Do you understand me?” His tone was more insistent.
“Uh-huh. I think I do. Yes, yes, I do.”
“Go. Now. I’ll be right behind you. Don’t stop. Not for anything.”
I sprinted out the door, immediately rushing to the one across from me, pounding with all the rage that I’d stored deep inside. I couldn’t leave everyone to die. That wasn’t me.
“Andrew. Get out. Get out now!” My scream was louder than I’d expected.
