Hudson’s chin jutted out. “It’s half my dad’s house, too.”
“Your dad would say the exact same thing,” Beck shot back.
As Casen led Brielle toward the door—both thankfully dressed—he sent Hudson an apologetic grimace. “It’s cool, man. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Brielle paused at the threshold, glancing at Beck with wide, worried eyes. “Please don’t tell my mom about this.”
But before Beck could answer, the pair raced out the door and up the stairs, slamming the front door behind them.
Then…silence. Beck knew it wouldn’t last, not while Hudson pinged with anger.
“You’re such a fucking hypocrite,” the kid snarled. “You and my dad do the exact same thing with Heavenly.”
“We’re adults. You’re sixteen, not mature enough for what you just did.” Beck’s voice turned icy cold. “You think we share her just because the sex is hot? Newsflash, dude. That’s not why at all.”
“Then why?”
Beck snorted. “The emotional connection. And the fact you even have to ask proves you don’t grasp the concept of a real relationship.”
“I don’t have to listen to you. You’re not my dad.”
“I’m not.” Beck nodded with a calmness he didn’t feel. “But I’m as invested in your well-being as any biological child your dad or I will have someday with Heavenly. Like it or not, we’re a family now.”
Hudson rolled his eyes. “What do you know about family? You ran away from home and married a hooker.”
Beck dropped his voice to a dangerous quiet. “You think you’re tough, kid?”
“Tougher than you, old man,” Hudson sneered.
“You think so? By the time I was your age, I’d already killed someone.”
Hudson scowled. “Bullshit?”
“God’s truth. You never asked why I ran away from home. Let me tell you?—”
“Because mommy and daddy didn’t give you enough love.”
“You’re right.” Beck sent him a brittle smile. “They didn’t. So, when I was your age, I slit my father’s throat. And a few months ago, I watched my mother bleed out in front of me. I had the medical skills to save her, but I didn’t. I just watched her die because she deserved it.”
Hudson’s face went white. “You’re lying.”
A humorless chuckle rumbled the back of Beck’s throat as he pulled out his phone and tapped a news article. “This details the day my family came to kill me at Liam’s lodge. Your dad’s tactical knowledge helped save nearly everyone’s lives.” He scrolled to another page. “And this is about Jericho leading the FBI raid on the compound where my mother and middle brother’s followers lived. You met my younger brother, Zach? They murdered his wife and eleven-year-old daughter, too.”
Hudson took the phone with shaking hands and scanned the articles. His face turned even paler as his teenage bravado crumbled and reality set in.
Eventually, he swallowed and handed the phone back, not quite meeting Beck’s eyes. “Shit.”
“Do I finally have your attention?” Beck asked, pocketing his phone.
Hudson nodded, not saying a word.
“Good. Let’s talk about what you just did with Brielle and Casen.” Beck leaned against the doorframe, studying the teenager. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
Hudson shifted uncomfortably. “Casen asked questions about the three of you after you guys announced your engagement. I told him that you guys were all…together.”
“Okay. For your sake, I hope you told him not to blab that to everyone at school.”
“Of course I did. I’m not an idiot. You think I want the other kids whispering shit behind my back?”
