I turned my head. There the bastard stood under another streetlight.
Watching.
Waiting.
My instinct was to run after him. Just before I did, I heard a strange poof then…
Boom!
The power of the explosion tossed me halfway into the street. I pitched and rolled, coming to a stop. Every inch of my body ached and as I tried to open my eyes, every sound around me echoed.
Screams.
The wail of sirens.
The gasps coming from everywhere.
Using both hands, I pushed them against the vehicle, using the leverage to allow me to stand. As soon as I did, tears began to stream down my face.
The building was engulfed in flames.
Another scream cut through the horrific sounds, one full of shock and despair.
It took a few seconds to realize I was the one screaming.
Embers created fireworks in the sky, falling ever so slowly to the ground below. Debris floated through the air, shoes and clothes, pictures and papers.
Lives torn apart.
Prized possessions lost to the madness.
Smoke and flames rushed toward the heavens as if offering a sacrifice.
All around me the noise and horror continued.
But I was lost in the ugliness that Hudson was gone. He was… gone.
“Hudson. Hud… son.” Falling ever so slowly to my knees, I covered my face with my hands.
The swelter of heat pulsated through me, images of his face filtering into my fractured mind. One after the other. And his voice chimed in my ears. Nothing was real.
“Val,” a voice said and I felt a weight on my shoulder. “Val. Look.”
Andrew’s encouraging voice allowed me to lift my head.
And a scream from Jackie announced what I wasn’t certain was possible to be seeing.
“You saved my baby. You’re my hero.”
His face and body covered in soot, his face and clothes charred, Hudson walked further away from the debris with the golden puppy in his arms.
Just as rain began to fall.
CHAPTER 22
Hudson
Death.
