Corvus snorted and waved me off. “My family is dysfunctional as fuck, man. That was nothing. Besides, her throwing something and Hudson being in the crossfire is pretty normal, too.”
I winced. The past several years, I’d tried so damn hard to protect Hudson from his mother. I’d rushed to put an engagement ring on her finger and plan an extravagant wedding, since she would never settle for anything less. Within a mere six months of meeting Bonnie, we were married and she and Hudson had moved in with me.
That wretched woman had never hidden how cruel of a mother she truly was. And one look at Hudson back then had told me he was malnourished and not taken care of. His clothes had been too small, despite his thin frame, his hair had been in desperate need of a cut, and when I met him, he couldn’t tell me the last time he’d seen a doctor or a dentist, despite his mother having Medicaid for him.
I’d never expected repayment from Hudson. I’d never ask him for it, either. But if this whole, you’re mine thing was his way of doing so… I’d pass. Hard fucking pass.
I couldn’t do this. No matter how attracted I was to him now that he was grown-up, filled out, and had come into himself. Knew who he was now.
Hudson was toxic and dangerous for my fucking mental health and wellbeing. If his mother found out about us…
She’d rip off my dick and choke me to death on it. And fuck knew what she’d do to Hudson. I couldn’t let her touch him. Never fucking again.
“You’re not fine,” Corvus disagreed as he kicked off his flip flops and laid back on the lounger. He propped his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, letting the sun beat down on him. “It’s Hudson, isn’t it?”
My heart stopped in my chest, and it was audible when I swallowed, my throat clicking.
“What do you mean?” I rasped.
He sighed. “I’m his best friend, Kreed.” It had taken him damn near three years to stop calling me Mr. Emerson. Now, it was a relief every time I heard him call me by my first name. “I know everything Hudson gets up to and everything he has planned.”
I clenched my jaw. So, Corvus knew about me, too? About me not being straight? About what happened between me and Hudson?
“I’m not going to tell anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Corvus said. “I’m not that kind of guy, Kreed. I was outed in middle school for being bi, and that shit still haunts me. I won’t do it to someone else.” He turned his head and opened his eyes, looking at me. “But you and I both know that when Hudson wants something, he gives it one hundred and ten fucking percent until he’s obtained his goal. He’s hyperfixated on you, Kreed. It’s an obsession. I suggest you buckle up for the ride because there’s no getting rid of him.”
I shook my head. “We won’t work, Corvus. We’re nineteen years apart in age. I’m his stepfather. And then there’s the whole thing with his mother?—”
Corvus snorted and turned his face toward the sky again, shutting his eyes once more. “You think Hudson can’t handle his mother? His mind is made up, Kreed. You can fight it all you want, but Hudson has had his mind made up for years. This didn’t just start four months ago.”
“Years?” I croaked, hating how strangled my voice sounded.
“Mm-hmm,” Corvus hummed. “Years, Kreed. There’s no getting rid of Hudson now. He’s bided his time.” He chuckled. “I love my best friend. He’s my fucking brother in every meaning but blood. But the man is a snake. You got caught right in his trap.”
Chapter Five
Hudson
* * *
It was dark outside when I woke up, and my room was empty. Corvus was no longer sprawled out on the bed beside me, and a glance at the door showed he’d taken his bag with him wherever he went. Knowing Corvus, he got out of my hair and decided to get settled into the guest room. While he and I were thick as thieves, he knew I preferred having my own space.
Pushing myself into a sitting position, I wiped my hand across my forehead, frowning at the sweat I wiped off. Clearing my throat, I winced. My throat was raw as fuck. Shit. Was I getting fucking sick? This was just my goddamn luck. I rarely got sick, and when I did, it always damn near crippled me.
Fuck. This would fucking happen to me the week I decide to ruin Kreed’s marriage to my witch of a mother and make him mine. Goddammit.
The universe just never stopped shitting on me.
Groaning, I forced myself out of bed and headed to my bathroom. Reaching into the shower, I turned the water to blistering hot then stripped out of my clothes. As soon as the scalding water hit my body, I groaned and leaned against the wall, shutting my eyes. I was so fucking tired, but if I stayed in bed or holed up in my room, Kreed would come check on me, despite his wariness of me now. And if he discovered I was sick, he’d force me to the doctor, and I hated doctors. They made my skin crawl and left me…panicky.
But bad history would cause that reaction in anyone, I supposed.
Grunting, I forced myself to shower then got out and wrapped a towel around my waist. After brushing my teeth and finger-combing my wet hair, I headed into my closet to dress in sweats and a long-sleeve shirt with a pair of socks. I had no doubt the shivers would start soon, and I wanted to ward them off as long as possible.
I managed to find Tylenol and cold medicine in the bathroom, and after forcing those down my throat—because that shit tasted awful—I headed downstairs. The smell of Kreed’s chili wafted toward me the closer I got to the kitchen, and when I walked in, I found him and Corvus sitting at the bar, bowls of chili in front of them. Corvus was scooping his up with raw bell pepper because he was a weirdo like that, and Kreed was eating his with Frito Scoops.
“Welcome to the land of the living,” Corvus greeted. He jabbed slice of bell pepper toward the pot on the counter. “Kreed made chili. Told him you’ve been missing it.” But the pointed look in his eyes told me he’d really done it because he could tell I was getting sick. And Kreed’s chili was my comfort food when I felt like shit.
If Corvus could tell I was ill, it wouldn’t be long before Kreed figured it out, too. I had no idea when Corvus had popped into my room and figured it out, but the son of a bitch had.
